This white chicken chili is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for a cozy night in. It's packed with tender shredded chicken, creamy beans, and a blend of spices that give it a flavorful kick. The addition of sour cream and cheese makes it rich and creamy, making it a family favorite.
While most of the ingredients for this white chicken chili are common pantry staples, you might need to pick up a few items at the supermarket. Make sure you have great northern beans, which are different from regular beans and provide a creamy texture. Ground cumin and dried oregano are essential for the flavor profile, so don't skip these spices. Also, ensure you have sour cream and shredded cheese on hand to achieve the creamy consistency.
Ingredients For White Chicken Chili Recipe
Chicken breast: Cooked and shredded, this is the main protein source for the chili.
Great northern beans: These beans are creamy and mild, perfect for the chili's texture.
Corn: Adds a sweet crunch to the chili.
Chicken broth: Provides a flavorful base for the chili.
Sour cream: Adds creaminess and a slight tang to the dish.
Shredded cheese: Melts into the chili, making it rich and cheesy.
Onion: Adds depth and sweetness when sautéed.
Garlic: Provides a robust flavor to the chili.
Ground cumin: Adds a warm, earthy flavor.
Dried oregano: Brings a slightly bitter, aromatic flavor.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the chili.
Black pepper: Adds a mild heat and depth of flavor.
Cayenne pepper: Gives the chili a spicy kick.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When sautéing the onion and garlic, make sure to cook them over medium heat until they are translucent and fragrant. This step is crucial as it helps to build a flavorful base for your white chicken chili. Be careful not to let the garlic burn, as it can turn bitter and affect the overall taste of the dish.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
chicken breast - Substitute with turkey breast: Turkey breast has a similar texture and flavor profile, making it a suitable alternative.
great northern beans - Substitute with cannellini beans: Cannellini beans have a creamy texture and mild flavor, similar to great northern beans.
corn - Substitute with frozen corn: Frozen corn retains its sweetness and texture, making it a good substitute for canned corn.
chicken broth - Substitute with vegetable broth: Vegetable broth provides a similar savory base while keeping the dish vegetarian.
sour cream - Substitute with Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt offers a similar tangy flavor and creamy texture, with added protein.
shredded cheese - Substitute with Monterey Jack cheese: Monterey Jack melts well and has a mild flavor, making it a good alternative.
onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder and slightly sweeter flavor, which can complement the dish well.
garlic - Substitute with garlic powder: Garlic powder can provide a similar flavor, though it is less pungent than fresh garlic.
ground cumin - Substitute with ground coriander: Ground coriander has a warm, citrusy flavor that can mimic the earthiness of cumin.
dried oregano - Substitute with dried thyme: Dried thyme has a slightly different but complementary herbaceous flavor.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a similar level of saltiness along with a depth of umami flavor.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper has a similar heat but is less visually noticeable in light-colored dishes.
cayenne pepper - Substitute with red pepper flakes: Red pepper flakes can provide a similar level of heat and a slightly different texture.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How To Store or Freeze This Dish
- Allow the white chicken chili to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can lead to a watery texture and spoilage.
- Transfer the cooled chili into airtight containers. For portion control and easy reheating, consider using individual serving-sized containers.
- Label the containers with the date and contents. This ensures you know exactly what you have and when it was made, helping you keep track of freshness.
- Store the containers in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the chili within 3-4 days. This keeps it fresh and ready for a quick meal.
- For longer storage, place the containers in the freezer. The white chicken chili can be frozen for up to 3 months without losing its flavor and texture.
- When ready to reheat, thaw the chili in the refrigerator overnight if frozen. This gradual thawing helps maintain the quality of the dish.
- Reheat the chili on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating. Alternatively, you can use a microwave, heating in short intervals and stirring in between to avoid hot spots.
- If the chili appears too thick after reheating, add a splash of chicken broth or water to reach your desired consistency.
- Garnish with fresh toppings like additional shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped cilantro to enhance the flavor and presentation.
How To Reheat Leftovers
- For the stovetop method, pour the white chicken chili into a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. Once the chili is hot and steaming, it's ready to serve.
- Using the microwave, place a portion of the white chicken chili in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap with a small vent. Heat on high for 1-2 minutes, then stir. Continue heating in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chili is hot throughout.
- For the oven method, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the white chicken chili to an oven-safe dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chili is heated through. Stir halfway through the reheating process to ensure even heating.
- If you have a slow cooker, transfer the white chicken chili to the slow cooker and set it to low. Heat for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the chili is hot and ready to serve.
- For a quick reheat, use a double boiler. Place the white chicken chili in a heatproof bowl and set it over a pot of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chili is heated through. This method helps prevent the chili from sticking or burning.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Large pot: Used for cooking the chili and combining all the ingredients together.
Wooden spoon: Ideal for stirring the ingredients without scratching the pot.
Knife: Essential for chopping the onion and mincing the garlic.
Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for chopping the onion and mincing the garlic.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure out the spices accurately.
Measuring cup: Necessary for measuring the chicken broth and sour cream.
Can opener: Required to open the cans of beans and corn.
Colander: Useful for draining and rinsing the beans and corn.
Cheese grater: Needed for shredding the cheese if it is not pre-shredded.
Mixing bowl: Handy for holding the shredded chicken before adding it to the pot.
Ladle: Perfect for serving the chili into bowls.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Use rotisserie chicken: Save time by using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken instead of cooking and shredding chicken breasts.
Pre-chopped onions and garlic: Purchase pre-chopped onions and garlic from the store to cut down on prep time.
Canned beans and corn: Utilize canned beans and corn to avoid the time-consuming process of soaking and cooking dried beans.
One-pot cooking: Cook everything in a single pot to minimize cleanup time.
Quick simmer: Reduce the simmering time by using a higher heat setting, but keep an eye on it to prevent burning.

White Chicken Chili Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Chicken breast, cooked and shredded
- 2 cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can Corn, drained
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1 cup Sour cream
- 1 cup Shredded cheese
- 1 medium Onion, chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
Instructions
- 1. In a large pot, sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until translucent.
- 2. Add the shredded chicken, beans, corn, and chicken broth to the pot.
- 3. Stir in the cumin, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- 4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- 5. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream and shredded cheese until melted and well combined.
- 6. Serve hot, garnished with additional cheese, sour cream, or chopped cilantro if desired.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts
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