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Easy White Chicken Chili

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white chicken chili
Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Easy White Chicken Chili

In our house, we’re always looking for creative ways to add more soup to the menu. It’s the perfect, easy weeknight meal full of nourishing veggies, protein, and broth. This white chicken chili recipe is the newest addition to our meal plan and you might find it’ll be a new family favorite!

White Chicken Chili

Regular chili is a staple in most homes, but I like to play with the ingredients for new flavors. That’s how my pumpkin chili recipe was born. This white chicken chili doesn’t have the regular tomato base but instead features a creamy broth seasoned with lime zest and flavorful spices. Some recipes call for ground cumin in their chicken chili, but I prefer it without. Instead, I use a blend of smoked paprika, chili powder, coriander, and oregano to spice it up.

This goes well with a piece of cornbread, some tortilla chips, or even just by itself. I’ve included more topping suggestions below so you can choose whatever toppings appeal to you. This is also a great way to get kids involved (even little ones). Letting them help with meal prep and choosing their own soup toppings is just one way to encourage kids to eat healthy.

Ingredient Options

I use diced chicken here, but shredded chicken or a leftover rotisserie chicken also works. You can use chicken thighs, boneless chicken breasts, or skinless chicken breasts. Whatever you have on hand or prefer!

Beans add extra protein and a soft, creamy texture to the white chicken chili soup. I use great northern beans, but cannellini beans are similar and work well too. Black beans are another option.

It’s the perfect soup to ladle up on a chilly evening (or even if it’s not chilly where you’re at). Because there isn’t a lot of hands-on time it pulls together quickly for a family meal. Especially if you use leftover chicken. Sometimes I’ll batch-cook chicken and ground beef to use in meals later in the week to make meal prep even easier.

Don’t have any precooked chicken? Just add diced raw chicken to the pot with the hot oil and heat until cooked through before adding the onions and peppers. If you’re opting for the slow cooker version, just dice the meat and add it to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients.

This soup also works well reheated for leftovers for lunch the next day!

Customize the Heat

Customize your soup with as much heat as you like by increasing or decreasing the quantity of jalapeño you use. You could even use canned diced green chilies, which have the flavor, but little heat. Or add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.

Sometimes I’ll leave spicier ingredients out for younger kids, and include them as a topping option for those who prefer things a little spicier. Some diced jalapenos on top make a great topping option. Here are some more topping ideas for your chili.

Chili Topping Suggestions

white chicken chili

White Chicken Chili Recipe

White chicken chili is a nice, mild alternative to traditional tomato-based chili. Chicken, peppers, and white beans combine with spices for southwest flavor.
Prep Time 14 minutes
Cook Time 52 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 6 minutes
Calories 221kcal
Author Katie Wells

Servings

10

Ingredients

Optional Toppings

Instructions

  • In a large stock pot on the stovetop, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
  • Dice the poblano and jalapeño peppers, discarding the pepper seeds.
  • Add the diced vegetables to the pot and saute, stirring occasionally until tender.
  • Add the minced garlic cloves to the vegetables in the large pot, cooking for an additional minute or two.
  • Add the chicken broth and all the spices.
  • Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
  • Stir in the beans, cream cheese, chicken, lime juice, and zest.
  • Heat, stirring frequently until the cream cheese is melted and fully incorporated.
  • Garnish with any desired toppings and enjoy!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
White Chicken Chili Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 221 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 0.01g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 52mg17%
Sodium 668mg29%
Potassium 478mg14%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin A 699IU14%
Vitamin C 15mg18%
Calcium 48mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

  • To make slow cooker white chicken chili, combine all the ingredients except the cream cheese, lime juice, and lime zest in the crockpot and heat on low for 4 hours or until warm. Stir in the remaining ingredients. 
  • Storage: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

More Soup Recipes

In the mood for some more soup ideas? Here are some of my favorites!

What do you like to top your chili soup with? Ever had white chicken chili before? Leave a comment and let me know!

Sources

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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