This thick and creamy White Chicken Chili packs a punch of rich Southwest flavors into a healthy one-pot meal. Each spoonful is filled with seasoned chicken, creamy beans, sweet corn, and poblano peppers for a subtle kick of heat.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love This White Chicken Chili Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients for White Chicken Chili
• 🔪 How to Make White Chicken Chili
• 💡 Tips for Making White Chicken Chili
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🍴 Tasty Toppings for Homemade White Chicken Chili
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• Can I Make this White Chicken Chili in a Slow Cooker?
• Is This White Chicken Chili Gluten-Free?
• How Can I Thicken the Chili if it's Too Watery?
• Is This White Chicken Chili Spicy?
• 🍽️ More Soup Recipes

❤️ Why You'll Love This White Chicken Chili Recipe

• Rich and bold Southwest flavors
• Thick and creamy texture
• Smoky poblano peppers
• Lots of topping choices
• Heathy one pot meal

This White Chicken Chili is a delicious twist on the traditional recipe, featuring tender, juicy ground chicken instead of the usual shredded chicken breasts. Made entirely from scratch, it skips the canned creamed soups and uses fresh ingredients for that extra homemade special touch.

Each cozy bowl is creamy, comforting, and bursting with the most amazing flavor. It’s the perfect dish for warming up on a chilly day. Plus, it’s a fantastic make-ahead dish because it’s even better the next day. You can even make a double batch and freeze some for later, making meal planning a breeze.

If you're looking for a delicious traditional red chili, this Homemade Chili recipe is so good and is super easy to make. Of course all chili is better with a warm slice of this Homemade Cornbread!

🛒 Ingredients for White Chicken Chili

• Ground chicken
• Chicken broth
• Poblano peppers
• Cannellini beans
• Corn
• Cream cheese
• Onion
• Cilantro
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Ground cumin
• Smoked paprika
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Dutch oven or large pot
• Bullet blender or food processor

🔪 How to Make White Chicken Chili

Heat a Dutch oven or large pot to medium and add in half the salt, pepper and ground chicken. Brown the chicken, then remove and set it aside.

Add in the olive oil, butter, chopped onion, poblano peppers remaining salt and pepper, then sauté until tender.

Add in the garlic and continue sautéing for another 20 seconds, making sure not to brown it.

Add in the ground cumin and smoked paprika.  Allow it to toast, while stirring, for another 20 seconds.

Pour in the chicken broth and deglaze the pot, scraping up the brown bits of flavor.

Add the chicken back in, along with most of the cannellini beans, reserving ¾ cup and setting it aside. Simmer for 10 minutes uncovered.

After 10 minutes, add the reserved cannellini beans and cream cheese to a bullet blender cup or food processor bowl. 

Carefully ladle about 1 cup of the hot broth over the top and blend until creamy.

Pour the mixture back into the soup, along with the corn and continue simmering for another 10 minutes.

Add in the chopped cilantro and lime juice, stir and serve.

💡 Tips for Making White Chicken Chili

• Don’t skip creaming some of the beans because this thickens the chili and adds to the creamy texture.

• Don’t rush when sautéing the onions, garlic, and peppers. You want them to be nice and tender, which builds a flavorful base for the chili.

• Allow the chili to simmer for the full time to let all the flavors meld together. A longer simmer can deepen the flavor and make the dish even more delicious.

• Taste the chili as it cooks and adjust the seasoning to your preference. Adding a bit more lime juice or spices based on your personal preference.

☑️ Storage Instructions

Fridge: Allow the chili to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Once cooled, portion the chili into freezer-safe bags or containers. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and heat thoroughly on the stove.

🍴 Tasty Toppings for Homemade White Chicken Chili

• Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend)
• Sour cream or Mexican Crema
• Chopped herbs (Fresh cilantro and fresh chives)
• Crumbled homemade tortilla chips
• Pickled red onions
• Fresh veggies (chopped jalapenos, red bell peppers, fresh tomatoes, green onions, diced avocado)
• Cooked bacon crumbles
• Queso fresco
• Pico de Gallo or a dollop of homemade salsa, or salsa Verde

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Ground chicken: You can use ground turkey or shredded chicken breast or thighs.

• Cannellini beans: Substitute with great northern beans or navy beans.

• Poblano peppers: Use green bell peppers for a milder flavor.

• Cream cheese: Replace with Greek yogurt for a lighter option or use a dairy-free cream cheese.

• Sweet potatoes: Dice and add sweet potatoes for extra heartiness and a touch of sweetness.

• Spinach or kale: Stir in for extra greens and nutrients.

• Chopped tomatoes: Adds even more flavor to the broth.

• Other beans: Mix in black beans or kidney beans for a different texture.

• Cilantro rice: Spoon some of your chili over a fluffy bed of cilantro lime cauliflower rice.

Can I Make this White Chicken Chili in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can! Brown the ground chicken and sauté the onions and garlic, then transfer everything to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Add the cream cheese and any reserved beans during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Is This White Chicken Chili Gluten-Free?

Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free. Just be sure to check the labels on your chicken broth and other packaged ingredients to confirm they are gluten-free.

How Can I Thicken the Chili if it's Too Watery?

If the chili is too watery, you can thicken it by adding a slurry of cornstarch and water, or by simmering it uncovered to reduce the liquid. You can also blend some more of the beans to create a thicker texture.

Is This White Chicken Chili Spicy?

It’s not super spicy but the poblano peppers do have a little kick. If you want a mild chili, you can use green bell peppers instead.

🍽️ More Soup Recipes

• Egg Roll Soup
• Cream of Asparagus Soup
• Carrot and Lentil Soup
• Chicken Corn Chowder