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
If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!
Easy White Chicken Chili Recipe (Stovetop or Crockpot)
Ingredients
Method
- 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.
Nutrition
Notes
- Mash One Cup of Beans Before Adding: Before adding the beans to the pot, take 1 cup of white beans and mash them with a potato masher until soft. This is the secret to that thick, creamy consistency without needing any heavy cream or flour.
- Add the Chicken Raw: Drop the chicken breasts right into the pot raw and let them cook in the broth for 15–20 minutes until cooked through.
- Add the Greek Yogurt Off the Heat: Turn off the heat completely before stirring in the Greek yogurt and lime juice. Adding dairy to a boiling pot can cause it to curdle, and nobody wants that in their chili!
Becca says
Wonderful soup for a chilly & rainy day!! Super easy in the crock pot!
Erin says
Hi Becca, so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Lindsay Hopkins says
All I have to say is: yum!! What an easy, delicious meal for a chilly Sunday!
Erin says
Hi Lindsay, so happy you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Chelsea says
Really tasty! Great meal prep option and perfect with some Tjs corn dippers on top 🙂
Erin says
Hi Chelsea, so happy you love it! 🙂
Crystal says
Do you have a recommended vegetarian alternative for the chicken? A different type of bean, maybe? This looks delish and I would love to try, minus the chicken!
Erin says
Hi Crystal, yes, you can use literally any bean! Chickpeas might be great! Let me know what you decide and how the chili comes out! 🙂
danielle says
Oh.my.goodness this is my new favorite chili! It’s so flavorful, satiating yet light. Super easy to make too! I added extra lime juice, crushed tortilla chips, greek yogurt and Mexican shredded cheese to the top. Husband approved too! Thank you Erin!!!
Erin says
Hi Danielle, so glad you both loved it and great idea!!
Allison says
When making in a crockpot do you still cook the onions beforehand? or add them in raw!
Erin says
Hi Allison, you can add them raw. Let me know how your chili comes out!
Maddy says
Hit the spot! Thanks Erin!
Erin says
Hi Maddy, so happy you loved it! 🙂
Allysa says
What could I sub for the Greek yogurt
Erin says
Hi Allysa, you could use sour cream or cream cheese. Let me know what you do and how it comes out!
Lauren says
Wow yes! Made this for my family and they all loved it. I added 3 chicken breasts (plus 1/2 cup more chicken broth) to the recipe instead of 2 breasts, just to add more protein. It turned out great. I like spice so I put the chopped jalapeno as a topping and this is what it needed, a kick. This is a healthy recipe and lasted for a few days of lunches after too. Thank you Erin
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so happy you all enjoyed it and made it your own!!
Mackenzie says
I love all of your recipes and this one was soo perfect for a gloomy fall day. I highly recommend this one 🙂 turned out great and still felt light.
Erin says
Hi Mackenzie, so happy you loved it! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Theresa D Crowe says
Your picture is not the same as the recipe.
I made the chicken chili. I just changed it a bit. No chiles, no fire roasted tomatoes, no corn. (Did not have these.) I used dried navy beans dehydrated, minced onion and garlic. I also put more chili powder in, about 1 tbsp, 1 tsp is way too small of an amount. I also used white pepper instead of black pepper. I put a can of diced tomatoes in. Letting it simmer, I added the lime juice and Greek yogurt, then let is sit off of the heat. It turned out pretty good.
Holly Pokrandt says
If I am planning to make a day or two ahead, do you wait and add the 1/2 cup Greek yogurt when you are ready to eat or when you add back the chicken. Thank you
Erin says
Hi Holly, when you add back the chicken is fine! Let me know how it comes out!
Katy says
I would have sworn I made your delicious white chili recipe with an instant pot. Do you no longer have the times for the instant pot? Thanks so much for your help!
Erin says
Hi Katy, you might have. I don't have times for it, but feel free to give it a try and let me know how it comes out!!
Kellen says
Threw everything in the crockpot and it turned out delicious 👌🏼
Erin says
Hi Kellen, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Hannah says
Super easy in the crockpot and a cozy meal for winter!
Erin says
Hi Hannah, so glad you loved it!!
Sydney says
SO yummy and so easy! This (along with many other ELW recipes) is on repeat in my kitchen! Thank you so much for sharing your recipes, Erin!
Erin says
Hi Sydney, so happy you loved them and thanks for your support!! 🙂
Taylor says
I just came across this recipe and knew I had to try it. It's so easy to make and delicious! Thanks for sharing, Erin!
Erin says
Hi Taylor, I am so glad you liked it!!
Steph says
So good! Could not find green chili’s at my store, instead added in some extra green onion and chopped up jalapeños. So light and tasty, doesn’t feel like you are eating heavy chili!
Erin says
Hi Steph, I am so glad you liked it and made it your own!!
Teri says
5 stars for this recipe, my family loves it! I used cooked ground turkey and left out the corn and put it all in the crockpot, so delicious!
Erin says
Hi Teri, so happy you and your family all loved it!! 🙂
Katie S says
So so good!! A fall and winter favorite for sure!
Erin says
Hi Katie, so happy you loved it!!