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Slow cooker chunky white chicken chili is a great meal for the cooler season. Now that summer is coming to an end and fall is making itself known, this white chicken chili in a crockpot is one of my go-to dinners. It’s a tasty chicken chili recipe that makes a change from the better-known red beef chili. Give this slow cooker chicken dinner a try, and you won’t be disappointed!
If you find yourself with some rotisserie chicken to use up, along with frozen corn, pinto beans, tortilla chips and green chiles, why not rustle up this crockpot chunky chicken chilli recipe? It’s a great recipe for home cooks and an easy crockpot dish for this time of year.
Love trying new south of the border recipes? You might also want to try Mexican 5-layer bean dip, pork carnitas or a Taco Bell inspired breakfast crunchwrap.
While red chili is typically based on tomatoes, this chunky chicken chili boasts chicken broth and white beans instead. So of course you can expect a slightly different flavour than your usual beef chili recipes.
Ingredients for Chunky Chicken Chilli
So what exactly do you need to make this slow cooker chicken dinner? It’s your choice of whether to use chicken breast or thigh. I usually use chicken breast, but some people prefer thigh, since it has a lot of flavour.
White or red onion, garlic, ancho chili powder, jalapeño, and green chilies add plenty of flavour to this white bean and chicken chili. You can use less or more chilli peppers depending on how spicy (or not!) you like it. Your creamy white chicken chilli doesn’t have to be spicy, but it can be if you choose!
Cumin, coriander and oregano add more dimensions to the flavour. Finally, you will need chicken broth, corn, the white beans, and a pinch of salt. Navy beans are another kind of hearty beans that would work here. For the garnish, cilantro, sour cream, lime, and guacamole work well. You can use sliced avocado instead of guacamole if you prefer.
Is your mouth watering yet? The ingredients in this crock pot chunky white chicken chili are so harmonious together. This is a warming, delicious easy meal which is perfect anytime. Easy recipes like this are ones you will make again and again. That is one of the reasons I love slow cooker recipes!
How to Make this Chicken Chili Recipe
You won’t believe how easy this chunky chef white chicken chili is to put together. Whether you’re in a rush or you just crave white chicken chili in a crockpot, this dish will hit the right spot. Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.
If you prefer, you can cook it on high for 2 or 3 hours. It’s ready when the chicken is cooked through. Simply taste a little of this slow cooker chicken chili to see if it has the right amount of spice.
Shred the chicken using a pair of forks or some ‘bear claws’ and put it back in the crockpot. Now all you need to do is serve the slow cooker chunky white chicken chili with your preferred toppings! Oh and cook some rice too, if you want to serve this over rice.
How to Store Leftover Chunky Chicken Chili
This easy slow cooker chilli will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I bet it won’t last that long though! It’s just such a hearty chilli – everyone will want second helpings!
Can You Freeze It?
Because this freezes well, you might like to doubt the slow cooker chunky chicken chili, and then you can freeze half of it. Let the classic chilli cool completely, then divide it into separate portions and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw this slow cooker chicken dinner overnight in the refrigerator, then warm it back up in a pan on the stove. That’s a great way to reheat it, or else you can use the microwave.
Tips, Tricks and Variations
You can make white chicken chili in a crockpot if you have one, or in an Instant Pot if not. You can even make it on the stove if you have neither. Each of these methods will have slightly different timing. If you’re using the Instant Pot use the coolest temperature setting. If you’re making your chicken chili recipe on the stove, use a heavy bottomed pan and keep the flame low. Stir the mixture over if you’re cooking it on the stove top.
Don’t want to use chicken in this white bean and chicken chili? No problem. Swap it for another meat such as turkey or pork. If you don’t want to add any meat, you can increase the amount of corn and beans. Instead of using 2 cans of white beans, you might like to use 1 can of white beans and 1 of black beans or kidney beans.
You can spice this white chicken chili in a crockpot up if you like. I usually make mine somewhere between mild and medium and offer hot sauce at the table. However, if you know everyone eating this loves spice, go ahead and be generous with the chili powder, green chilies and/or jalapeños.
This slow cooker white chicken chili is great served in a ‘tortilla bowl’ if you don’t want to cook rice. To make the bowl, drape a large tortilla over an upside-down metal bowl and bake it in the oven until it’s set. Flip it over, and you have a ‘bowl’ to serve the chill in. You can use any kind of tortilla for this, even the low-carb ones, if you want to make this slow cooker chicken dinner keto.
White Chili Toppings
There are many delicious toppings that you can add to white chicken chili to add flavor and texture. Some of my favorite toppings include:
- Shredded cheese: Add a sprinkle of shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Colby cheese
- Sour cream: A dollop of sour cream adds a tangy and creamy flavour to this easy meal
- Green onions: Thinly sliced green onions add a fresh, slightly spicy flavour to the chili
- Cilantro: Chopped fresh cilantro adds a bright and citrusy flavour
- Salsa Verde: Salsa adds a fresh, tangy, and slightly spicy zing to the chili recipe
- Avocado: Sliced or diced avocado adds a creamy, rich texture
- Jalapeños: Thinly sliced jalapeños add a spicy kick
- Corn chips: Crumbled corn chips add a crispy and crunchy texture
- Lime wedges: Squeezing a little bit of lime juice over the chili adds refreshing flavour
- Tortilla strips: Crispy tortilla strips add a crunchy texture
White Chicken Chili FAQs
Yes! You can use a different type of meat such as turkey or pork in this recipe. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the type of meat you use, so keep that in mind.
This chili freezes well, which is great for leftovers. Let it cool completely and transfer it to a freezer-safe airtight container. When you are ready to eat it, thaw and reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.
You can use any type of beans that you prefer in this recipe. Chickpeas, kidney beans, or pinto beans would all work well.
Yes, if you prefer chicken thighs over breasts, you can swap an equal amount for the chicken breasts. Note that chicken thighs may need a bit longer to fully cook so adjust the recipe accordingly.
The difference between white chili and regular chili is tomatoes. White chili does not contain tomatoes, and classic chili does contain tomatoes. Also, white chili will typically use shredded chicken instead of beef.
Slow Cooker Chunky White Chicken Chili Recipe
Slow Cooker Chunky White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Pounds chicken breast, boneless, skinless
- 1 onion, diced
- 5 Cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Can pickled jalapeño, 12 ounces, drained
- 1 Can green chiles, 4 ounces, diced
- 1 Tablespoon cumin
- 1 Tablespoon coriander
- 1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon oregano
- 14 Ounces chicken broth
- 1 Can sweet corn, 15.2 ounces, drained
- 2 Teaspoon salt
- 2 Cans white beans, 15.5 ounces, drained & rinsed
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
- Cook on low for about 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours.
- Remove the chicken and, using bear claws (or forks), shred the chicken and return to the slow cooker.
- Serve with your favourite chili toppings.
Nutrition
I hope you try to make this slow cooker chunky white chicken chili recipe. It is a perfect slow cooker chicken dinner for a busy day when you want something hearty. This white bean and chicken chili reheats well, so you can enjoy leftovers the next day, too!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
So comforting! My kids loved it too. 😋
Hello – I see this is listed as 7 servings, but how much is a serving? With the number of people who are health-conscious and counting calories, it’s a tremendous help to have the serving size posted.
It’s about a seventh of the recipe so you’d need to eyeball it and use your judgement. I have no idea how many cups or grams that works out to – sorry!
This makes a nice change from regular beef chili and it’s chunky and delicious. I doubled up and had the leftovers for a couple days – there’s no way anyone could get tired of eating such a yummy chili.
I just made this for the first time and we enjoyed it so much! I reduced the amount of jalapenos (~20 slices, not a full jar); just 1 tsp each of cumin and chili powder; no coriander just because I don’t have any. This is a keeper! Thank you for sharing it!
This looks so good! My family will love this