Easy White Chicken Chili

This comforting and easy White Chicken Chili is quick to make with hearty white beans, zesty seasonings, and rotisserie chicken. You’ll be warmed up with a bowl of cozy and creamy white chicken chili in no time!

Recipe Ingredients

Below is everything you’ll need for a savory homemade white bean chicken chili. Be sure to refer to the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts:

• Olive Oil – For sautéeing.
• Aromatics – Diced onion, along with minced garlic and jalapeño.
• White Beans – Canned beans, rinsed and drained. You can use navy beans, Great Northern beans, or cannellini beans. These white beans work well in this white bean chili recipe and can be found at any grocery store.
• Green Chiles – I used diced green chilies. Either chop them yourself or use canned green chilies.
• Chicken Broth – In case you’d like to thin out your white chili, use chicken broth or vegetable broth. You can also adapt the amount of broth to your preference.
• Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed, to brighten up the chili flavors.
• Seasoning – Ground cumin, chili powder, and dried oregano. You’ll also need salt and pepper to taste.
• Rotisserie Chicken – Pick up a cooked rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store to shred. Or, you can use any leftover cooked chicken and chop or shred it.
• Cilantro – Freshly chopped, as an optional garnish.
• Optional Toppings – Any chili toppings that you prefer. We love ours with avocado slices, shredded cheese, crumbled corn chips, and sour cream. I’ve included more topping inspiration in the section further down!

See for yourself just how easy it is to make this flavorful white chicken chili! Check out the video further down in the post, as well as this helpful step-by-step:

• Sauté the veggies. Sauté the onion in a large pot with olive oil. After a few minutes, add minced garlic and jalapeño. Cook for another minute or two, until fragrant.
• Add the other ingredients. Add the white beans and chilies, then stir in the shredded chicken, chicken broth, and seasonings. Turn the heat to low and let the chili simmer for 15 minutes.
• Serve. Dish up and serve your white chicken chili with any of your favorite chili toppings! See further on for ideas.

More Tips for Success

Here are some additional tips for making the best chili:

Drain the beans. This is important, as just about all canned beans come in a thickish brine. This extra liquid will thin out your chili and can add an odd flavor. Draining canned beans is easy! You can do it using a colander under some cold water, or crack the lid of the can a smidge and then pour out the liquid while the beans are still inside.

Thicken to preference. If you prefer a thicker chili, feel free to simmer it a little longer on the stovetop. Mashing up the beans (or pureeing, like above) will also help to thicken the chili. If you prefer a thinner chili, add in a little extra stock at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.

Serve with lime wedges. A squeeze of fresh lime really brings out the flavors of the chili. See below for even more topping ideas!