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A close-up featured pin image of a steaming bowl of creamy white chicken chili garnished with cheese, sour cream, and a lime wheel.

Best Creamy White Chicken Chili

Thick, creamy white chicken chili ready in 30 minutes — the bean mashing trick and cream cheese base make this the most satisfying version of white chicken chili you will make. Perfect fall comfort food.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner, Fall, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 368
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups Rotisserie Chicken shredded about 1 standard bird
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion diced
  • 1 Jalapeño finely diced seeds out for mild
  • 4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 cans Great Northern Beans drained, rinsed ½ cup reserved for mashing
  • 2 cups Chicken Broth low-sodium
  • 2 cans Diced Green Chiles mild non-negotiable for flavor
  • 1 cup Frozen Corn
  • 4 Oz Cream Cheese softened at room temp, cubed
  • ¼ cup Heavy Cream
  • 1.5 tsp Ground Cumin
  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1 tsp Chili Powder
  • ½ tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • ½ tsp Black Pepper
  • ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper adjust for heat
  • 1 tbsp Fresh Lime Juice added at end not optional

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot or Dutch Oven 5 to 6 quart recommended
  • 1 Small Bowl for mashing bean thickener
  • 1 Fork for mashing beans
  • 1 Ladle for serving

Method
 

Prep and Sauté
  1. Bean Mashing Trick Reserve ½ cup of drained white beans in a small bowl. Mash with fork into a rough paste. Set aside. This is the little-known thickening secret that eliminates thin, watery white chicken chili.
    A small bowl of mashed white beans next to a fork and whole beans on a wooden table, demonstrating the thickening secret for creamy white chicken chili.
  2. Sauté Aromatics Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and jalapeño. Cook 4 to 5 minutes until soft. Add garlic and stir 45 seconds.
    A wooden spoon adding minced garlic into a large pot with sautéing onions and jalapeño slices in olive oil, cooking aromatics for creamy white chicken chili.
  3. Bloom Spices Add cumin, oregano, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne to pot. Stir into onion mixture and cook 1 minute. Blooming spices in oil before adding liquid deepens flavor significantly.
    Spices including cumin, oregano, and chili powder being stirred into the onion and jalapeño mixture in a pot, blooming spices for creamy white chicken chili.
Build the Chili
  1. Add Base Ingredients Add whole white beans, chicken broth, and green chiles. Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer. Add mashed bean paste and stir in chili begins thickening immediately
    A wooden spoon stirring mashed bean paste into a simmering pot filled with chicken broth, whole white beans, and green chiles for creamy white chicken chili.
  2. Add Chicken and Corn Add shredded rotisserie chicken and frozen corn. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 10 minutes.
    Shredded rotisserie chicken and frozen corn being poured into a simmering pot of chili for creamy white chicken chili.
Finish
  1. Add Cream Cheese and Cream Reduce heat to low. Add softened cream cheese cubes and heavy cream. Stir continuously until cream cheese fully incorporates 2 to 3 minutes. Do not boil after adding dairy.
    Heavy cream being poured from a small pitcher alongside softened cream cheese cubes into a pot of chili, mixing for creamy white chicken chili.
  2. Lime and Serve Remove from heat. Add fresh lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately with toppings on the side.
    A steaming bowl of chili garnished with cilantro, served next to a lime half on a napkin for creamy white chicken chili.

Notes

Chili still too thin?
Mash an additional ¼ cup beans and stir in. Simmer 5 more minutes uncovered. Alternatively increase cream cheese to 6 oz.
Cream cheese not melting smoothly?
It must be at room temperature cold cream cheese lumps in hot liquid. Add off heat or at lowest heat and stir continuously.
Freezing?
Freeze before adding dairy. Freeze through Step 5 only. Add fresh cream cheese and heavy cream when reheating. Frozen dairy turns grainy when reheated in chili.
Slow cooker?
Add all except dairy and lime to slow cooker. Cook low 4 to 6 hours. Stir in mashed beans, cream cheese, cream, and lime in last 20 minutes on high.
Leftovers too thick?
Add 2 to 3 tbsp. chicken broth when reheating. Stir over medium-low heat. Returns to original consistency.