Description
A budget-friendly, creamy white chicken chili made with simple pantry staples like canned beans, green chiles, and cream cheese. Ready in 30 minutes, this one-pot meal is perfect for weeknights and stretches a grocery budget.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cans (15 oz each) white beans (cannellini or Great Northern), drained and rinsed
- 8 oz block full-fat plain cream cheese, broken into chunks
- 1 can (4 oz) mild diced green chiles, including liquid
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- Optional: 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- Optional: Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the white beans. Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add cumin and garlic powder, stirring constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Place chicken breasts in the pot. Pour in chicken broth and the can of green chiles (with liquid).
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F and flakes easily.
- Remove chicken from pot and shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
- Return shredded chicken and drained beans to the pot.
- Add cream cheese chunks. Stir gently over low heat until cream cheese is fully melted and sauce is thick and creamy.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. If too thick, add splash of broth; if too thin, simmer uncovered briefly.
- Serve hot with optional toppings like shredded cheese, cilantro, or lime wedges.
Notes
Do not overcook the chicken or it will become dry. Break cream cheese into chunks for even melting. Rinse beans thoroughly to remove excess sodium. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy; store in fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently with a splash of milk or broth to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 35
Keywords: white chicken chili, budget meals, one pot recipe, cream cheese chili, quick dinner, meal prep, cheap ingredients, green chiles