If you’re looking for an easy but flavorful dish to make for dinner tonight, look no further. This white bean chicken chili recipe is simple and delicious, and it’s made with only five ingredients in a slow cooker!
You know those busy days that you know are going to be overwhelming before they even start? For me, it’s Thursdays. We don’t know when James gets done with work, so we don’t know if we’ll be sharing dropoff and pickup responsibilities for our kids.
We have school pickup, and Piper has a piano lesson right away. Most weeks my son has to be at the local public library just after the lesson is over.
Then Piper and I have a Girl Scout meeting. I’m a leader so I need to be prepped and ready. Haiden needs to be picked up from the library. We never get home until after 7pm.
Piper probably has homework, and I’m making sure I wrap up everything from the scout meeting before I forget. James has either been home and then running around like me, or he’s just gotten home after a super long day. Everyone is starving.
Those are the days I really, really want to come home to a delicious and hot meal, and I have the easiest way to make that happen.
Looking for other easy dinner recipes? Check out the easiest crescent roll dinner recipe, creamy crockpot chicken, or this 20 minute cauliflower cheese soup!
If you want slow cooker recipes, don’t miss this crock pot cinnamon roll recipe, a delicious crockpot caramel recipe, and easy slow cooker peach butter.
What I love about this recipe
Let me tell you my favorite way to make this white chicken chili recipe: in a crockpot so it’s ready at the end of a busy day.
I was going to say that the crockpot is magical. That there’s something other-worldly about tossing a handful of ingredients into a slow cooker and walking away, only to return later to a delicious meal.
But magical isn’t the right word. It’s just relieving. It’s SUCH a relief to come home at the tail end of an already busy day and remember that dinner is ready. Even better, everyone can serve themselves while the dish remains warm for the rest of the family.
I have a firm belief that homemade dinners shouldn’t take hours of prep and effort. Which is why a slow cooker is such a lifesaver. This white bean chicken chili crockpot recipe is one of the first crockpot recipes I learned how to make, and it’s been with me for years.
With just five simple ingredients, it’s almost effortless to make – all you need is a slow cooker and you’re good to go. Whether it’s dinner on a cold winter evening or fuel after a long day at work or school, this chili will be sure to hit the spot.
This particular white chicken chili recipe is absolutely the BEST for the busiest days. Because it uses canned chicken breast, canned beans, prepared salsa and chicken broth. If there was a recipe for “dump chili” this would be it!
Of course, you can make this recipe with fewer canned and pre-made ingredients. I honestly do it more often than making the recipe as written.
But that’s the great thing about it – you can make all sorts of changes and you’ll still have a delicious bowl of chili when the crockpot is done cooking!
You’ll find the details for this in the Changes and Substitutions section below.
And if you’re looking for a traditional, not white chili recipe, here’s a good one for slow cooker pork chili.
Ingredients Needed for Easy White Bean Chicken Chili
These are notes on ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. You’ll find exact measurements and instructions at the bottom of the post.
Chicken – This recipe is all about being simple and easy, and this is the easiest chicken you can find. My preference for canned chicken is all white meat chicken breast, but you can use whatever works for you.
Beans – My personal preference for white beans is great northern beans, but I’ll happily use cannellini beans. I’ve also been told that navy beans are a deliciously creamy bean for chili. If you want another bean recipe, try making southern style white beans and ham.
Salsa verde – Salsa verde doesn’t have to be spicy! It gets its green color from tomatillos, not an overload of jalapeños or other hot pepper. So use a salsa verde that fits your taste buds. I prefer mild because even medium can be overwhelming for some family members. You can also make this authentic salsa verde recipe.
Chicken broth – I admit, I often use bouillon instead of chicken stock or chicken broth. I used to keep bouillon cubes in my spice cabinet until I realized getting powdered soup bases is the real way to save money and get great flavor. So now I keep this chicken boullion in my freezer and scoop it out whenever I need it. Usually one teaspoon for one cup of water.
Ground cumin – Cumin is essential for the delicious chili flavors.McCormick is a tried and true brand for spices, and I always buy this brand of cumin.
Instructions for Making the White Bean Chicken Chili Crockpot Recipe
These are the most basic instructions for this recipe. You’ll find all the specific details you need in a neat little recipe card at the bottom of this post.
First, gather up all your ingredients. Open the cans and drain both the chicken and the beans.
Next, Layer your ingredients in the crockpot in this order:
- Chicken
- Beans
- Salsa verde
- Cumin
Pour the chicken broth over everything, set your slow cooker to low and cook for 4-6 hours.
Serve with the suggested toppings below.
Serving Suggestions for White Bean Chicken Chili
The toppings are what really gets my family excited when we’re having chili for dinner.
In my pictures I kept it simple, using sliced avocado and chopped cilantro. The combination adds both creaminess and a fresh flavor to the dish.
Here are all the chili toppings that make my family happy:
- Tortilla chips
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Sliced avocado
- Sour cream
- Chopped bell peppers
- Sliced jalapeños
- Lime juice
- Shredded cheese
- Freshly cracked pepper
Changes and Substitutions
The beauty of this recipe is that it’s easily customizable, so you can use adjustments and substitutions to make it your own.
Alternatives to canned chicken in your chili
I have to say, I use canned chicken for convenience. It’s not my first choice when I’m selecting meats, but I’m also never disappointed when I use it for crockpot meals!
At the same time, you can use other forms of chicken in this white chili recipe and it will be delicious. You can even use raw chicken if you adjust the cooking time.
Here’s how to use different forms of chicken:
White chicken chili with rotisserie chicken
Rotisserie chicken is the second easiest option for this recipe. Just use 2-3 cups of shredded chicken in place of the canned chicken in the recipe. Use your choice of white meat or dark meat.
Cooked chicken
If you have cooked chicken that’s ready for a recipe, just shred it and use 2-3 cups.
Raw chicken thighs for white bean chicken chili
Use about a pound of uncooked chicken thighs and be sure to cook your chili on low in the slow cooker for 5-6 hours.
Make sure the temperature of the thickest part of the chicken is 165 degrees.
Before serving, remove the chicken thighs from the chili and shred with two forks. Discard the bones if you’re using bone-in thighs. Return the meat to the chili and serve.
Raw chicken breasts for white bean chicken chili
Use about a pound of chicken breasts and be sure to cook your chili on low in the slow cooker for 5-6 hours.
Make sure the temperature of the thickest part of the chicken breast is 165 degrees when it’s done cooking.
Before serving, remove the chicken from the chili and shred with two forks. Return the meat to the chili and serve.
More white chicken chili changes and substitutions
Add some extra veggies. This will add some extra nutrition, as well as some sweet flavors. Here are a few ideas for vegetables you can add:
- Finely diced carrots
- Chopped onion
- frozen corn
- Canned corn
- Chopped celery
- Sliced or chopped bell pepper
Swap out the beans. This recipe calls for white beans, but feel free to sub in pinto, kidney or black beans; just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
All in all, if you prefer other meats and different beans in your chili, you should check out this recipe for southwest chili with black beans and corn.
Make spicy white bean chicken chili
If you like your chili with some heat there are some easy ways to do that.
First, you can use a medium or hot salsa verde in the recipe.
Another idea is to add 1-2 7 ounce cans of green chilies.
Finally, you can add more spices to fit your tastes. Fresh ground black pepper is the best way to add a little heat without it being overwhelming. You can also add ¼ – ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and ½ teaspoon or more of chili powder for more spiciness.
Meat substitutions
Use different kinds of meat. If you don’t have chicken on hand, beef can also work great in chili. Turkey chili is also delicious! Or you can omit the meat altogether (add more beans!) for a vegetarian chili. Whatever ingredient you choose, make sure it’s cooked and ready prior to adding it into the slow cooker.
Creamy white chicken chili
Make it a creamy chili soup: Stirring in cream cheese, sour cream, half and half or heavy cream will make your white chicken chili silky and creamy. It also makes it a bit more like soup, which I love.
I usually just use one, but you’re free to use a combination of all three.
Here are basic measurements of creamy elements that you can adjust more or less to taste:
- ½ – 1 cup of sour cream
- 4 – 8oz cream cheese (½ to one full block)
- ¼ cup of heavy cream, and add more to taste, up to ¾ cup.
- ½ -¾ cup of half and half.
No matter what changes you make, this white bean chicken chili crockpot recipe is an easy and delicious weeknight meal that your family will love!
Tips for perfect white chicken chili every time
When making this white bean chili recipe, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind that will ensure it turns out perfectly every time.
At the end of the cooking process, you want to make sure the chili has enough liquid but not too much, as this can reduce its flavor. If needed, add a small amount of chicken broth or chicken stock just before serving.
Lastly, feel free to add any additional vegetables of your choosing such as chopped bell pepper, corn or celery for more texture and color.
Yield: 6 cups
White Bean Chicken Chili
This white bean chicken chili recipe is a delicious and hearty soup - it's made in the slow cooker so it's perfect for busy nights! This recipe includes tender pieces of chicken, creamy white beans, and a flavorful cumin chicken broth. Salsa verde adds a zesty kick to the chili and brings all the flavors together. It's an easy recipe to make and is sure to satisfy everyone at the dinner table.
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Additional Time1 minute
Total Time1 minute
Ingredients
- 3 12.5 ounce cans chunk white chicken breast
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 15 ounce cans Great Northern or Cannellini beans
- 1 16 ounce bottle salsa verde
- 6 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
- Layer these ingredients in your slow cooker in this order: chicken, cumin, beans, salsa verde, chicken broth.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- See notes for serving suggestions.
Notes
Cooked chicken conversion
If you have cooked chicken that’s ready for a recipe, just shred it and use 2-3 cups.
Conversion if you're using uncooked chicken breasts or chicken thighs:
Use about a pound of raw chicken and cook with the rest of the white bean chicken chili ingredients on low for 5-6 hours.
Make sure the temperature of the thickest part of the chicken cooks to 165 degrees.
Before serving, remove the cooked chicekn from the slow cooker and shred the meat with two forks. Discard the bones if you used bone-in meat. Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and serve with the toppings below.
Topping ideas for white bean chicken chili
- Tortilla chips
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Sliced avocado
- Sour cream
- Chopped bell peppers
- Sliced jalapeños
- Lime juice
- Shredded cheese
- Freshly cracked pepper
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 276Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 1402mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 10gSugar: 4gProtein: 23g
