White Chicken Chili
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This easy white chicken chili recipe is hearty, comforting, and packed with bold, savory flavor—perfect for game day or a cozy weeknight dinner.
This white chicken chili recipe is a favorite in my house, especially when the weather turns chilly. I’ve tried many versions of this dish—some were basically dump-everything-in-a-pot recipes, while others were far more complicated than they needed to be. This one strikes just the right balance: easy enough for a weeknight but with a few extra steps that build real depth of flavor.
Made with rotisserie chicken, creamy white beans, poblano and jalapeño peppers, corn, and warm spices, it’s hearty and full of flavor, with a squeeze of lime to brighten everything up. Puréeing some of the beans gives the chili a rich, creamy texture, while rotisserie chicken keeps the prep to a minimum. Best of all, it’s on the table in under an hour. Add a side of warm cornbread, and dinner is done!
“This was amazing! So easy and pleased the whole family.”
What You’ll Need To Make White Chicken Chili
- White Beans: Cannellini, Great Northern, or navy beans all work well. Some of the beans are puréed with the broth to give the chili a creamy, full-bodied texture without adding cream.
- Chicken Broth: Forms the savory base of the chili. I recommend low-sodium broth so you can control the seasoning, especially since canned beans can add quite a bit of salt.
- Onion, Garlic, Jalapeño & Poblano Peppers: These aromatics form the flavor base of the chili. Removing the seeds and ribs from the peppers keeps the heat mild and family-friendly.
- Cumin, Coriander & Ancho Chile Powder: This combination gives the chili its warm, earthy, and gently smoky flavor. Ancho chile powder is made from dried poblano peppers, so it adds more depth than heat.
- Rotisserie Chicken: A major time-saver that makes this chili easy enough for a weeknight. You can also use leftover cooked chicken.
- Corn: Adds a touch of sweetness and a nice pop of texture. Frozen corn is convenient and works beautifully here.
- Lime Juice & Fresh Cilantro: Stirred in at the end, they add freshness and acidity that balance the rich, savory broth. If you don’t care for cilantro, you can leave it out or substitute parsley.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
How To Make White Chicken Chili
Purée some of the beans: Blend some of the white beans with chicken broth until completely smooth. This is the secret to giving the chili a creamy, full-bodied texture without adding cream or flour.
Sauté the aromatics: Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven and cook the onions and peppers until softened.
Add garlic and spices: Stir in the garlic, followed by the spices, and cook until fragrant. Toasting the spices briefly brings out their flavor.
Build the broth: Add the chicken broth and puréed beans, stirring until smooth. Simmer until the flavors meld and the broth develops some body.
Finish the chili: Stir in the chicken, whole beans, corn, and lime juice and cook just until everything is warmed through. Add the cilantro at the end. The chili will be somewhat brothy at first and will thicken as it sits.
Serve: Ladle the chili into bowls and add your favorite toppings—I like sour cream, shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, and a squeeze of lime. If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, they’re even better the next day; the chili can also be frozen for longer storage.
Video Tutorial
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White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 2 (15.5-oz) cans white beans, rinsed and drained
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (see note)
- 2 medium poblano peppers, seeded and diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
- Salt
- 1 rotisserie chicken, skin removed and shredded (about 4 cups)
- ¾ cup frozen corn
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from 1 lime, plus more to taste
- ¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro
Optional For Serving
- Sour cream
- Crushed tortilla chips
- Shredded cheddar or Pepper Jack cheese
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- In a food processor, blend half of the beans (1 can) with 1 cup (240 ml) of the chicken broth. Set aside both the puréed beans and the remaining whole beans.
- Add the oil to a large pot or Dutch oven and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the onion, jalapeño pepper, and poblano peppers and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one minute more. Add the cumin, coriander, and ancho chile powder and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for one minute more to toast the spices. Add the chicken broth, puréed beans, and ½ teaspoon of salt; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Stir in the shredded rotisserie chicken, reserved whole beans, corn, and lime juice; bring back to a simmer and cook until everything is heated through, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and lime juice, if necessary. Stir in the cilantro. (Note that the broth will be somewhat soupy; that's how it is supposed to be. It thickens the longer it sits.) Ladle the chili into bowls and serve with sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, and lime wedges.
Notes
- The seeds and ribs in the peppers hold all of the heat. I don't use them to keep the chili mild and family-friendly, but if you like a spicy chili, save them and stir some in at the end. (If you do touch the seeds, be sure to wash your hands well and avoid touching your eyes.)
- The chili thickens as it sits. If you make it ahead of time, you will probably need to add more broth or water to thin it out.
- Nutrition info does not include optional toppings.
- Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: The chili will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Keep in mind that it will thicken up as it sits in the fridge. When you reheat it, you will likely need to add more broth or water to thin it out. The chili can be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat it on the stovetop over medium-low heat until hot.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Hi Jen,
Made this tonight exactly as written…in a word, it is FABULOUS. Just the right amount of spice and tiny bit of heat that’s just right. I made the corn muffins too. Oh my! Will be making for our Bible Study group next weekend so plan on tripling it. Hubby has already asked to take it to work when they have their chili cookoff. It’s a winner!
So glad you liked it Charlene!
Very Very good recipe. Don’t skip the pablanos by using green peppers – the taste is worth the extra price. I wanted it a little “beanier” so I added a can of white navy beans and a cup of water.
I have made dozens of your recipes, all slam dunks. This is MUCH more fresh tasting than all other white chili I’ve eaten, which is a lot. Mine didn’t thicken up as much as I thought it would and I also could not find adobo chili powder anywhere. Turns out the people loved it anyway. What is an adequate sub? I put in a bit of ground jalapeño powder, but I’d love a suggestion. Love love the simplicity of using rotisserie chicken. It won the chili cook off contest at a church event, and was the only chili that disappeared, after tripling the recipe. I think the older ladies were a wee annoyed! Directed lots of people to your site that evening. I am making it again for a girls weekend with my in laws. Thanks much
Hi Holly, so glad you (and the chili eaters at church) enjoyed this! In place of the ancho chili powder, you could try chipotle chili powder (if you like heat) — otherwise just use regular chili powder or smoked paprika. Or you can always order the ancho chili powder online 🙂
Could this be made with raw chicken? Say chicken breasts? If so should I cook the chicken before hand or can I throw it in with the soup? Thanks!
Hi Chrissy, sure you could definitely use raw chicken, but I would cook it before adding it to the stew. Hope you enjoy!
Hi there! I was wondering why you (Jen) recommend cooking chicken prior to adding it to the stew, when starting with raw chicken? I followed your recipe with the exception of adding raw chicken thighs at the time I added the broth, then removing, cooling and shredding them once they were cooked. Then I added them back at the end, per the recipe. It was delicious. Is it a food safety concern? Thank you so much!
Hi Miriam, Glad you liked it! I suggested cooking the chicken first if you’re not planning on using rotisserie, as I was concerned that it wouldn’t fully cook in the amount of time the stew simmers. Hope that clarifies. 🙂
Best white chicken chili ever!!!
I did not use rotisserie chicken because we like larger pieces in our chili.
Corn and lime only added to the taste!
So happy to find a recipe not only my fam enjoyed, but great to serve to guests.
I’ve never been a big fan of chili, but I made this recipe for a chili cook-off for my neighborhood block party, and I won the tacky chili cook-off trophy! It didn’t quite win me over to the chili side but everyone who tasted it LOVED it, so I’ll give it five stars!
This is a great alternative to tradional chili. I love it! It pairs nicely with jalapeño cornbread.
can I make this in the crock pot ? How long to cook
Hi Pam, Yes, I think this could be made in a slow cooker. I’m not terribly experienced with slow cookers, so I’m not certain about the timing, but these tips may help. Enjoy!
Thank-you for a very delicious White Chicken Chili recipe!! The flavors were wonderful! I made this yesterday and took a bowl to my Son. He texted me back “EXCELLENT” This is a wonderful compliment since my Son is a fabulous cook! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
I will be making this for dinner. Just a note: after you pull the meat from your rotisserie chicken, put the bones & skin in a pot, cover with cold water and bring to boil, then simmer for about half hour, I salt and pepper mine. Strain out all the bones etc. stick in fridge, overnight is good. The fat will all congeal on top, take that off and you have some really good homemade broth to use.