Description
White chicken chili brings comfort and warmth to dinner tables with its rich, hearty flavors. Mexican-inspired spices and tender chicken create a soul-soothing meal you’ll crave all season long.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups shredded chicken (cooked)
- 2 cans (400 g/14 oz) white beans (cannellini or Great Northern), drained and rinsed
- 1 can (300 g/10 oz) diced green chilies
- 4 cups (1 liter) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
- 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- fresh cilantro, chopped
- sliced jalapenos
- diced avocado
- crushed tortilla chips
- lime wedges
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Warm olive oil in a large pot, gently cooking diced onions until translucent and softened, creating a fragrant base for the chili.
- Build Flavor Foundation: Add minced garlic and spices (cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, and pepper), stirring to develop a rich, complex flavor profile.
- Develop Liquid Base: Pour in chicken broth and green chilies, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer that allows ingredients to harmonize and intensify.
- Incorporate Proteins: Mix white beans and shredded chicken into the simmering liquid, allowing them to meld and tenderize for 15-20 minutes.
- Enrich and Smooth: Blend in cream cheese and heavy cream, stirring continuously to create a luxuriously creamy texture that adds depth and richness to the chili.
- Finalize and Serve: Simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes to concentrate flavors, adjust seasonings to taste, and garnish with fresh cilantro, lime juice, and optional toppings like shredded cheese, diced avocado, or crispy tortilla chips.
Notes
- Customize Protein Selection: Use rotisserie chicken for convenience or swap with turkey, shredded pork, or plant-based alternatives like jackfruit for dietary variations.
- Control Spice Intensity: Adjust chili powder and green chilies to manage heat level, accommodating mild to spicy preferences without compromising overall flavor balance.
- Achieve Creamy Consistency: Temper cream cheese at room temperature before adding to prevent lumping and ensure smooth, silky texture throughout the chili.
- Optimize Thickening Technique: Allow chili to simmer uncovered during final stages to naturally reduce liquid and concentrate flavors, creating richer, more developed taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg