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Creamy White Chicken Chili

Creamy White Chicken Chili

A hearty, flavorful, and surprisingly easy white chicken chili featuring tender shredded chicken, cannellini beans, and a rich, creamy broth spiked with green chilies and Monterey Jack cheese.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 cups
Course: Dinner, Soup & Stew
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

For the Chili
  • 1.5 lbs Boneless, skinless chicken breasts Cooked and shredded
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 large Yellow onion Chopped
  • 4 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) Cannellini beans (or Great Northern) Rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (4 oz) Diced green chiles Mild or hot, undrained
  • 4 cups Chicken broth Low sodium
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 0.5 tsp Dried oregano
  • 0.25 tsp Cayenne pepper Optional, for extra heat
  • 4 oz Cream cheese Cubed, full fat recommended
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese Shredded
For Serving (Optional)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Fresh cilantro Chopped
  • Diced avocado

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper. Poach, bake, or pressure cook them until fully cooked (internal temperature 165°F). Once cooled slightly, shred the chicken using two forks and set aside.
  2. In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Add the minced garlic, ground cumin, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning the spices.
  4. Stir in the rinsed cannellini beans, undrained green chiles, and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a low simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  5. Reduce heat to low. Add the cubed cream cheese one piece at a time, stirring until completely melted and incorporated into the broth to create a creamy base. This should take about 5 minutes.
  6. Stir in the shredded chicken. Continue to simmer gently for another 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  7. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the shredded Monterey Jack cheese until fully melted and smooth. Serve hot garnished with sour cream, fresh cilantro, and avocado, if desired.

Notes

For an even thicker chili, mash about 1/2 cup of the white beans against the side of the pot before adding the cream cheese. The cream cheese should be room temperature for easier melting. This chili freezes well for up to 3 months.