Creamy White Chicken Chili Recipe

4.59 from 727 votes

This creamy white chicken chili recipe is so easy to make, and you can thank the cream cheese for that silky texture!

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Servings:

2 onions diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 pounds cooked chicken, cubed 2 lbs cooked shredded rotisserie chicken or turkey) or this Instant Pot shredded chicken.
32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth (1 carton)
62 ounces great northern white beans fully drained and rinsed (4 (15.5-ounce) cans)
12 ounces diced green chiles drained (3 (4-ounce) cans)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
8 ounces low-fat cream cheese cubed (1 brick)
1 cup heavy cream

In a 6 qt dutch oven or stock pot, saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil and lime juice over medium high heat. Cook until the onions are fragrant and translucent.
2 onions, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons lime juice
Add in the cooked chicken, chicken broth, beans, chiles, and seasoning. Bring to a boil, stirring often, and then reduce heat to simmer. Simmer uncovered for 30-45 minutes, or until it's the thickness you desire. Stir occasionally. I let mine simmer for a full hour to let all the flavors blend fully and to get a nice thickness. It would have been ready to go after 30 minutes, so just do what you like best! (See below for Crock Pot Instructions)
2 pounds cooked chicken, cubed, 32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth, 62 ounces great northern white beans, 12 ounces diced green chiles, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Turn off the heat and stir in the cubed cream cheese. Stir constantly until the cream cheese melts and incorporates completely. Stir in the heavy cream.
8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, 1 cup heavy cream
Top with as many or as few optional toppings as you desire. I used them all! The more the merrier.
tortilla chips, jalapeños, cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado

Want to make this in a crockpot? Check out our Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili.
Spicy White Bean Chili: For a spicy version of this chili (that's not creamy), swap out the diced green chiles for 2 cups of salsa verde; the salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and cayenne for ½ tablespoon of poultry seasoning; omit the lime juice, cream, and cream cheese; and add 2 diced jalapeño peppers and 1 poblano pepper.
Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.