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White Chicken Chili Recipe Overview

Warm, creamy, and packed with smoky flavors, this White Chicken Chili is the ultimate comfort food. Perfect for chilly evenings or casual dinners, it's a crowd-pleaser that's simple to make and even better to eat.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions finely chopped
  • 2 jalapeño peppers seeded and chopped
  • 2 poblano peppers seeded and chopped
  • 2 Anaheim peppers seeded and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1½ teaspoons chili powder
  • ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt divided
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups 960 ml chicken stock
  • 45 oz 1.28 kg cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (divided)
  • 3 cups 420 g cooked chicken, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • ½ cup 119 ml heavy cream
  • Garnishes:
  • Lime wedges
  • Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Sour cream

Method
 

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Chop all vegetables and cook chicken if needed.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook onions until translucent (5 minutes). Add jalapeño, poblano, and Anaheim peppers, and sauté for 4–5 minutes.
  3. Toast Spices: Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and half the salt. Cook for 1 minute.
  4. Add Garlic & Flour: Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle flour and stir for 2 minutes.
  5. Add Stock & Simmer: Slowly pour in chicken stock while stirring. Bring to a simmer.
  6. Incorporate Beans: Mash half the beans into a paste and add both mashed and whole beans to the pot. Stir to combine.
  7. Add Chicken: Stir in chopped chicken and simmer for 20 minutes on low heat.
  8. Finish with Cream: Add lime juice and heavy cream. Cook for 5 more minutes without boiling.

Notes

Tips

  • Adjust Spice Level: Add or reduce jalapeños or cayenne pepper based on your heat preference.
  • Make Ahead: Tastes even better the next day.
  • Freezer-Friendly: Store in portions for up to 3 months.
Enjoy this creamy, flavorful dish as a cozy dinner or a meal-prep favorite!