Creamy White Chicken Chili (Printable)
Tender chicken and sweet corn combine in a creamy, mildly spiced dish perfect for family dinners.
# What You'll Need:
→ Poultry & Broth
01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
02 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
06 - 1 (15 oz) can sweet corn, drained or 1½ cups frozen corn
07 - 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
→ Beans & Cream
08 - 2 (15 oz each) cans white beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
10 - ½ cup heavy cream
11 - ½ cup sour cream
→ Spices & Seasonings
12 - 1½ tsp ground cumin
13 - 1 tsp dried oregano
14 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
15 - ½ tsp chili powder
16 - 1 tsp salt, or to taste
17 - ½ tsp black pepper
→ Optional Garnishes
18 - Chopped fresh cilantro
19 - Sliced green onions
20 - Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
21 - Lime wedges
# Directions:
01 - Place chicken in a large pot with chicken broth. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until cooked through. Remove, cool slightly, then shred with forks.
02 - In the same pot, add onion, garlic, and jalapeño. Sauté over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
03 - Add green chiles, corn, white beans, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Stir well.
04 - Return shredded chicken to the pot. Add cream cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
05 - Stir in heavy cream and sour cream until fully combined. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until creamy and heated through. Adjust seasoning as desired.
06 - Serve hot, garnished with cilantro, green onions, shredded cheese, and lime wedges if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under an hour, which means weeknight dinner without the scramble.
- The cream makes it feel special without being fussy, and the corn adds genuine sweetness that people don't expect.
- It's naturally gluten-free and tastes nothing like a compromise dish.
- One pot means one thing to clean, which matters more than any food magazine will admit.
02 -
- Softening the cream cheese before adding it prevents lumps—don't skip this small step, as it changes everything about the texture.
- If you oversalt while cooking, a potato wedge simmered briefly will pull out some of the salt, saving your whole pot.
- Mashing a handful of beans before stirring them in creates a naturally thicker chili without any starch or flour.
03 -
- Keep the cream cheese at room temperature before adding it—it melts into the broth like it was always meant to be there, with no lumps or resistance.
- Don't let the chili boil hard once the cream is in; a gentle simmer keeps everything silky and prevents the dairy from breaking.