Creamy Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
This creamy white chicken chili is the ultimate comfort food, made effortlessly in a slow cooker with cream cheese, white beans, and tender chicken. It’s a budget-friendly, gluten-free meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes to 7 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened and cut into cubes
- 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
- 1 cup frozen or canned corn, drained
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional toppings: fresh cilantro, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, sliced jalapeños, avocado, lime wedges, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: dice the onion, mince the garlic, drain and rinse the beans, and cut the cream cheese into cubes.
- Layer in the slow cooker: place the chicken in the bottom. Top with diced onion, minced garlic, drained beans, corn, and diced green chiles. Do not stir yet.
- Add the broth and spices: pour the chicken broth over everything. Sprinkle cumin, oregano, chili powder, smoked paprika (if using), and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Give a gentle stir.
- Cook low and slow: cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until chicken is tender and shreds easily.
- Shred the chicken: carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return to the slow cooker.
- Add the cream cheese: add the cubed cream cheese and stir gently until melted completely into the broth (about 5-10 minutes).
- Adjust seasoning: taste and adjust salt, pepper, or spices as needed. If too thick, add a splash of chicken broth; if too thin, cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes.
- Serve and garnish: ladle into bowls and top with your favorite garnishes like cilantro, lime, cheese, avocado, and tortilla chips.
Notes
Do not use low-fat cream cheese as it may turn grainy. Add cream cheese at the end to prevent curdling. For a thicker chili, mash some beans or use an immersion blender. Leftovers taste even better the next day. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1.5
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 720
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 7
- Protein: 32
Keywords: white chicken chili, slow cooker chili, creamy chili, chicken chili, easy chili, gluten-free chili, comfort food, meal prep