White Chicken Chili Recipe

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Winter has begun, so if you’re searching for a comforting and cozy recipe, I highly suggest this incredible White Chicken Chili. I guarantee that this dish will offer you a warm and wholesome feeling during the chilly, snowy weather.

I like to eat according to the seasons. During summer, I prefer juicy, fruity, and refreshing dishes, but in the colder months, I lean toward cozy, spicy meals. To satisfy my seasonal cravings, I adapted this exotic recipe from my aunt, a fantastic cook with a unique approach to cooking.

One of her standout dishes is this White Chicken Chili. In This recipe has its roots in Southwest America, particularly in Tex-Mex cuisine.

This White Chicken Chili highlights that the best experiences in life often come with delicious food. I’ve made it accessible in this blog post so you can enjoy the same experience I did.

What's In The Post

Equipments Required

Saucepan: I use a heavy-bottom pan to fry the chicken and other ingredients; you can also use a stock pot.
Measuring Cups & Spoons: To achieve consistent and precise measurements, use these pieces of equipment.
Knife: I also suggest using a sharp knife for precisely slicing the garlic and onions and even dicing the chicken meat.
Spatula: You can use a wooden or silicone spatula to evenly mix your ingredients.

How-To-Make-White-Chicken-Chili-At-Home1

White Chicken Chili Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: The quantities of the ingredients mentioned below are enough to serve eight portions of White Chicken Chili.

1.5 lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: If you are out of chicken thighs, consider using chicken breasts.
2 – 15oz. Cans Cannellini Beans (drained): I suggest using Great North beans, a wonderful creamy substitute for cannellini beans.
1 – 15oz. Can Pinto Beans (drained): If you don’t prefer Pinto beans, use black beans as a similar alternative.
3 Cups Chicken Broth: For a milder option than chicken stock, use vegetable stock, or for a fatty option, use beef or pork stock.
1 Cup Frozen Corn: For a sweeter option, use fresh corn kernels.
1 Yellow Onion: I also use red onions to get a raw, tangy, and sweet taste with a slight Mediterranean touch.
4 Cloves Garlic: You can also try using leeks for a subtle onion-garlic flavor or chives, which have a less intense flavor than garlic.
1 Jalapeno: For a much hotter flavor, you can use serrano peppers or for a mild flavor, you can use poblano peppers.
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil: You can also use canola or vegetable oil for a neutral and easy option.
1 – 7 oz. Can Diced Green Chiles: I also use red chili or red pepper flakes for a different texture and fruity hot flavor.
1 Tablespoon of Ground Cumin: You can try using ground coriander seeds, which are similar to cumin and have a slightly citrusy and sweet note.
1 Teaspoon of Dried Oregano: I always use dried thyme or rosemary to get a piney, minty, and peppery flavor if I don’t have oregano.
¼ Teaspoon of Smoked Paprika: As a milder, smokey, and peppery alternative, I suggest using ancho chili powder, which is made from poblano peppers.
¼ Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper: I also use regular chili powder to achieve a hotter flavor in the dish.
¼ Teaspoon of Garlic Powder: You can also use onion powder for a less pungent and umami flavor.
¼ Teaspoons of Freshly Cracked Black Pepper: For a milder option, I suggest using white pepper. If you prefer a herby, extra raw peppery taste, you can use ground green peppercorns.
4 oz. Cream Cheese: You can also use ricotta cheese as a much creamier substitute.
½ Cup Sour Cream: I substitute it with Greek yogurt for a tangy, creamy, slightly sour flavor.
1 Teaspoon of Salt: I use regular salt, but you can even use kosher as a milder substitute.

Preparation And Cooking Time

Preparation time	Cooking time	Total Time
10 Minutes	50 Minutes	1 Hour

How To Make White Chicken Chili At Home

Step 1

Heat a pan on a medium flame, add oil, and saute the garlic, green chili, and onions.

Step 2

Once the onions and garlic are aromatic, toss in some diced chicken and cannellini beans.

Step 3

Proceed by adding ground cumin powder, dried oregano, and chopped jalapenos to the chicken.

Step 4

After that, add smoked paprika powder, cayenne pepper powder, and garlic powder to the chicken and saute it.

Step 5

Toss the pinto beans into the pan and stir them well.

Step 6

Following that, season the chicken with pepper and salt.

Step 7

Next, add the chicken broth to the pan and bring it to a boil. Once it boils, let it simmer at a medium temperature for 30 minutes.

Step 8

After 30 minutes, remove the chicken pieces from the chili, shred them, and add them back to the pot.

Step 9

Now, add the corn kernels to the chicken and stir to combine.

Step 10

After that, stir in the cream cheese until it melts smoothly into the chili.

Step 11

Finish by incorporating the sour cream into the chicken chili.

Step 12

Here you have it! Time to relish a cozy White Chicken Chili!

Expert Tips That I Recommend

If you enjoy sweetness in all recipes, you can surely drizzle your chicken with honey or maple syrup. It enhances the overall flavor.
You can also splash in a little lemon juice or vinegar for a sour, citrus, and acidic flavor. Grate in a little lemon zest along with lemon juice.
Ensure to cook the chicken over medium heat evenly until it’s tender and soft enough to chew.
If you don’t prefer sauteing your dish in oil, I recommend adding butter, which completely elevates the dish with a rich flavor.
Finally, I always sprinkle Mediterranean seasoning powder or Italian seasoning powder for an extra umami flavor. You can try the same or sprinkle some curry powder for a more robust flavor.
After adding the chicken and beans, I deglaze the pan with some white wine for added flavor.

FAQ’s About White Chicken Chili Recipe

How do you bring down the heat level of this dish if the chicken tastes too hot?

You might want to include a bit of milk, heavy cream, or additional sour cream to mellow the heat in the dish.

How do you adjust the recipe to get the proper consistency?

If the sauce is too runny, add some cornstarch slurry to help thicken it. If it’s too thick, you can dilute it by adding additional chicken broth or hot water.

How do you ensure that the chicken remains juicy and soft?

To keep the chicken tender, gently pound it or soak it in a brine solution for 15-20 minutes before cooking. However, ensure that you rinse it well afterward. You could also sprinkle a tenderizing powder on the chicken and leave it for 30 minutes. Fresh meat is preferable to frozen chicken.

How can you avoid the formation of foam on top of the dish?

For best results, rinse the beans twice or thrice, add a small amount of baking soda, and soak them for 15 minutes. Be sure to rinse them well again before cooking to avoid any foam while cooking.

How do you prevent the dish from burning?

To prevent burning, keep the heat low and stir regularly. Avoid letting the sauce thicken excessively, as this can lead to burning at the bottom. If you can sense the dish burning, it is best to transfer the chili to another pot and turn off the stove.

How do you keep cream cheese or sour cream from curdling while cooking?

Be sure to add cheese and sour cream at the end after lowering the temperature. Avoid adding any acidic ingredients when mixing in cream cheese or sour cream. Too much stirring can lead to curdling, so gently stir it.

Nutritional Information Per Serving

White Chicken Chili is moderately healthy and a delicious recipe. However, it is best to enjoy this dish in moderation due to its high carbohydrate and fat content.

Calories	334.4 kcal
Carbohydrates	29.7 g
Protein	21.3 g
Fat	15.1 g
Cholesterol	63.4 mg
Sodium	887.7 mg
Potassium	617.2 mg
Calcium	122.4 mg
Iron	2.6 mg

This recipe is completely suitable for people following a gluten-free and low-sugar diet. However, people adhering to ketogenic, vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and fat-free diets may have to alter a few ingredients and make this recipe suitable according to their meal plan.

Recipe Variations For Different Diets

Ketogenic Diet: Substitute the cannellini beans with chopped mushrooms or tofu, and for pinto beans, use black soy beans instead. Lastly, substitute corn for chopped bell peppers or zucchini.
Dairy-Free Diet: Alter the cream cheese to tofu-based or almond-based cream cheese. For sour cream, you can use cashew-based or coconut cream-based sour cream.
Low-Fat Diet: For a low-fat alternative, just alter chicken thigh meat to skinless breast meat, and instead of olive oil, you can use low-fat cooking spray or use very little oil. Also, alter cream cheese to tofu-based cream cheese and sour cream to cashew-based sour cream to lower the fat content further.

Storing And Reheating This Recipe

Storing

In the Refrigerator: I typically keep my leftovers in the refrigerator. You can do the same by transferring your chicken chili to an airtight container, which will stay fresh for 4-5 days.
In the Freezer: Freezing isn’t my preferred way to store this recipe, and I wouldn’t recommend it as your first choice. But if needed, you can freeze the chicken chili in an airtight container, and it will remain good for up to 15 days or a month.

Reheating

In The Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F, then transfer the chicken chili to an oven-safe dish. Add some chicken broth, place it in the oven, and reheat for around 15 minutes, stirring and checking occasionally until it’s fully heated.
In The Microwave: I sometimes place the leftover chicken chili in a microwave-safe bowl, mix in a bit of chicken broth in it, and then I microwave it for 30 seconds to 1 minute, by stirring it at intervals until it becomes hot.
Stovetop Method: Place your leftover chicken chili in a saucepan and heat it to medium temperature for about 5-7 minutes, stirring it as needed. Add some chicken broth during the process to keep it from drying out while heating.

What To Serve With This Recipe

One of the best pairings for this recipe is Spanish Rice which makes a fantastic combination with this white chicken chili, offering a well-rounded meal. If rice isn’t your preference, try serving it with Garlic Bread or French Bread Rolls for a delightful twist.

For a crunchy texture, enjoy it with Crispy Tortilla Chips, or for a smoother, chewier option, go for Vegetable Dumplings.

Lastly, I also suggest pairing this chicken chili with Homemade Pita or Grilled Flatbread for a Middle Eastern-inspired dish.

Printable Version

More Lunch and Dinner Recipes That You Can Try

Chef John's Quiche Lorraine recipes — Chef John’s Quiche Lorraine

Chef John's Chicken and rice — Chef John’s Quiche Lorraine

Conclusion

White chicken chili is a warm, spicy, and creamy delight. With tender, juicy chicken and a blend of spices, it makes for a wholesome meal.

Perfect for family dinners or casual get-togethers, this dish is guaranteed to satisfy. It’s especially comforting on chilly days.

This chicken recipe has rapidly gained a special place in my heart. I often prepare it to cozy up during the colder months. I encourage you to try it, too! Including it in your meal plan will make it delightful and fulfilling.