This White Bean Chicken Chili is a true dump-and-stir Crockpot recipe that requires no pre-cooking. Slow cook on either Low or High setting...both yield full-flavored results. This white chicken chili recipe uses boneless chicken thighs, white beans, green chilis, fresh veggies, and chicken broth.
White Bean Chicken Chili for Crockpot
Do you love to toss a bunch of ingredients into a slow cooker, cover it, set the cooking time, and go do ALL the things? Me too!!
Don't you also love when you eat a scrumptious dinner and find yourself with leftovers to eat for a couple of days? Me too!!
Here's what else I really love about this white chicken chili...
- This recipe uses simple, everyday ingredients that can be found at your everyday grocery store.
- The prep time takes 15 minutes, so NO pre-cooking anything. It’s a dump-and-stir recipe!
- You can make it any season...who doesn’t love chili any time of the year?!
Ok, what is White Chicken Chili?
White chicken chili, or white bean chicken chili, is Southwest/Mexican-inspired chili made with chicken, white beans, green chilis, vegetables, chicken broth, and seasonings.
You can easily make it without chicken, but in any case, white chicken chili is usually much lighter in color, a yellowish-white, as opposed to the deep red color you see with more traditional chili.
White chicken chili is usually seasoned with cumin and, as mentioned earlier, green chilis, giving it a distinct Mexican / Southwest flavor. Yum...I can taste it now!
What makes this white bean chili recipe a dump and stir?
Often, slow cooker recipes require you to sear the meat in cookware, separate from the slow cooker, which adds steps and dirties up an extra dish.
This chili recipe does not require that.
In fact, once your vegetables are cut (you can buy them pre-cut), all of the ingredients literally get tossed into the crockpot, covered with a lid, and set to either LOW or HIGH temperature settings.
Pro recipes tips for white bean chicken chili
Tip #1: If you want it to be a true dump-and-stir slow cooker recipe, use boneless, skinless, chicken thighs. These literally fall-apart during cooking and stirring, and they make the juiciest, most tender chicken chili.
Tip #2: Opt for reduced-sodium chicken broth and no salt added beans. This way, you’re in complete control of the salt content.
Tip #3: Mash up one of the cans of beans to help develop a naturally creamier consistency; this avoids adding unnecessary extra ingredients as thickeners.
Tip #4: Don't skip the suggested garnish ingredients (cilantro, jalapeños, sour cream, lime, etc). They literally take this chili from delicious to outstanding!
White Bean Chicken Chili Ingredients:
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs (uncooked)
- reduced-sodium chicken broth
- can reduced-sodium white beans
- canned diced green chilis
- onions
- celery
- fresh garlic
- cumin, chili powder, oregano
- salt and pepper
- frozen corn
- any garnish ingredients (cilantro, lime, avocado, jalapeños, sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips)
* See full recipe below
Recommended kitchen tools
- chef knife
- cutting board
- can opener
- garlic press
- slow cooker (the newer version of my vintage crockpot)
Check out this vintage Crockpot brand slow cooker I picked up at the thrift store for $10!
I was super stoked to find it. They just don't make them like they used to!
I know that the vintage cookers don't let you take out the ceramic insert, but I'll sacrifice that feature any day.
This slow cooker truly cooks slower than some of these newer slow cookers.
Grab these busy-weeknight recipes!
Three Bean Turkey Chili Recipe
Fall Apart Chicken Vegetable Crockpot Soup.
Simple Baked Chicken Leg Drumsticks
10-Minute Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Soup
White Bean Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs uncooked
- 4 cups Reduced sodium Chicken Broth
- 2 15oz cans Reduced-sodium Cannellini Beans drained, one mashed
- 1 4.5oz can Diced Green Chilis
- 1/2 medium Yellow Onion diced
- 2 stalks Celery diced
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 cup Corn frozen, canned, or fresh
Recipe Instructions
- In a 3.5 quart slow cooker, combine CHICKEN, CHICKEN BROTH, BEANS, GREEN CHILI'S, ONION, CELERY, GARLIC, CUMIN, CHILI POWDER, OREGANO, SALT, and PEPPER.
- *Set slow cooker to high for 2 hours or low for 4-6 hours.
- 30 minutes before cook cycle ends, stir in CORN, cover, and allow to heat through; serve warm with topping options: cilantro, lime, avocado, jalapeños, sour cream, or cheese
- White Chili Hot Tip: If you mash some of the beans, they'll help thicken the chili naturally.Note: Crockpot cooking times can vary depending on age, size, and features, so make sure you’re well acquainted with the heating/timing tendencies of your cooker.
RECIPE NOTES
Nutrition
I originally published this White Chicken Chili Recipe on amandascookin.com in JAN 2019
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Can this be made in the instant pot? If so how long would you cook?
Hi Karen, if I were to cook this in my 6-quart Instant Pot, I would most likely add all of the ingredients to the Instant Pot (adding chicken on top of the ingredients) and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes with a 10 minute natural pressure release. Let me know if you have more questions 🙂
Chili in the slow-cooker is one of my go-to meals in the fall as we all get used to the busy back to school schedule. I love all the spices in this chili
Thanks, Alison! Love hearing this...and those spices get the best of me too 🙂
This quickly became a favorite at my house! Taste really good!
Thanks so much, Toni. Glad to hear it...day made! 🙂
I love recipes like this chili. It's hearty and delicious plus has an easy prep!
Thanks, Julia 🙂 Yes, the easiest prep ever!!
I just love dump and go crockpot recipes. I couldn't resist making it! We love it so much! I love the white beans and all of the veges. The beans add so much volume! My whole family loved it! Can't wait to make it again!
Awesome, Beth! So glad you enjoyed it...makes my day! 🙂
Definitely comfort food! Love the addition of corn.
Thanks Raia! Yes...the corn makes it! 🙂
My son can’t eat corn. Do you have a healthy alternative to suggest that would add the color, texture and flavor interest the corn contributes? Thanks!
Hi Charon, I would try yellow or red bell peppers diced up or riced cauliflower. Either should add texture, flavor, and a nice color contrast to the white chili. Hope that helps! 🙂
Do I cook the chicken before placing it in the
crockpot?
Hi Sherry, this recipe calls for uncooked chicken. I'll make sure that's more clear in the recipe. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks! 🙂
Yum Yum... very nice ... Loved it 🙂
Thanks so much Mark! Glad you loved it 🙂
I love crock~pot cooking especially for soups, chilis and stews. Mild green chilies go so well with white beans in a chili like this.
Thanks Ginny! I couldn't agree more...and so easy. You just throw and go! 🙂
Quick prep & delicious - my favorite things!
Thanks Jillian! Yep quick and delicious all the way! 🙂
whoa cool, white chili!! 😀 I am loving how easy everything put together and how I don't need to babysit my stove! Thank you for this recipe! 😀
Thanks Joyce! Yep, no babysitting THIS one! Just drop the ingredients and go get stuff done! My fav kind of crockpot cooking 🙂
Fix it and forget it is just the kind of dinner I need for busy weeknights! This will be perfect!
Haha thanks Jessica, fix and forget it exactly right! My favorite meals on busy days for sure! 🙂
Winter is the perfect time of year to get that slow cooker and and start cooking. I am notoriously bad for actually using mine. I must make more of an effort.
Oh Jacqueline, this is THE perfect recipe to break you back in. You literally drop everything in and go away for hours. No pre-cooking, no searing, etc. Drop and run 🙂
This sounds healthy, delicious and easy! I love thickening sauces and soups with beans too!
Ahhh, you do that trick too? I love it! It saves money, and doesn't add any extra calories or carbs to the mix! Thanks for noticing 🙂
We have cold and dreary weather in Kansas already, and this soup looks like just the fix I need to warm me up! I love "set it and forget it" cooking as well especially when I get to smell something as delicious as that white chicken chili simmering in the slow cooker all day! 🙂
Thanks Nichole! I think you'll find this to be the perfect antidote for a dreary, midwest day 🙂
You are totally killing it with all of these yummy recipes lately. I love your old crock pot...mine is ancient too. I think the old ones were built to last forever.
Sandi, you're killin me with that lovely comment...thank you! Yea, the old school crockpot truly cooks "slow". From what I've seen and read, some of the newer ones heat control cycles are too short to cook away from home during the average work day. I'm hanging on to my orange beast 🙂
I love recipes that use what I have in my pantry! I'm from New Mexico so I always have about 12 cans of green chiles ready and waiting...you can never have too many. This looks like a perfect dish for the cool nights of fall.
Haha, can I borrow a few cans of those chilis? Last time I went to make this chili, I had zero LOL. Thanks for stopping by!
Mmmm. I love that you use chicken thighs in this delicious chili!! I love white chili and this looks absolutely perfect!! Especially when it involves a slow cooker!! I will be trying your delicious chili this weekend!
Thanks Elaine! Yeah, I'm with you on the chicken thighs...you can cook them all day and they don't dry out. Thanks for commenting...hope you love this recipe!