White Chicken Chili with Great Northern Beans (Print View)
Creamy chili with tender chicken, Great Northern beans, green chiles, and warm spices. A comforting weeknight meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Beans & Vegetables
02 - 2 cans (15 ounces each) Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 can (4 ounces) diced green chiles, mild or medium
→ Liquids
06 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
→ Dairy
07 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
08 - 0.5 cup sour cream
→ Spices & Seasonings
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
12 - 0.5 teaspoon ground coriander
13 - 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
15 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
16 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
17 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
# Method:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add chicken pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Chicken does not require complete cooking at this stage.
04 - Stir in cumin, oregano, chili powder, coriander, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to develop spice flavors.
05 - Add green chiles, drained beans, and chicken broth. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through and flavors meld.
06 - Reduce heat to low and stir in cream cheese until completely melted and incorporated throughout the chili.
07 - Remove from heat and stir in sour cream until the mixture achieves a smooth, creamy consistency.
08 - Taste the chili and adjust seasonings as needed with additional salt and pepper.
09 - Ladle chili into bowls and garnish with cilantro, avocado, cheese, lime wedges, and tortilla chips as desired.
# Insider Tips:
01 -
- The combination of tender chicken chunks and creamy beans creates a satisfying texture that makes you feel like youve discovered comfort food gold.
- Unlike many chilis that need to simmer for hours, this comes together in under an hour but tastes like it took all day.
02 -
- Dont skip browning the chicken pieces first, as I once did when in a hurry, because those caramelized bits create foundational flavor that cant be added later.
- Adding the sour cream off the heat prevents it from curdling, a lesson I learned the hard way during an early attempt when my beautiful chili broke and separated.
03 -
- For an ultra-creamy texture, take a potato masher and partially mash some of the beans against the side of the pot during cooking, creating a naturally thickened base without adding flour.
- If youre short on time, a rotisserie chicken shredded into the pot after the broth has simmered works brilliantly and adds another layer of flavor from the stores seasoning.