The BEST White Chicken Chili! Loaded with white beans, shredded chicken, green chiles, and the perfect blend of spices, this recipe comes together quickly and is always a crowd favorite. Enjoy it all on its own or with any of your favorite chili toppings!

The BEST White Chicken Chili! If you love chili, you'll love this creamy, delicious twist! This recipe comes together quickly and is always a favorite - perfect for game days, weeknight dinners, and family gatherings. Make it with rotisserie chicken for an extra easy dinner, and top it with all your favorites for a delicious dish everyone will love! Whether you're a traditional chili fan or prefer white bean chili, you'll love the amazing flavor in this Creamy White Chicken Chili recipe....sure to become a new favorite!

Let’s talk about chili for a minute….shall we? Since it’s winter, and we’re all eating it, and the Super Bowl is just around the corner? There’s so much to love about it – the way it warms you up on a cold day, the fact that it never fails to satisfy, how easily it feeds a crowd – and, maybe most of all, the endless possibilities when it comes to flavor!

We love chili any way we can get it, but of course we have our favorites. Like this 5-Bean Turkey Chili, which is so incredibly satisfying, and this Chili con Carne for the meat lovers among us. But. Of all the chili recipes out there, this Creamy White Chicken Chili is THE BEST.

It’s our favorite chili recipe, not just because it’s SO easy to make, but because the flavors in it are out of this world delicious! In addition to the white beans and shredded chicken, it has everything from onions to garlic to green chilies and cumin….and just a touch of cayenne pepper at the end.

And since the spice level can be adjusted according to your family’s preferences, it’s equally appealing to adults and kids alike. We serve it with a variety of toppings, like shredded cheese, tortilla chips, cilantro, and onions, which means everyone can add what they like. Best of all, it comes together quickly and is always a crowd favorite!

what you’ll need for this recipe

Onion – I used 1 cup of chopped red onion. Feel free to use yellow or white if you prefer.
Garlic – Garlic adds delicious flavor to this recipe. I used 3 cloves of fresh minced garlic.
Chicken – You’ll need 4 cups of cooked, shredded chicken. I used rotisserie for flavor and convenience (1 rotisserie chicken = 4 cups shredded chicken.)
Beans – I used 3 cans (15 ounce each) of Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained. Substitute any of your favorite white beans.
Chicken broth – I added 1 can (15 ounces) of chicken broth. Add more broth for a thinner, more soup-like consistency.
Green chiles – I used 1 can (8 ounces) of diced green chilies for flavor. Add more if you prefer.
Spices – I added 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper. If you like it spicy, feel free to add as much cayenne as you’d like.
Cream – I added 1 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup half & half to make it creamy. This is optional… the chili is delicious either way!

how to make the best white chicken chili

Start with your favorite chicken. This recipe calls for rotisserie chicken, but is equally delicious with cooked chicken breast. Choose whichever your family prefers or whichever makes your life easier!
Choose your white beans. Again, this recipe calls for Northern Beans, but any white beans would make a good substitute.
Adjust the thickness. Use more or less chicken broth and/or cream to adjust the thickness of the chili.
Determine your spice level. This recipe calls for 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, which can easily be adjusted to make a big difference! Another way of altering the spice level is to adjust the amount of sour cream and/or whipping cream. The more cream you use, the less spicy your chili will be.
Choose your toppings! We love ours topped with shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, tortilla chips, and chopped onion…but the sky is the limit. Add your favorite ingredients to make YOUR ideal bowl of chili!

Recipe Variations

Use any type of white beans, such as cannellini beans or navy beans
Add black beans for a black & white chili
Add more chicken broth for a more soup-like consistency
Omit the sour cream and half & half (you may need to add more broth)
Substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream
Substitute roasted poblano peppers for the green chiles
Add canned or frozen corn for extra texture
Add chili powder for a more traditional chili flavor or extra cayenne pepper for a spicier flavor
Add bacon for a smoky twist
Add a squeeze of lime juice before serving

our favorite white chicken chili toppings

shredded cheese
chopped onion
minced cilantro
tomatoes
avocado
crushed tortilla chips

storing & reheating

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, transfer to a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly, until warmed through.

More Chili Recipes You’ll Love

If you love all things chili, here are some more recipes you’ll enjoy!