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White Chicken Chili Recipe

4.4 from 57 reviews

This White Chicken Chili is a comforting and flavorful twist on traditional chili. Made with tender shredded chicken, white beans, corn, and a blend of aromatic spices, it offers a creamy texture balanced with a mild kick from jalapeños and green chiles. Topped with avocado, fresh cilantro, crunchy tortilla chips, and melted Monterey Jack cheese, this hearty chili is perfect for a cozy meal any time of year.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp. neutral oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thirds
  • 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 (4.5-oz.) cans green chiles
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 (15-oz.) cans white beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Toppings

  • 1 avocado, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup crushed tortilla chips
  • 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

  1. Sauté vegetables: In a large pot over medium heat, heat the neutral oil. Add the chopped onion and finely chopped jalapeño, cooking while stirring until softened, about 8 minutes. Then add the garlic, dried oregano, and ground cumin, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
  2. Cook the chicken and simmer: Add the cut chicken breasts, low-sodium chicken broth, and green chiles to the pot. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered until the chicken is cooked through, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a plate and shred it with two forks.
  3. Add beans and thicken: Stir the drained and rinsed white beans into the pot and bring to a simmer again. Using a wooden spoon, smash roughly one-quarter of the beans to release their starch and slightly thicken the chili. Let it cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Combine corn and chicken, finish chili: Add the frozen corn and the shredded chicken back into the pot. Stir well and cook until heated through, about 1 minute more. Remove the chili from heat and stir in the sour cream to add creaminess.
  5. Serve and garnish: Ladle the chili into bowls and top each serving with thinly sliced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, crushed tortilla chips, and shredded Monterey Jack cheese for added texture and flavor.

Notes

  • For a spicier chili, leave the jalapeño seeds in or add extra jalapeños.
  • You can use rotisserie chicken to save time if desired.
  • To make it dairy-free, substitute sour cream with a plant-based alternative and omit cheese.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat well on the stovetop.
  • This chili freezes well; freeze in portions and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Keywords: white chicken chili, easy chicken chili, white bean chili, comforting chili recipe, stovetop chili, healthy chicken chili