Description
Whip up Southern White Chicken Chili for a comforting meal that brings Southern hospitality right to your dinner table. Creamy, hearty, and packed with tender chicken and white beans, this chili delivers pure Southern comfort in one delicious bowl.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 lb cooked chicken breast or rotisserie chicken, shredded
Beans and Vegetable Base:
- 2 cans (15 oz) white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander (optional)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a large pot over medium heat for 1 minute. Sauté 1 diced onion until transparent, approximately 5 minutes.
- Mince 3 garlic cloves and cook with onions for an additional 1 minute until aromatic.
- Sprinkle 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp oregano, ½ tsp chili powder, and ½ tsp coriander into the pot. Toast spices for exactly 1 minute.
- Incorporate 1 lb shredded chicken, 2 cans of white beans, and 1 can of green chilies. Stir thoroughly to combine ingredients.
- Pour 3 cups chicken broth into the pot and increase heat to boil. Immediately reduce to low heat.
- Simmer chili uncovered for 20 minutes, periodically mashing ½ cup beans against pot sides to naturally thicken the mixture.
- Soften 4 oz cream cheese and add to the pot with ½ cup sour cream. Blend until completely smooth.
- Squeeze juice from 1 whole lime into the chili and season with salt and pepper to personal taste.
- Ladle chili into serving bowls and garnish with optional toppings like shredded cheese, avocado, or fresh cilantro.
Notes
- Mashing some white beans creates a thicker, more luxurious texture without adding extra flour or cornstarch.
- Swap cream cheese and sour cream with Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-packed version that still maintains creamy consistency.
- For a vegetarian adaptation, replace chicken with extra firm tofu or roasted cauliflower and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, or diced avocado make excellent optional garnishes that add bright flavor and extra texture to the chili.
- Prep Time: 6 minutes
- Cook Time: 21 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 252 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 317 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg