Creamy White Chicken Chili. (2024)

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This simple one pot Creamy White Chicken Chili is the perfect bowl to warm up to on a cold fall/winter day. Made with poblano peppers, jalapeños (for just the right amount of heat), and shredded chicken. It’s spicy, creamy and so delicious. Top each bowl of chili with plenty of cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, and avocado too. Great on its own, but even better with a side of homemade beer bread.

Creamy White Chicken Chili. (1)

If there’s one recipe my cousin Abby asks me to make every fall it’s a white chicken chili. Well, white chicken chili and a classic chicken noodle soup. I took care of the chicken noodle soup back in October so I figured it was time to cross the white chicken chili off the list too.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, Abby loves soup!

For the longest time I wasn’t on the “white chicken chili” train, but I’ve changed my tune. I can’t say that I really think of this as chili though. Chili to me is always red and tomato-based. This is more like a creamy chicken soup with yummy spices and lots of poblano peppers.

However you look at it, it’s delicious. And such a nice bowl to warm up to on cold fall/winter nights.

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This chili is pretty simple, here are the steps

What’s great about this chili is how quick and easy it is. You can choose to make it in one pot in less than an hour on the stove. Or cook it low and slow in the crockpot.

Start by cooking up the onion and vegetables until they smell fragrant. Then toss the chicken in spices for added flavor, then add it to the pot.

Pour in the broth and simply let the chicken simmer until it’s cooked through and shreds easily.

While the chicken is cooking, take the cream cheese and melt it in the microwave. The cream cheese is what makes this a creamy chili. You only need a little, but it really makes the chili just that much more delicious.

Once the chicken is cooked, pull it out and shred it.

Next stir the cream cheese into the chili and finish it up with that shredded chicken and some white beans. Oh, and a small handful of cheddar cheese too!

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One more thing…the toppings.

Guys, the toppings are the real secret here. Most chili is delicious, but what makes a chili recipe over the top good are really yummy toppings. So you have to do them all!

I layer as follows: a thick layer of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, a dollop of yogurt, sliced avocados, then sprinkle on lots of fresh cilantro and green onions too.

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And lastly, I love beer bread on the side for dipping, it’s a chili must. For a second I contemplated using tortilla chips instead. But this just needs a good simple slice of warm homemade beer bread. It’s delish.

And guys, that’s pretty much it for this one. Simple as can be, but every spoonful is so delicious. Think a little spicy, a touch creamy, filled with chicken, peppers, cheese, and all those toppings. I love a simple November dinner when the days are busy and the nights are cold!

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Looking for other fall dinners with a little kick?Here are a few ideas:

Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili

Healthy Slow Cooker Chipotle Bean Chili

One Skillet Saucy Chicken Tortilla Enchilada Rice Bake

Healthy Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins

Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup with Salty Lime Chips

Lastly, if you make this Creamy White Chicken Chili be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Check out the how-to video:

Author: Tieghan Gerard

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories Per Serving: 547 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Watch the How-To Reel

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

Stove

  • 1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, poblano peppers, cumin, paprika, chili powder, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook 5-10 minutes, until very fragrant. Add the chicken, then stir in 4 cups broth. Season with more salt and pepper. Partially cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.

    2. Melt the cream cheese in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

    3. Pull the chicken out and shred using 2 forks. Stir in the cream cheese until smooth, then stir in the shredded chicken, white beans, salsa verde, and cheddar cheese. Cook 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro. If needed, thin with additional broth.

    4. Ladle the chili into bowls. Top, as desired, with yogurt/sour cream, cheese, avocado, cilantro, and green onions. Zest lime over each bowl. Eat and enjoy!

Slow Cooker

  • 1. In the bowl of your crockpot, combine the onion, garlic, poblano peppers, cumin, paprika, and chili powder. Add the chicken, then stir in 4 cups broth and cream cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

    2. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

    3. Shred the chicken using two forks. Stir in the white beans, salsa verde, cheddar, and cilantro.

    4. Ladle the chili into bowls. Top, as desired, with yogurt/sour cream, cheese, avocado, cilantro, and green onions. Zest lime over each bowl. Eat and enjoy!

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Creamy White Chicken Chili. (6)
Creamy White Chicken Chili. (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken white chicken chili? ›

How to Thicken Chili
  1. Simmer down. ...
  2. Stir in some finely ground cornmeal or masa harina. ...
  3. Mix in a scoop of cornstarch, all-purpose flour, or oats. ...
  4. Pile on the vegetables. ...
  5. Try more tomato paste. ...
  6. Mash some beans. ...
  7. Crumble up some corn chips.
Oct 28, 2023

What is the difference between chili and white chili? ›

Regular chili has a rich base of red chilies (or chili powder) and sometimes tomato, while white chili calls for green chilies. We use canned Hatch green chilies, white beans, and tender shredded chicken to make our white chili recipe. It tastes quite different from red chili but is just as delicious!

Can you add sour cream to chili while cooking? ›

To do it, scoop a few generous spoonfuls of sour cream into a heat-safe bowl and slowly add in spoonfuls of your hot chili broth, stirring to combine. This will gradually bring the sour cream up to temperature. From there, you can transfer the warmed-up sour cream into your pot of chili, curdle-free.

Can you put cream in chilli? ›

Stir in beans, chicken broth, green chiles, salt, cumin, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors have blended, about 30 minutes. Remove chili from heat; stir in sour cream and whipping cream until incorporated. Serve hot and enjoy!

Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

Chili should be thick and hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but sometimes there's just a bit more liquid than you want in the pot. While you can simply keep simmering the chili, that method risks overcooking softer ingredients like the beans, losing all your nice texture to mushy monotony.

Is it better to use cornstarch or flour to thicken chili? ›

Adding flour directly into the chili will create lumps. Instead, make a slurry by mixing one tablespoon of cold water with one tablespoon of cornstarch. If you're using all-purpose flour, double the amount of water. Stir in the cornstarch slurry, evenly distributing it throughout the chili.

Why is white chicken chili considered chili? ›

It has no tomatoes and instead uses white beans and green chiles to get its color and flavor. I think the key to this being considered chili is getting the ratio of broth to beans and meat just right so that it is a bit heartier than a regular soup.

Why do you put white vinegar in chili? ›

Stirred into the pot right before serving, a spoonful of vinegar brightens up the finished product, and gives it that full, rounded taste that was missing. Even if the chili recipe you're using doesn't call for vinegar, go ahead and add it anyway. You won't actually taste the tang or sharp flavor of the vinegar.

Why do people put sour cream in chili? ›

The slightly tart flavor will add brightness and complexity to your tried-and-true chili recipe, while the thick texture creates heartiness and a creamy mouthfeel.

Can I use mayo instead of sour cream in chili? ›

Vegan chili can still be vegan with a cashew cream topper. In recipes that call for sour cream as a garnish (think nachos) or tangy thickening agent (salad dressing or dips), mayonnaise is a quick and easy swap thanks to its comparable body and lively tanginess.

Why do people put baking soda in chili? ›

According to the magazine's food experimenters, the baking soda treatment will definitely keep the meat tender and juicy when cooked.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

Why do you put tomato paste in chili? ›

Tomato paste is a great way to add bonus tomato flavor, and thickness, to a chili recipe. To get the best flavor it needs to be browned. Add a couple tablespoons (or a whole can if you want a thicker soup base) directly to the pan after cooking the meat and onions. Stir the paste occasionally to prevent burning.

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

How much cornstarch to thicken white chicken chili? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry: Mix together 1 tablespoon each of cornstarch and cold water, stirring well to remove any lumps. Then, stir the slurry into your chili and let it simmer for another 10 minutes to fully thicken.

How do you thicken white chili without cornstarch? ›

Cornmeal: Add a tablespoon of cornmeal or masa harina while stirring continuously. Mashed Beans: Mash a portion of the beans and stir them into the chili to thicken it. Crushed Tortilla Chips: Crushed tortilla chips can also be added as a thickening agent.

What is the best thickener for chili? ›

All-purpose flour and cornstarch are useful for thickening chili, as well as sauces, soups, and stews. However, you'll want to avoid adding these ingredients directly to your recipe, as this will result in clumps. Instead, create a slurry and add it slowly to help the thickener fully incorporate.

What can I add to chili to make it more soupy? ›

Add more water or tomato sauce if it's too thick. Keeping the lid on can keep the steam in resulting in thinner chili. Also, if I cook chili in the crock pot it is usually thinner, as the lid collects the steam rather than it evaporating.

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