Creamy Crockpot White Chicken Chili with tender chicken breasts, hearty beans, and pantry staples. It’s healthier comfort food with 10 minutes of prep!

White chicken chili is one of our favorite slow cooker recipes!

Crockpot white chicken chili served with yogurt, lime, cilantro and tortilla chips in black bowl with a spoon.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • You asked: While I have my uber popular stovetop healthy white chicken chili recipe and Instant Pot white chicken chili, you have been asking for the slow cooker version.
  • Family-friendly: Crockpot white chicken chili is not too spicy. It’s rich and creamy and kids love it, even picky eaters!
  • Filling: This hearty chili is high in protein and fiber, filled with shredded chicken, tender beans, sweet corn, and a creamy broth. As tasty as it is, you may be too full for seconds.
  • Easy and healthy: One of the easiest healthy chili recipes, slow cooker white chicken chili falls in the “dump-and-go category”, and it’s gluten free!

Ingredients for Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Filled with simple ingredients, this crockpot white chicken chili recipe is creamy, flavorful, and loaded with textures.

Chicken breasts, corn, cilantro, onion, green chilies, oil, lime, chicken broth, cream cheese, cannellini beans, garlic, and spices.
  • Aromatics: Onion and fresh garlic add flavor to the entire dish.
  • Oil: Used to sauté the onion and garlic. My go-to is avocado oil, but olive oil works well too.
  • Spices: Cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt and pepper. White chicken chili in crockpot is highly customizable, so you can make this blend as spicy as you like.
  • Chicken: You’ll need 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts. They cook quickly in the slow cooker and are easy to shred.
  • Cannellini beans: These white beans have a tender, fluffy texture with a slightly nutty flavor. You can substitute with navy beans or great Northern beans, just be sure to grab a can that’s low in sodium or no added salt. Also here is detailed tutorial how to cook dried beans on the stove.
  • Diced green chilies: One can of green chilies adds a touch of heat and lots of flavor to crockpot chicken chili.
  • Corn: This family favorite vegetable adds color and a bit of sweetness. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand – fresh, frozen, leftover Instant Pot corn on the cob, or crockpot corn on the cob.
  • Chicken broth: I recommend low sodium chicken broth or chicken stock.
  • Cream cheese: Cubed cream cheese helps thicken white chili while adding creaminess.
  • Fresh cilantro: We add finely chopped cilantro towards the end to enhance the flavor.
  • Lime juice: A squeeze of fresh lime juice is the perfect finishing touch.
  • Optional: I love adding a dollop of yogurt on top along with tortilla chips and diced avocado on the side.

How to Make White Chicken Chili in Crockpot

Follow these easy steps and you’ll be filling your bowl with crockpot white chicken chili in just 3 hours. I use 7 quart Crock Pot.

There is a full recipe card below.

Step by step process how to saute onion with spices and then cook white chicken chili in Crock-Pot.
  • Sauté onion and garlic: Preheat large non-stick skillet on medium-high heat, add oil and swirl to coat. Then add garlic and onion, and sauté for 3 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
  • Fill slow cooker: Season onion and garlic with cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt and pepper, cook for 30 seconds while stirring. Remove from heat and transfer to the bottom of a large slow cooker. Then top with chicken, beans, green chilies, corn and chicken broth.
  • Cook: Cover and cook white chicken chili in crockpot for 3 hours on high heat, or 6 hours on low heat.
  • Shred the chicken: Turn off heat and shred chicken using 2 forks. I shred my chicken breasts right in the crockpot, but you can set them on a cutting board, shred, and return to the crockpot. 
Person showing step by step how to season white chicken chili in slow cooker.
  • Add finishing touches: Add cream cheese, lime juice and cilantro. Stir until well combined, cover, and let chili sit in the warm crockpot for 5 minutes.
  • Serve: Serve warm in a big bowl with your favorite toppings like tortilla chips, shredded cheddar cheese, more cilantro, and lime.

Tips for Best Results

Here’s my advice on how to make the best homemade slow cooker white chicken chili.

  • Don’t overcook: All slow cookers vary, so it’s best to know your slow cooker and don’t cook this chili too long. The chicken can become tough and corn can burn.
  • Adjust to taste: Soup and stew recipes are very forgiving, make this chili your own and adjust seasonings and ingredients to your liking.
  • Shred chicken in crockpot: Letting the chicken rest for 5 minutes before shredding helps keep the juices inside. By shredding the chicken in crockpot lets you keep all that juice and flavor in the chili, plus save washing another bowl.
  • Rotisserie chicken: Shred rotisserie chicken, add to crockpot, and cook for 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low. The chicken won’t be as moist, so you might have to add more chicken broth.
  • You don’t have to sauté veggies with spices: It does add more flavor but if you are short on time or don’t want to, you can skip this step.
Person holding tortilla chip scooped into a bowl of slow cooker white chicken chili.

Variations

  • Make dairy-free chili: Omit cream cheese, remove 1 cup beans, mash and return to slow cooker. Your chili will be dairy free and naturally creamy.
  • Use yogurt instead of cream cheese: For a healthier chili with more protein, sub 1/2 cup Greek yogurt and omit cream cheese.
  • Make it more spicy: The spice level “as is” is mild. If you would like more heat, add 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, diced jalapeno with seeds when cooking, or add hot sauce to the bowl after serving.
  • Chicken thighs: Boneless skinless chicken thighs can add a bit more flavor and they’re easy to shred.
  • Protein swap: Shredded pork or turkey are delicious substitutions for this recipe.

What to Serve with Crockpot White Chicken Chili?

  • Freshly baked almond flour cornbread.
  • Fresh cilantro and lime wedges.
  • Tortilla chips for dunking or tortilla strips for crunch.
  • A spoonful of sour cream or Greek yogurt with green onion.
  • Fresh or pickled jalapenos.
  • Shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, or crumbled cotija cheese.

Can I Make It Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! White chicken chili can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave and you’ve got a quick and healthy dinner perfect for busy weeknights.

If you’re looking for healthy freezer meals, this one checks the box. Cook, cool, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Or make a freezer pack by adding all ingredients to a large freezer bag, remove air, and lay flat in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge for one day, then slow cook as per recipe.

How to Store and Reheat

Store: Let chili cool, transfer to an airtight container, and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freeze: Once it’s completely cooled, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Let white chicken chili thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stove top in a small pot while covered on low heat.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken?

Unfortunately no. According to USDA Food Safety Guidelines for Slow Cookers, you should always defrost raw meat or poultry before slow cooking.

The long slow temperature puts your frozen meat in danger of growing bacteria if left at a certain temperature for a long period of time.

Can I make this white chicken chili recipe in Instant Pot?

Yes! Here is how to make white chicken chili in Instant Pot.

Can I use flour to thicken the chili?

Yes. To thicken the broth, mix a splash of milk with flour and pour it into the crock pot in the last 30 minutes of cooking. You can use regular flour or gluten free flour.

What size of crockpot can I use?

Use a crockpot that’s 4 quart or bigger, I used 7 quart Crock Pot.

More Chili Recipes to Try

More Crockpot Recipes

White chicken chili in slow cooker with cilantro and metal spoon.
Crockpot white chicken chili served with yogurt, lime, cilantro and tortilla chips in black bowl with a spoon.

Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Creamy Crockpot White Chicken Chili with tender chicken breasts, hearty beans, and pantry staples. It’s comfort food with 10 minutes of prep!
5 from 3 votes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 207
Diet Gluten Free
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat large non-stick skillet on medium-high heat and swirl oil to coat. Add garlic and onion, sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add cumin, oregano, chili powder, salt and pepper and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Then transfer to a large slow cooker along with chicken, beans, green chilies, corn and chicken broth.
  • Cover with a lid and cook on High heat for 3 hours or on Low for 6 hours.
  • Turn off heat and shred chicken with 2 forks right in the pot or remove it on a cutting board and shred. Then add cream cheese, cilantro and lime juice. Stir, cover and let chili sit for 5 minutes.
  • Serve warm with your favorite toppings like tortilla chips, cheese, more cilantro and lime.

Video

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, reheat on a stovetop covered on low.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 349mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g
Course: Soup and Stew
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Olena Osipov
Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is my new favorite chili recipe! I’m always trying new healthy recipes and my husband complains about them lol (but I don’t care ;-)) but this one he actually has started to request! The highest compliment indeed!

    1. That’s a great compliment! In my house, complaining husbands and kids cook for themselves haha. So no one complains ever! LOL

5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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