This White Chicken Chili recipe is not only delicious - but it's quick, easy, and healthy! Made with only 7 ingredients in 30 minutes or less, it's the perfect weeknight dinner! You'll love the perfectly seasoned tender chicken and juices with white beans, onions, and green chiles.
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🎥 Video
Why You'll ❤️ White Chicken Chili
"A quick and easy flavorful chili recipe perfect for any night of the week!"
Chili can be made in so many unique ways - from this delicious slow cooker, no-bean chicken chili to this Texas-style beef barbecue chili (also no beans), and this vegetable and bean-based chipotle peach vegan chili - you're sure to find a delicious option!
7 Ingredients!
Make this with only 7 main ingredients from start to finish! Of course, you can add any additional ingredients you would like to, and you may already have on hand.
Check out the how-to-serve and variations section below for ideas!
30 Minutes One Pan
Make this chicken chili in one pan in less than 30 minutes. Got a busy night? This is the perfect meal with easy cleanup!
Healthy
This is a healthy chicken chili recipe:
- Only 209 calories per serving and high in protein.
- This chili is gluten free, dairy-free, and has no sugar added.
- To lower the fat, use diced boneless chicken breast and less olive oil.
- To make this keto omit the beans and add 2 cups of diced vegetables such as bell pepper, mushrooms, and zucchini. Saute with the onion.
- Make it vegan by omitting the chicken and substituting more beans, tofu, or a ground "meat" subsitute.
🥘 What You'll Need
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this chicken chili recipe:
Recipe for White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix - make your own mix - it's so easy and healthy! A store-bought premix packet can also be used.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Onion - use your favorite type of onion. I like to use yellow, white, or sweet in this recipe. Save time and use pre-chopped onion if desired.
Ground Chicken - use ground chicken for convenience, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs that have been cut into bite-size pieces.
Canned White Beans - any variety works here as well! You could use great northern beans, navy beans, cannellini, or any white canned beans you like.
Canned Diced Green Chiles - these come in heat varieties as well, so purchase them based on your heat tolerance.
Chicken Broth - any variety of chicken broth will work so choose regular, low-sodium, or even replace it with vegetable stock if preferred.
Salt and Pepper
Optional Garnish for Serving - avocado slices, sour cream, fresh cilantro, jack cheese
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
🔪 How To Make It
Here are the step-by-step instructions for making this white chicken chili:
Saute Onion
First, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Saute diced onion in the skillet until translucent.
Cook The Chicken
Add the cut chicken and cook until the chicken is done, frequently stirring for approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
(Chicken is done when it is no longer pink and the internal temperature is 165 degrees F when checked with an instant-read thermometer.)
Add Remaining Ingredients
Add the seasoning mix, beans, green chilies, and chicken broth.
Stir and then bring to a boil.
Simmer
Cover, turn down the heat, and then simmer the chili for 15 minutes.
Serve
Serve and garnish with shredded Monterey jack cheese, sliced avocado, sour cream, and cilantro!
🥗 How To Serve It
Here are a few more ways to serve this chicken chili:
Garnish with avocado slices, fresh cilantro, and sour cream.
More topping ideas: shredded jack cheese, sliced green onions, or diced white onion, crushed tortilla chips, olives, and even crumbled corn bread.
Squeeze a little fresh lime juice over the top of your soup!
A slice of cornbread or crusty bread is always pairs well with chili.
Meal idea! Serve your chicken chili with a side of cornbread and a fresh green salad with avocado salad dressing. Be sure to try this Roasted Chili Corn Salsa on the side with chips as well.
📖 Variations
Here are a few ways you can customize this chili recipe:
- Add some spice to this recipe if you like a little extra heat! You could add sliced jalapenos or sliced banana pepper on top of your chili and a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce, or add crushed red pepper to the soup when simmering.
- Saute up to 2 cups of fresh vegetables such as zucchini, green bell pepper, and mushrooms.
- Substitute the chicken with steak, pork, or andouille sausage! Any meat that can be cut into bite-size pieces works great!
- Make this soup vegetarian by omitting the chicken and replacing it with tofu or adding extra beans. Remember to use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth as well.
- Lower the carbs and make it keto-friendly by omitting the beans and adding vegetables.
- Make it creamier by adding softened cream cheese or sour cream to the broth.
💭 Top Tips
- Make this recipe in a slow cooker or crockpot: use diced chicken breast or thighs and place all ingredients in your slow cooker and set on low for 6 to 8 hours. Thicken juices if needed.
- Adjust any seasoning to your tastes.
❓FAQs
How To Store
Store your leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep your toppings separate from the soup when storing for the best-reheated version.
How To Reheat
You can reheat this soup either in a stock pot on the stove or in the microwave. Portion into a microwave-safe bowl the amount you would like and cook on high for 2 minutes or until the desired temperature is reached.
How To Freeze
If you do not add any cream cheese or dairy to the soup, you can freeze this soup without the worry of it breaking when reheated. You can store it in an air-tight container for three months. Tip: date your container with a piece of tape so you can easily track the best-by date.
A few ways you can thicken the broth of a chili. First, let it simmer longer. The excess moisture will reduce down and will become thicker. Second, make a cornstarch or flour "slurry." Add one tablespoon of either ingredient and mix with a 1/8th cup of water. Stir into the soup and wait at least 10 minutes before adding more. Third, add in cheese or cream cheese and stir until combined. Cheese acts as a binder.
The main difference between the two is the base. White chili base is typically a broth with green chili and white beans. Regular chili is a tomato base made up of crushed tomato, tomato sauce, chili powder, red chili pepper, and various red beans.
Typically white chili is made with a broth base such as chicken or vegetable to keep it "white" or light colored. Ingredients typically found are also light in colors, such as chicken, green chilies, and white beans. You can add cream cheese to the base of this soup to keep it light in color but add a creamier texture.
✔️ More Chicken Recipes
If you are looking for more delicious soup and stew recipe with chicken, be check these out:
- Keto Chicken Chili (Slow Cooker) - white chicken chili with no beans so it's low carb and keto-friendly!
- Healthier Green Enchiladas
- Green Enchiladas Chicken Soup (Slow Cooker + Instant Pot)
- Creamy Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Soup
- Crockpot Cream of Chicken and Mushroom Soup
- Chicken Fajita Soup (Crockpot + Instant Pot)
- Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Soup
📋 Recipe
Easy White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 recipe white chicken chili seasoning mix (or 1 store-bought packet)
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion
- 1 pound ground chicken (or, boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs cut into bite-size pieces, about 1")
- 1 (16-ounce) can white beans (do not drain)
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies (do not drain)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add chicken and cook until chicken is done, stirring frequently for approximately 5 to 6 minutes. (chicken is done when it is no longer pink, or to be 100% sure use an instant-read thermometer. Chicken is done at 165 degrees F.)
- Add seasoning mix, beans, green chilies, and chicken broth. Stir and then bring to a boil.
- Cover, turn down the heat, and simmer the chili for 15 minutes.
- Salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Video
Notes
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- VARIATIONS: Use ground turkey or ground beef if preferred.
- SERVING SUGGESTION: garnish with cilantro and top with cheese, sour cream, or salsa verde. Serve with cornbread, corn muffins, or tortilla chips.
Nutrition
© 2023 Seeking Good Eats™
Jonah S. says
10/10 Best Chili I have had! Super simple with great flavor.
seekinggoodeats says
Awww thank you! 🙂 So glad you loved the chicken chili!