30 Minute White Chicken Chili Recipe

You can have a flavorful, healthy meal the whole family will love on the table in just 30 minutes with this easy White Chicken Chili.

An Easy Weeknight Meal

No matter the time of year, it seems we all have busy weeknights. Family activities, meeting with friends, work around the house – you name it.

So, it’s always great to have something easy to make or able to make ahead and reheat for dinner. Chili is a great go-to recipe that people typically enjoy and is pretty easy to pull together. It’s a great, easy comfort food.

And, while I love a traditional beef chili (like this Easy Two Bean Beef Chili), I wanted to try something a little different. In this case, a white chili with chicken.

Cooking for Your Family

For years, we lived by a wonderful restaurant that had a terrific white chicken chili. My husband couldn’t get enough of it and ordered it pretty much every time we visited!

He just loved the combination of white beans, tender chicken, green chilis and spices. Unfortunately, that restaurant closed and with it, our access to that wonderful, flavorful white chicken chili.

I thought it would be great if I could replicate that chili for my husband and ease the pain of the restaurant closure. So, I have to say, I’m pretty excited about this white chicken chili. I’ve been wanting a recipe for white chicken chili for some time now and this one will definitely be my go-to from here on out.

Making the White Chicken Chili – Tips

I wanted an easy white chicken chili recipe that tasted like it took you all day to prepare, but didn’t take long at all to make. With a total cook and prep time of about 30 minutes, I think this fits the bill. You have to love that!

Use Shredded Rotisserie Chicken

First, the chicken. I had some leftover rotisserie chicken that was perfect for the recipe. I almost always have shredded chicken available because I buy rotisserie chickens at the grocery store, shred and then freeze in one cup portions.

You can use any part of the chicken in this recipe. Chicken breasts, chicken thighs, wings, legs, it’s all fine.

I just wouldn’t use ground chicken because that would involve browning and other steps that just aren’t necessary for an easy, delicious chili. The beauty of using the rotisserie chicken is that the chicken is already cooked. No extra steps needed for that (remember, easy recipe!).

Make It Hearty

This chili is rich, thick, with plenty of spices and so full of flavor. The secret to making a hearty white chicken chili? Puree a can of beans along with a bit of chicken stock.

You get a much thicker chili using the pureed beans than you would by leaving the beans whole. However, if you also want whole beans in your chili, feel free to add in another can.

But, don’t skip the pureed beans. Trust me on that!

Make It Ahead

This is a great recipe to make ahead given you use a lot of pantry staples and only need 30 minutes of cooking and prep time. Simply make the chili per the instructions and put into an airtight container.

If you are going to eat this the next day, simply refrigerate until you are ready to reheat. A few minutes in the microwave is all that is needed.

Or, if you aren’t going to use the chili within a few days, put it in the freezer. When you are ready to have it as your meal, let it thaw. Once thawed, microwave for a few minutes until hot.

Now you’re ready for any night of the week!

Serving the White Chicken Chili

To make this chili even more spectacular, make sure you top it off with your favorite toppings. My favorites are avocado, cheese and extra cilantro.

I also like to have a bag of tortilla chips on hand. Either crush them into the chili or use them as dippers. Remember, this is a thick and hearty chili!

Tips and Tricks

• A store-bought rotisserie chicken works great for this recipe, but any cooked chicken you have on hand will work.
• Pureed beans help to thicken the chili, but you can also add an additional can of beans to the recipe if you’d like whole beans in the chili.
• If you don’t have great northern beans on hand, cannellini beans are a great substitute. Since the beans get pureed, I wouldn’t recommend using dark beans, such as black beans or kidney beans as they would make the chili an unappetizing color.
• This recipe is easily doubled.

Ingredients Needed to Make 30 Minute White Chicken Chili

Full instructions can be found below in the printable recipe card

• Chicken stock – Vegetable stock could be used in place of chicken stock.
• Great northern beans – These get pureed to give the chili its creamy texture.
• Olive oil – I like the flavor that olive oil adds, but vegetable oil can be substituted if that’s what you have on hand
• Onion – Red or yellow are both good choices for this chili.
• Garlic – I prefer to use fresh, but you can substitute 3/4 tsp garlic powder if that’s what you have on hand.
• Ground cumin – This adds a warmth and smokiness to the chili.
• Cayenne pepper – Adds heat.
• Mild chopped green chiles – If you’d like the chili to be spicier you can substitute finely chopped fresh jalapenos.
• Cooked chicken – Rotisserie chicken is a great option.
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Fresh lime juice – This brightens the flavor and adds a little tanginess.
• Fresh cilantro – This also helps to brighten the flavor of the chili
• Optional toppings – Avocado slices, sour cream, additional cilantro, lime wedges, cheese.

How to Make 30 Minute White Chicken Chili

• Combine 1/2 cup chicken stock and the beans in a blender.
• Blend until completely smooth. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat.
• Add onion and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
• Stir in cumin, cayenne and green chilies.
• Stir in remaining 1 cup of chicken stock and bean mixture.
• Increase heat to medium high and bring mixture to a boil.
• Stir in chicken, salt, pepper, lime juice and cilantro.
• Decrease heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
• Serve with desired toppings.

More Delicious Chilis to Try

• Easy Two Bean Beef Chili
• Couldn’t Be Easier Mexican Two Bean Chicken Chili
• Beef and Veggie Chili
• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
• Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili

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