This white chicken chili with cream cheese combines shredded chicken with sautéed onions, chilies, and black beans mixed in a variety of spices. It's all simmered in a rich and creamy sauce to make a comfort food meal like no other. Best of all, this cream cheese chicken chili couldn't be easier to make!
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The Best White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese
If you love chili, just wait until you try this creamy white chicken chili.
It's totally unlike any chili recipe you've had before, and I have a feeling it'll become your new favorite! At least it's been my go-to chili recipe lately.
This cream cheese chicken chili has a few of the same elements as a traditional chili recipe with a couple of ingredient additions. It's made up of tender shredded chicken, black beans, some more veggies, and the perfect balance of spices.
That's all delicious, but the star of the recipe is the thick and creamy cream cheese sauce that takes this chili to a whole new level! The flavor is just so good, and the texture is perfect for dipping tortilla chips in.
This white chicken chili with cream cheese recipe makes enough to feed a crowd, so it's perfect to make if you're hosting.
Since the chili is so easy to whip up, you'll have plenty of time to make a side like this Jiffy jalapeno cornbread or these Bisquick cheddar bay biscuits. Both are also ideal for dipping in the cream cheese sauce.
Why This Recipe Works
It's a foolproof recipe. All you have to do is cook the veggies, then add the rest of the ingredients one by one to the pot and let it simmer. It couldn't be easier, and the results are perfect every time!
Guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Every time I make this cream cheese chicken chili, the adults and kids always rave about how good it is. It'll be a hit at your family dinner or the next time you're hosting!
A one-pot meal. Everything for this white chicken chili comes together in one pot, so not only is making this recipe a breeze, but cleanup is too!
Makes great leftovers. As good as this recipe tastes on day one, I think it tastes even better the next day. The leftovers reheat easily, and it makes for an easy meal prep all week long.
Ingredients
The ingredient list for this white chicken chili with cream cheese recipe might seem extensive, but I promise they're all super straightforward.
Here's everything you'll need:
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 pound cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 can black bean, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups chopped green chili peppers
- 2 cups cream cheese
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
You can use a lot of these ingredients to make my wife's famous cream cheese chicken enchiladas, so consider giving that recipe a try next!
How To Make White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese
1. Cook the veggies: Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onions, garlic, and peppers. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently until the onions and peppers are soft.
2. Add the spices: Season the veggies with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika, and continue cooking for another 2 minutes. Give everything a mix to coat the veggies in the spices.
3. Add the chicken: Pour the chicken broth into the pot and add the black beans and cooked shredded chicken. Bring this to a boil, then cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Finish the chili: Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cream cheese until it's fully melted. Add chopped parsley, then taste and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve the chili warm, topped with tortilla chips, avocado slices, and shredded cheese if desired. Enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Add chili powder, cayenne pepper, or pepper jack cheese to give the chili a spicy kick.
- Make slow cooker chili by adding all of the ingredients - minus the cream cheese and parsley - to your slow cooker/crock pot and cook on high for 1 hour or low for 3 hours. When it's finished, stir in the cream cheese and parsley.
- Use cooked rotisserie chicken breasts or chicken thighs to give the chili more flavor.
- Use full fat cream cheese for a thicker, more rich and creamy chicken chili.
- Top the finished chili with your favorite toppings, like sour cream, green onions, cilantro, hot sauce, or shredded cheddar cheese for extra flavor.
- Serve the chili with tortilla chips for dipping. It's way better than eating it with a spoon!
How To Store White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese
In the fridge: You can store the leftover cream cheese chicken chili in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days.
In the freezer: Allow the leftover chicken chili to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze white chicken chili for up to 3 months.
Reheating: The best way to reheat the chili is to put the leftovers back into a large pot and heat on medium heat, stirring frequently, until it's warmed through. You can also microwave leftover chili in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until it's fully reheated. Let the frozen chicken chili thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
FAQS About This White Chicken Chili Recipe With Cream Cheese
What's the difference between white chili and regular chili?
White chili is typically made with chicken, black beans or white beans, and some kind of white sauce. Regular chili usually has ground beef and some sort of tomatoes as the sauce.
What do you use to thicken white chicken chili?
Adding cream cheese to the chili after it cooks is the best way to thicken it. The cream cheese adds a delicious flavor too!
Can you substitute sour cream for cream cheese in chili?
Yes! You can definitely use cream cheese instead of sour cream. It will give the chili a thicker, creamier texture.
Why is my white chicken chili watery?
Your white chicken chili is watery because you probably added too much chicken broth. You can thicken it up by adding a little extra cream cheese.
More Recipes
White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese
This white chicken chili with cream cheese combines juicy shredded chicken with sautéed onions, chilies, and black beans. It's all simmered in a rich and creamy sauce to make a comfort food meal like no other. Best of all, this cream cheese chicken chili couldn't be easier to make!
Ingredients
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 pound cooked chicken, shredded
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 can black bean, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups chopped green chili peppers
- 2 cups cream cheese
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onions, garlic, and peppers. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until onions and peppers are soft.
- Season with the salt, pepper, and smoked paprika and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Add chicken broth, black beans, and shredded chicken. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the cream cheese until melted. Add chopped parsley. Taste and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve topped with tortilla chips, slices of avocado, and shredded cheese if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
2 cupsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 451Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 31g
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