Description
This creamy white chicken chili is a flavorful and hearty dish featuring tender chicken thighs, cannellini and pinto beans, green chiles, and a blend of spices. Finished with cream cheese and sour cream for a rich texture, it’s perfect for a comforting meal that can be adjusted to your preferred spice level. Serve it with your favorite toppings like cheese, cilantro, avocado, or tortilla chips for a satisfying experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Produce
- 1 yellow onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 jalapeño
- 1 cup frozen corn
Meat
- 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Canned Goods & Spices
- 2 15 oz. cans cannellini beans (drained)
- 1 15 oz. can pinto beans (drained)
- 1 7 oz. can diced green chiles
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 3 cups chicken broth
Dairy & Oils
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Prep the aromatics: Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Deseed then dice the jalapeño. Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeño to a large pot with the olive oil. Sauté over medium heat until the onions have softened.
- Add main ingredients: Add the chicken thighs, cannellini beans, pinto beans, diced green chiles, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, black pepper, and chicken broth to the pot. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer the chili: Place a lid on the pot and turn the heat up to medium-high. Allow the chili to come to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Shred the chicken: Remove the chicken thighs from the pot and shred them using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot along with the frozen corn. Stir to combine and heat through.
- Add creamy elements: Cut the cream cheese into chunks and stir it into the chili until melted. Stir in the sour cream. To thicken, mash some beans against the side of the pot.
- Season and serve: Taste the chili and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot with your preferred toppings.
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs as they stay tender and juicy. Chicken breasts can be used but require gentle simmering to avoid drying out.
- Top the chili with sour cream, Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack cheese, green onions, cilantro, tortilla chips, hot sauce, jalapeños, avocado, or lime for added flavor and texture.
- Adjust the spice level to your preference by skipping the jalapeño and cayenne for a mild chili or including seeds and extra cayenne for more heat. Hot sauce is a great addition for extra spice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
