Crockpot White Bean Chili is a dump-start slow cooker chicken chili recipe that practically makes itself. Boneless chicken thighs, white chili beans, green chiles, corn, and chicken broth are slow cooked and served with chili toppings for an easy, southwest dinner.
Do you love to throw ingredients into a cooker and go do ALL the things? Me too!! This White Bean Chicken Chili is a toss-and-go Crockpot recipe that requires no pre-cooking, just like my Crockpot Chicken Vegetable Soup. Simply add ingredients to the cooker, set it on low or high, and go multitask.
White bean chili ingredients
Visit recipe card below 👇🏼 for printable amounts and instructions
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- chicken broth
- white beans - cannellini beans, navy beans, or white kidney beans
- canned diced green chiles
- onions and celery
- fresh garlic
- seasonings - cumin, chili powder, and oregano
- salt and pepper
- frozen corn
- chili toppings - cilantro, lime, avocado, jalapeños, sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips
What is white bean chili?
This Mexican-inspired chili is made with chicken, white beans, canned green chiles, vegetables, chicken broth, and seasonings. You can make it with or without chicken, but don't skip the cumin, green chiles and all the chili toppings for distinct southwest flavor.
What I love about slow cooker white bean chili
- This recipe uses simple, everyday ingredients that can be found at most grocery stores.
- 10 minute prep and NO pre-cooking ingredients makes this dump-start recipe super convenient.
- You can make it any season in the crockpot without heating up your whole house.
- Perfect meal for family dinner, game day, and parties.
Chicken and white bean chili recipe tips
Use boneless, skinless, chicken thighs. These literally fall-apart during cooking and stirring, and they make the juiciest, most tender chicken chili.
Opt for reduced-sodium chicken broth and no salt added beans. This way, you’re in complete control of the salt content.
Mash up one of the cans of beans to help develop a naturally creamier consistency; this avoids adding unnecessary extra ingredients as thickeners.
Use the suggested chili toppings (cilantro, fresh or pickled jalapeños, sour cream, lime, etc). They literally take this chili from delicious to outstanding!
Recommended tools
- chef knife and cutting board
- can opener
- garlic press
- slow cooker
More chili and soup recipes
- Three Bean Turkey Chili
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Crockpot Chicken Vegetable Soup
- Instant Pot Chili Mac
- Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
Crockpot White Bean Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 4 cups Chicken Broth
- 2 15oz can White Beans * see recipe footnote rinsed and drained
- 1 4.5oz can Diced Green Chilis
- 1/2 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 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 cup Corn frozen, canned, or fresh
Recipe Instructions
- In a 3.5 quart slow cooker, combine CHICKEN, CHICKEN BROTH, BEANS, GREEN CHILIS, ONION, CELERY, GARLIC, CUMIN, CHILI POWDER, OREGANO, SALT, and PEPPER.
- Set slow cooker to HIGH for 2 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours *see recipe footnote about slow cooker times
- 30 minutes before cook cycle ends, stir in CORN, cover, and allow to heat through.
- Serve white bean chili warm with chili toppings: cilantro, lime, avocado, jalapeños, sour cream, or cheese
RECIPE NOTES
Nutrition
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
I originally published this White Chicken Chili Recipe on amandascookin.com in JAN 2019
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!