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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.
Make-Ahead & Freezing Instructions
The chili will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It will thicken as it sits, so you may need to add a splash of broth or water when reheating it. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve, warm it on the stovetop over medium-low heat until heated through.
How To Adjust The Heat
I remove the seeds and ribs from the peppers to keep this white chicken chili mild and family-friendly. If you prefer a little more heat, save some of the seeds and ribs and stir them in at the end, adding a little at a time until the chili is as spicy as you like. Just be sure to wash your hands well after handling the peppers, and avoid touching your eyes.
Video Tutorial
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 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.
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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This is a delicious and easy chili. It has such wonderful depth of flavor. Be sure to use the poblanos. Best of all it uses cooked chicken.
Excellent! So much flavor – love the fresh chopped peppers in this recipe. Enjoy making soups and chilis using rotisserie chicken – so simple and yummy! Followed recipe as written. May add some cayenne or more chilis next time I make it for a spicier version.
This was a fantastic chili! I have tried many variations as my family loves chili, and we find this one super flavorful and unique. My current pregnancy has unfortunately resulted in some aversions to chicken, but this recipe was so delicious that I was able to have two helpings 🙂 we even made it again later to freeze for another chilly winter day 🙂 Thank you, Jennifer!
Wow this is a great Chicken Chile. It has a great taste with just the right amount of meat, bean, broth ratio. Highly recommend.
There’s so many chili recipes out there. This has been my go to recipe for many yrs. no need to try any others. It feeds a family of 5, along with a salad. I’m a night shift nurse, and as long as I buy the rotisserie chicken in advance, the rest of ingredients are always on hand in my house. Jalapeño pepper I slice and keeps in freezer. I like to add the lime juice at the end, instead of simmering it, it adds a nice fresh coolness of citrus. Great, hearty, healthy meal especially in winter.
This Chicken Chili is my go-to favorite. It’s packed with so much flavor and just the right amount of heat. I use a seasoned rotisserie chicken and a little more corn and it’s delicious every time. This recipe is a keeper! Thanks Jen for another wonderful meal.
A great recipe! This is such a wonderful tasting broth that I could drink that alone! The first time I made it I forgot to purée beans and it was quite thin, but still delicious. I like to add a can of chick peas to it as well because I love beans. Definitely a winner of a recipe!
This chili is one of my all time favorites. So easy! I went to Costco and picked up their $5 rotisserie chicken (simply can’t beat it!). The majority of the ingredients I already had on hand, so it was a quick weeknight dinner. I garnish mine with Cilantro, cheddar cheese and cilantro. I’ve made this at least 5 times and never tire of it!
Hands down 5 star recipe. When every single member of your family devours chili, you know it’s good! I paired with Jenn’s cornbread muffin recipe. Exquisite. I reheat leftovers on the stove top and just a little more chicken broth as this is a fairly thick chili!
This is one of my very favorite soups for the winter months. I make it frequently and have been known to make it outside of winter. Comes together quick and is so tasty with lots of flavor. Serve topped with crushed tortillas, grated Monterey Jack cheese and avocado slices, along with lime slices. I actually do not purée or mash a can of the beans for thickening because we like a very soupy broth. Also, at times, I have been unable to purchase the poblano peppers and substituted a can of diced green chilies. Works in a pinch.