This easy, flavorful chicken and white bean chili recipe has been a favorite soup recipe at our house for years!
This simple white bean chili is modified from an old favorite Betty Crocker recipe. I used to make this A LOT when we were newlyweds, but I had sort of forgotten about it until recently. This weekend I wanted to make something the whole family would like, and white chicken chili seemed to be a good bet. It doesn’t have tomatoes (which will please my 7-year-old), isn’t spicy, and the only green vegetable is a sprinkling of cilantro. That has kid-friendly dinner written all over it!
We served big bowls of this white chili with green salads and (non-blog-worthy) homemade dinner rolls, and everyone loved it! Well, my little one would have loved it if he had sat at the table for more than a few minutes. Dinner is not his strong suit, which is why I usually feed the kids early before they are wiped out at the end of the day. It was nice to all eat together though, and this white chili will surely make an appearance at family dinner again!
This is written as a 30-minute stovetop recipe, but it would also translate well to the slow cooker. If you’d like to make it that way, leave out the olive oil, and put everything but the cilantro in your crockpot. Cook it for 6-8 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high (chicken breasts cook quickly!). Before serving, carefully remove the chicken, shred the meat, and stir it back in with the cilantro. You could also opt to use chicken thighs instead of breasts to make this meal even more affordable.
Don’t forget to leave me a comment to let me know how you make yours and how you liked it!
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White Chili: An easy, family-friendly dinner!
This simple soup loaded with chicken and great northern beans is a perfect dinner for a cool night.
- Total Time: 38 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced or crushed
- 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 15-oz. cans great northern beans drained
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- kosher salt and cayenne to taste
Instructions
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Heat olive oil in a dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, and cook 2 minutes longer.
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Add chicken broth, chili powder, oregano, and cloves. Bring to a boil. Add chicken, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
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Uncover pot, and transfer chicken breasts to a cutting board. Add drained beans, and continue simmering soup while shredding chicken with two forks.
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Return shredded chicken to the pot with the cilantro, and return soup to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.
Notes
You can serve over rice or topped with crushed tortilla chips if desired.
- Prep Time: 3
- Cook Time: 35
- Category: Main
Here are some other quick and easy chicken soup recipes your family will enjoy:
Evie says
Really good! I added tomatoe sauce and cumin to mine, will definitely make again!
Angie S says
My husband is convinced that black/red/kidney beans have it in for him, so I rarely make chili anymore… poor me!
This will be a great option! I’ll probably spice it up with a can of diced green chilies – thanks Andi!
Andi says
Hope he likes this one, Angie. My husband isn’t a fan of regular chili either, but he loves this soup.
Angie S says
Very good, easy and affordable! Added a can of green diced chilies, 1 tsp of cumin and stirred in about 1/2C heavy cream that was just wasting away in the fridge. topped with some fresh shredded cheddar and cilantro.
Thanks Andi! I hope this week is a better one for all of you!
★★★★★
Andi says
Thanks, Angie! This week is better for sure. So glad you liked the soup :)
Melanie says
This is one of the best… Actually, the best recipe I’ve ever made of yours. And probably ever. I love it so much, and so does the fam! Thanks a ton!!
★★★★★
Andi says
Wow, thank you, Melanie! I’m very happy you liked it so much!
Kelly says
This looks so good Andi! My lil guy loves white chili and a big hot bowl of this sounds perfect to warm up with during the colder winter days :)
Andi says
Thank you, Kelly! I hope you are having a nice weekend :)
marcie@flavorthemoments says
White chili is one of my favorite ways to make chili, and this looks so delicious, Andi! I think white beans and chicken are one of the best combinations ever. :)
Andi says
Thanks, Marcie! I should think of a new way to combine chicken and white beans, maybe in a cold salad for something different!
Gretchen @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
I think this will be a winner at my dinner table, too! Although my family loves traditional chili, it sure would be fun to change things up a bit! I’m impressed at how fast this comes together – it seriously looks like a speedy-quick prep and in just 38 minutes dinner is served! Love that! Thanks, Andi!!!
Andi says
Hi, Gretchen! You know I love quick and easy recipes, which is why this is an old favorite. It is really simple to prepare, and I hope your family enjoys it too! Thanks for stopping by :)