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Healthy White Chicken Chili

white chicken chili in turquoise bowl with chips
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★★★★★

4.9 from 10 reviews

Healthy White Bean Chicken Chili made on the stovetop in less than 40 minutes. Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. This recipe is great for meal prep, freezing for later or just a weeknight dinner! Stovetop, slow cooker and Instant Pot (pressure cooker) instructions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans Great Northern Beans (or any other white beans)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium-large onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced 
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine salt, to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder (can sub chili powder)
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 (4 ounce) can green chilis
  • 1 (8.75 ounce) can corn (about 1 cup cooked corn)
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • 1.5 pounds cooked chicken breast, shredded (about 3 cups; see notes)
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

Stovetop

  1. Drain and rinse the canned white beans. Add half of the beans to a medium bowl and mash until chunky. Reserve the un-mashed and mashed beans for later.
  2. Heat large Dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot to medium-high heat. Add oil, onions, garlic, chili seasonings plus salt and pepper; sauté until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add in green chilis and corn, chicken stock, and lime juice then bring to a simmer. Add the beans (both whole and the mashed ones) and continue to simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered.
  3. After 20 minutes of simmering, taste test (you might find you want additional salt here). Then add in shredded rotisserie chicken and cilantro. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
  4. Serve chili with chips, sour cream, avocado, etc.

Instant Pot

  1. Drain and rinse the canned white beans. Add half of the beans to a medium bowl and mash until chunky; set aside.
  2. In electric pressure cooker, using “Saute” mode on low heat, add oil, onions, garlic, chili seasonings, salt and pepper; sauté until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add in green chilis, corn, and both beans; stir then add 3 cups* chicken stock and place un-cooked chicken breasts on top – do not stir chicken into broth, just keep them on top of everything. 
  3. Using “Manual” high pressure, set timer for 10 minutes (for medium thickness chicken breasts.) Once the timer is done, allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release, then turn valve to quick release any remaining pressure. Unlock lid and remove chicken breasts with tongs, then shred chicken breasts and add back to pot, along with lime juice and cilantro. 
  4. Change function to “keep warm” and taste taste for any more salt, spice or heat. Serve with your favorite toppings; enjoy!

Slow Cooker

  1. Drain and rinse the canned white beans. Add half of the beans to a medium bowl and mash until chunky.
  2. In slow cooker, add diced onion, minced garlic, corn, green chilis, white beans (both whole and mashed), chili seasonings, salt, pepper; stir then place un-cooked chicken breasts on top and cover with 3 cups* chicken broth. 
  3. Cook on low for about 4-5 hours, or high for 2-3 hours, until chicken has reached internal temperature of 165ºF. Remove chicken breasts from slow cooker and shred; place shredded chicken back into slow cooker and add lime juice and cilantro; stir and serve with favorite toppings.

Notes

Adding the mashed beans makes this chili a little bit thicker. You can skip that part if you’d like.

Chicken – if using un-cooked chicken, use about 1.75 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts. Place chicken breasts into pot while chili simmers for 20 minutes. Then remove chicken, shred, and add back into pot with cilantro and simmer for 5 more minutes.

*The Instant Pot and Slow Cooker need less broth than the stovetop version. 

Recipe adapted from here.

Keywords: white chicken chili, healthy chicken chili, dairy free chill recipes

Find it online: https://www.fitmittenkitchen.com/healthy-white-chicken-chili/