The Ultimate Hearty Crockpot White Chicken Chili

There’s a special kind of magic in walking through the door to the aroma of a meal that’s been gently cooking for hours. For those days when you crave something truly comforting, especially as the air gets a little crisper, we have a recipe we’re certain you’ll adore. Allow us to introduce what might just become your household’s new go-to dish: our wonderfully straightforward and deeply satisfying Hearty Crockpot White Chicken Chili.

Move aside, conventional chili; this version is a delightful departure. It’s brimming with succulent shredded chicken, creamy beans, and a delicate blend of spices that creates a comforting warmth, ensuring everyone will want another helping. We’ve honed this recipe to be the perfect hands-off meal, offering an incredible depth of flavour with very little work involved. This is the kind of food that provides a hug from the inside, ideal for hectic weeknights, relaxed weekends, or when you have guests to feed.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Effortless Preparation: Just pop all the ingredients into your slow cooker when you start your day, and a delicious, aromatic chili will be ready and waiting by evening. It’s the very essence of a minimal-effort, maximum-satisfaction dish.
• Creamy & Comforting: In contrast to its tomato-based counterpart, this white chili has a divinely creamy consistency, achieved with a blend of cream cheese and double cream. The result is luxuriously smooth and wonderfully filling.
• A Healthier Choice: Brimming with lean protein from the chicken and dietary fibre from the beans, this recipe constitutes a wholesome and well-rounded meal. It’s an excellent way to enjoy a comforting dish that also nourishes you, making it a brilliant choice for your collection of Healthy Chicken Recipes.
• Perfectly Customisable: The heat level can be easily tailored to your family’s preferences. Feel free to add extra chillies for a more robust kick or keep it mild for younger palates. The topping options are boundless, so everyone can create their ideal bowl.
• Great for Meal Prep: We find this chili is even more flavourful on the second day! It keeps exceptionally well in the fridge and is also suitable for freezing, making it a superb option for batch cooking and quick lunches all week.

Ingredients

• 1 kg boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (400g) tins cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (400g) tin sweetcorn, drained
• 1 (115g) tin chopped green chillies, undrained
• 1 litre low-sodium chicken stock
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 120g full-fat cream cheese, softened and cubed
• 120ml double cream
• Juice of 1 lime
• Fresh coriander, chopped (for garnish)

How to Make The Best Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Creating this chili couldn’t be simpler. We’ve laid out the process in a handful of easy-to-follow steps. Adhering to them will ensure a wonderfully creamy and flavour-packed result each time. This is how you achieve the ultimate Slow cooker white chicken chili.

1. Build the Foundation: Begin by arranging the chicken breasts in a single layer at the base of your slow cooker. Evenly distribute the chopped onion, minced garlic, drained cannellini beans, sweetcorn, and undrained green chillies on top of the chicken.
2. Introduce the Spices and Stock: In a small bowl, combine the ground cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle this aromatic mixture over the ingredients in the crockpot. Finally, pour the chicken stock over everything.
3. Let the Slow Cooker Work Its Magic: Place the lid securely on your crockpot and set it to cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. You’ll know it’s ready when the chicken is exceptionally tender and shreds with ease.
4. Shred the Chicken: After the cooking cycle is finished, carefully lift the chicken breasts out of the crockpot and onto a plate or chopping board. Use two forks to pull the meat apart into shreds, then return the shredded chicken to the pot.
5. Achieve the Creamy Finish: Now, add the cubed cream cheese, double cream, and the juice of a fresh lime into the chili. Stir everything together gently until the cream cheese is fully melted and integrated, creating a smooth and luscious texture. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
6. Serve and Savour: Allow the chili to rest on the “keep warm” setting for an additional 10-15 minutes, which gives the flavours a final chance to meld. Ladle into bowls and serve piping hot with all your favourite accompaniments.

Tips for Success

To make sure your white chicken chili turns out absolutely perfectly, we’ve gathered a few extra pointers for you:

• The Importance of Lime: A squeeze of fresh lime juice stirred in at the end is absolutely vital. It elevates the entire dish, cutting through the creamy richness and making all the individual flavours sing in harmony.
• Opt for Full-Fat Cream Cheese: To achieve the smoothest, most velvety texture, we highly recommend using full-fat cream cheese. Lower-fat varieties can sometimes separate or become grainy when heated.
• A Quicker Shredding Method: If you’re pressed for time, a hand mixer on its lowest speed can be used to shred the cooked chicken directly inside the crockpot. Just be mindful to prevent any splashing!

Topping and Serving Suggestions

One of the best parts of chili night is adding the toppings! This adaptable dish provides the perfect foundation for all your preferred garnishes. A “toppings bar” is a fantastic way to present this Easy white chili, allowing each person to customise their serving.

Our Favourite Toppings:

• Grated Monterey Jack or a sharp cheddar cheese
• A spoonful of soured cream or thick Greek yoghurt
• Sliced fresh or pickled jalapeño peppers
• Creamy diced avocado
• A sprinkle of freshly chopped coriander
• A handful of crushed tortilla chips for texture
• A couple of dashes of a zesty hot sauce

What to Serve on the Side:

While this chili is certainly a satisfying meal in its own right, it also goes wonderfully with warm, crumbly cornbread, a slice of crusty bread for dipping, or a simple bed of fluffy white rice.

Make This Your Go-To Healthy Crockpot Meal

We particularly appreciate how this recipe fits seamlessly into a healthy lifestyle. Chicken offers a superb source of lean protein, crucial for bodily functions and muscle maintenance. As noted by the NHS, incorporating lean protein is a cornerstone of a well-balanced diet. When paired with fibre-packed beans, this chili becomes a deeply satisfying yet nutritious option. For those who enjoy other simple, comforting meals, our Low Carb Chicken Casserole is another excellent choice for a cosy evening. This chili is proof that you never have to compromise on flavour when making a Healthy crockpot meal.

FAQ

Storing and Freezing Your White Chicken Chili

The excellent keeping quality of this recipe is one of its best features. For any leftovers, let the chili cool down fully before you move it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

This chili is also a brilliant candidate for freezing. Pour the cooled chili into freezer-safe containers or bags, ensuring you leave a small gap at the top to allow for expansion. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw overnight in the fridge and gently reheat on the hob or in the microwave.

A Perfect Meal for Any Occasion

We’ve served this Hearty Crockpot White Chicken Chili at numerous gatherings, and it consistently receives rave reviews. It has enough character for a relaxed get-together with friends, yet it’s straightforward enough for a weeknight when the thought of a complicated meal is too much to bear. It’s a genuine crowd-pleaser that delivers comfort and exceptional flavour to your dinner table.

We truly hope you enjoy this recipe as much as our families do. It has become a beloved staple in our homes, and we are delighted to be able to share it with you. Please give it a go and tell us how it went in the comments section below. We always love seeing your culinary creations on social media!

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 3-8 hours
Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 kg boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (400g) tins cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (400g) tin sweetcorn, drained
• 1 (115g) tin chopped green chillies, undrained
• 1 litre low-sodium chicken stock
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 120g full-fat cream cheese, softened and cubed
• 120ml double cream
• Juice of 1 lime
• Fresh coriander, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer at the base of your slow cooker. Evenly distribute the chopped onion, minced garlic, drained cannellini beans, sweetcorn, and undrained green chillies on top.
2. In a small bowl, combine the cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle this aromatic mixture over the ingredients, then pour the chicken stock over everything.
3. Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is exceptionally tender and shreds easily.
4. Carefully remove the chicken breasts from the crockpot. Use two forks to shred the meat, then return the shredded chicken to the pot.
5. Add the cubed cream cheese, double cream, and the juice of a fresh lime. Stir gently until the cream cheese is fully melted and the chili is smooth and luscious. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
6. Allow the chili to rest on the “keep warm” setting for 10-15 minutes to let the flavours meld. Ladle into bowls and serve hot with all your favourite accompaniments.

Nutrition: This is a wholesome and well-rounded meal, brimming with lean protein and dietary fibre. Specific nutritional values will vary based on exact ingredients and toppings used.