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This Easy White Chicken Chili Recipe is the perfect cozy and healthy meal. Made with chicken, beans, chiles, and more, this dish is full of flavor and is ready in under 40 minutes.
The easiest white chicken chili
This white chicken chili is one of my favorite chicken recipes. It’s delicious, it’s easy to make, and it doesn’t require much prep at all. Plus, you can make it on the stovetop or in your slow cooker. It’s up to you!
This chili consists of a blend of chicken (of course) mixed with onion, garlic, beans, chiles, and more. By mashing some of the beans, we’re able to achieve a super cozy, thick consistency.
This dish is filled with SO much flavor and is wonderful for pairing with salad or cornbread, or for eating on its own. Trust me, you’re going to be going in for seconds!
Ingredients for this chili recipe
Though this chili recipe seems to require a lot of different ingredients, don’t be intimidated. The list may look long, but the ingredients are actually very simple and include a lot of spices and seasonings! No speciality items are required; everything can be found in a standard grocery store.
Main Dish Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- White beans
- Corn
- Chicken breasts
- Chicken broth
- Green chiles
- Cumin
- Oregano
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chili powder
- Cayenne
- Lime
- Greek yogurt
Topping Ingredients:
- Greek yogurt
- Cilantro
- Cheddar cheese
- Jalapeño
- Lime
- Tortilla chips
Required kitchen tools
Whether you choose to use a slow cooker or your stovetop, the tools required to make this recipe are simple.
- Large pot
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Potato masher
- Optional: Slow cooker
How to make white chicken chili
This recipe requires minimal prep and includes a bit of dicing and a few minutes of sautéing. After that, you essentially throw everything into a pot and wait for it to fully cook!
To start preparing this easy chili recipe, begin by warming some olive oil in a pot on the stove. Sauté the onions until soft. Add the garlic, and saute for one minute.
In a separate bowl, mash 1 cup of beans with a potato masher until soft. This will be used to thicken the soup.
Add the broth, chicken, mashed beans, regular beans, green chiles, and corn to the pot.
Once everything comes to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
Once the chicken is fully cooked, turn off the heat and take out the breasts. Shred them with two forks. You may need to let the chicken cool for a bit before handling.
Add the chicken back into the pot, then add the lime juice and the Greek yogurt.
Finally, serve with extra toppings including cilantro, Greek yogurt, cheese, tortilla strips, and jalapeños.
How to cook chicken chili in the slow cooker
You are more than welcome to make this recipe in a slow cooker. To do so, place all ingredients in the cooker and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Once cooked, shred the chicken with a fork and place back into the crockpot for serving.
That’s it!
How to prepare as a make-ahead meal
If you’d like, you can most certainly make this meal ahead of time!
Chop the necessary ingredients, and then store everything in a freezer bag. When it comes time to enjoy, allow everything to thaw before tossing it on the stove or in the slow cooker!
Enjoy your prepped meal within 3 months.
How to store this chili
With any extra chili, feel free to keep it refrigerated and enjoy within 3-4 days. I recommend storing it in an airtight container to keep it fresh.
Enjoy more recipes from Erin Lives Whole
There are more chicken recipes where this one came from! My website is filled with a wide selection of chicken meals cooked in many different ways. Enjoy!
- Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken
- Healthy Cashew Chicken
- Baked Paleo Chicken Tenders
- Healthy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Easy White Chicken Chili Recipe (Stovetop or Crockpot)
This Easy White Chicken Chili Recipe is the perfect healthy and cozy meal. Made with chicken, beans, chiles, and more, this dish is full of flavor and is ready in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 2 cans white beans, drained and rinsed
- 2lbs chicken breasts, raw (~3 large breasts)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 4oz cans green chiles
- 1 can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 can corn, drained and rinsed.
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I used 2%)
Topping:
- Greek yogurt
- cilantro
- cheddar cheese
- jalapeno
- lime
- tortilla chips
Instructions
- Saute onions in olive oil until soft. Add in garlic for one minute and then add in all spices.
- In a separate bowl, mash 1 cup of beans with a potato masher until soft, we will use this to thicken the soup.
- Add broth, mashed and regular beans, green chiles, fire roasted tomatoes, and corn into pot. Then add in the chicken breasts and cook at medium-high heat.
- Once it comes to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook 15-20 minutes until chicken is cooked through, this will vary depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
- Once chicken is cooked, turn off heat and take out the breasts. When chicken is cool enough to handle, shred with two forks.
- Add the chicken back in, along with the juice of one lime and the Greek yogurt.
- Stir all together and serve with extra toppings such as cilantro, Greek yogurt, cheese, tortilla strips, and jalapenos.
Notes
For crockpot: Place all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Shred chicken with fork and place back into crockpot for serving.
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Kristina says
Loved this recipe. I used canned chicken so this took a total of 15 minutes. Super filling and healthy– thank you!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kristina, so glad you loved it!!
Laura B says
Perfect to prep and freeze for postpartum meal prep!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Laura, so glad you liked it!
Faith Simon says
Literally my boyfriend’s favorite meal. I bought chips to dip in it and served crushed on top.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Faith, so glad he loves it!!
Erica says
Such a great recipe!! Super filling. I used an immersion blender to “mash” the beans with some chicken stock.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Erica, so glad you liked the chili!
Brooke says
So good!! Even on a rainy summers night.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Brooke, so glad you loved it!!
Laura says
So good! Made in the crockpot so it was easy to throw together in the am. Used diced tomates with green chilis because that’s what I had on hand, also used frozen corn. All turned out great. Realizing now that since I used my crockpot, I missed the step about mashing some beans so the more soup like consistency makes sense – it was still great! Had plenty of leftovers for lunch and the freezer. When reheating the next day, adding some ditalini pasta. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Laura, I am so happy you enjoyed the chili and made it your own!!
Molly says
So yummy and a new favorite! Even my friend who doesn’t typically like soup loved this recipe.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Molly, so happy you both enjoyed it!!
Leah says
Could I sub in a rotisserie chicken?
Erin says
Hi Leah, sure! I haven’t tried it that way before, but let me know how it comes out!
monica says
SO delicious, flavorful, hearty, makes you feel good after eating it, and great meal prep dish for the week!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Monica, so glad you liked it!
Kelli says
So good! Probably the best white chicken chili I have ever made. Even better on day 2.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kelli, so happy you loved it!!
Beckie Maddox says
This is fantastic and super easy! Only sub I did was use a white onion vs yellow and it was delicious. Such a great recipe for a Sunday football playoff day or any day really. Make this for your family. They will love it!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Beckie, I am so happy you liked it and made it your own!
nikki says
this is one of my favorite recipes I’ve made!! so flavorful & so delicious! i threw everything in the crockpot & it was too easy! (I just saw in the comment & recipe about mashing the beans, but I didn’t do that & it was still really good!) Will definitely make again- easiest meal prep ever!!!! thank you Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Nikki, I am so happy you enjoyed it so much!! 🙂
Kristyn Conrad says
I was looking to make a soup on this cold, snowy day & didn’t want to run to the store for ingredients. Sure enough I had most of the ingredients for the white chicken chili. I only had to substitute a can of kidney beans because I only had one can of white which I smashed. The chili was easy to make & super tasty! The fresh lime & yogurt made it extra!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kristyn, ah love hearing that! So glad you enjoyed it!
Meaghan Johnson says
I’ve made a few chili recipes over the years and especially white chicken chili and this is by far my favorite. So so good!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Meaghan, so happy you loved it!
Brittany says
If your making it in the crockpot do you add the Greek yogurt in the beginning or only at then end ?
Erin says
Hi Brittany, you’d add it to the end. Let me know how yours comes out!
Erin says
Such a simple meal to make on a weeknight. I’m recovering from jaw surgery & wanted a different soup so I hopped on over to my favorite food blogger & found this recipe! I substituted Greek yogurt for cashew milk yogurt (dairy allergy) & didn’t shred the chicken because I have to purée everything right now anyway. My final product wasn’t as thick as Erin’s (likely due to the consistency of the yogurt used), but the flavor is fantastic (even puréed 😂). Can’t wait to find another recipe to try!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Erin, I am so happy you enjoyed it and made it your own and hope you feel better soon!
Alyssa says
Literally my favorite white bean chili recipe to date! I usually sub Lima beans or green peas since I can tolerate corn and nonetheless it’s delicious 😋
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alyssa, so happy you enjoyed it!
Taylor says
This. Is. So. Flipping. DELICIOUS!!! And so easy!!!! Absolutely adding to my regular rotation of recipes. Perfect if you’re prepping multiple meals for lunches etc.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Taylor, I am so thrilled you loved it!!
Tessa says
I’ve made this chili about five times now…SO good every time! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Tessa, I am so happy you love it so much!
Lily says
This chili is fan favorite in my house hold!! Flavorful, easy to make and just darn right delicious! Easy to substitute as needed for what you have in the fridge as well. I make this at least once a week. I have made it on the stove top and in the instant pot, both just as good! 10/10!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lily, I am so happy everyone loves it! Thanks for sharing!!
Olivia Wills says
I loved this recipe so much!!!! I have been wanting to make chicken chili for a long time now and decided to look up your recipe and make it, and it was one of my favorites!!! Will definitely be making this again!!!! 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Olivia, I am so happy you enjoyed it!!