Creamy Crockpot White Chicken Chili
A warm, comforting, and creamy white chicken chili made effortlessly in a slow cooker, perfect for cozy dinners with tender chicken, white beans, and a subtle spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, drained and rinsed (cannellini or great northern beans)
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies (mild or hot)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or white cheddar cheese
- Optional garnishes: fresh cilantro, fresh lime wedges, diced avocado or sliced jalapeños, crunchy tortilla chips or strips
Instructions
- Chop the onion finely and mince the garlic. Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts or thighs but leave them whole.
- Place the chicken breasts or thighs at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chopped onion, garlic, white beans, diced green chilies, cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour in the chicken broth, making sure everything is submerged.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Remove the chicken breasts or thighs and shred them with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot.
- Stir in the softened cream cheese and sour cream until fully melted and combined. Then add the shredded cheese, stirring until smooth and creamy. Add a splash of broth or water if the chili is too thick.
- Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or spices as needed. Add hot sauce or fresh jalapeño for more heat if desired.
- Ladle the chili into bowls and top with optional garnishes like cilantro, lime, avocado, or tortilla chips.
Notes
Use boneless skinless thighs for juicier chicken. Rinse canned beans to remove excess sodium. Add cream cheese and sour cream at the end to prevent curdling. Avoid lifting the slow cooker lid during cooking to maintain temperature. Microwave cream cheese briefly if not soft enough to avoid lumps. Shred chicken for better texture and flavor absorption.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (360 ml)
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 35
Keywords: white chicken chili, crockpot chili, creamy chili, slow cooker recipe, easy dinner, comfort food, chicken chili, white beans chili