This Easy Healthy White Chicken Chili Recipe is the perfect quick dinner! Make it in the crockpot, instant pot or on the stove.
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Healthy chili is so amazing for a simple, yet flavorful dinner because you just throw delicious ingredients in a pot and let them meld together until you get the perfect comfort meal!
There is nothing more comforting than a cozy bowl of chili! This healthy chicken chili recipe is just the thing when you need a quick and easy meal that is equally as delicious.
Why We Love This Healthy Chili Recipe
There are so many reasons we love this delicious white chicken chili:
- Easy to make – This easy soup takes less than an hour to make if you are using your stovetop or Instant Pot. If you want to let your crockpot do all the work for you, it can still be done in just over 6 hours! It also has less than 15 ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry.
- Customizable – See below for all the easy and delicious ways you can customize this recipe.
- Protein packed – There are 32 grams of protein for every cup of this white chicken chili, so it is guaranteed to keep you full!
- Delicious – This chili really is just so incredibly delicious. It’s sure to be one of your family’s favorites!
Ingredients for Healthy White Chicken Chili
To make healthy chicken chili you will need:
- chicken breasts
- onion
- diced green chiles
- cannellini beans
- frozen corn
- chicken broth
- garlic
- paprika, chili powder, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper.
For the full recipe and ingredient substitutions, see the green box below.
How To Make Healthy White Chicken Chili
You can make this healthy white chicken chili in the crockpot, the instant pot, or on the stovetop. Here’s how to make it in the crockpot (for the other directions, see below):
- Lay chicken breasts along the bottom of the crockpot and cover with onions, garlic, green chiles, broth and spices.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
- After 6 hours, shred chicken breasts. You can shred them right in the crockpot with two forks or remove from the pan and pull apart on a cutting board. The chicken will be tender enough that it falls apart. Stir the chicken back in with the other ingredients. Add cannellini beans and frozen corn.
- Optional if you have time: Allow the chicken to sit for an additional 10-20 minutes after shredding the chicken. The chicken will absorb some of the liquid and thicken the chili.
- Garnish + enjoy!
If you love your crockpot check out these 45 Healthy Best Chicken Slow Cooker Recipes Ever.
Chili Topping Ideas
This white chicken chili is delicious on its own, but it is so versatile with the amount of toppings you can use, so go crazy! These are some of our favorite toppings:
- Cheese
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Green or red onions
- Tomatoes
- Corn
- Tortilla chips
How to serve Chicken Chili
There are lots of different ways you can serve this healthy white chicken chili. Here are some of our favorites.
If you’re looking for lower carbs: You can serve this over steamed cauliflower rice. A baked potato, over Crispy Sheet Pan Roasted Potatoes, or with your own homemade roasted plantains are other great ideas.
Over rice: Rice, quinoa or even farro are all great for serving with this white chicken chili.
Over a salad: We love to serve chili over salad to get extra greens in!
Toppings: Go crazy with the toppings here! See above for our favorite topping ideas.
SUBSTITUTIONS FOR CHICKEN CHILI
This chili is SO versatile. Here are a few ways you can customize it!
Meat: We haven’t tried this recipe with chicken thighs or tenders, but I think that would work as well. You can also make this chili with beef or turkey instead of chicken. It is just as delicious! Simply brown the beef or turkey before you put it in the crockpot! We also have a Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Chili that you might like and a Turkey Chili.
Beans: If you are paleo/whole 30, you can omit the beans. Black beans, pinto beans or even chickpeas can be substituted for cannellini beans if you prefer. We also have a delicious Red Chicken Chili!
Veggies: You can add extra veggies to this recipe if you’d like. We recommend 1 cup chopped carrots or 1 cup chopped peppers. Both are delicious!
Cheese: I recommend serving with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese if you’re not paleo/whole30- the sharpness of the cheese is so delicious with the flavors of the chili!
Broth: Any broth will work in this.. vegetable, chicken, beef. Opt for low sodium if you are buying your broth, or make homemade broth (ours is so easy to make, is paleo, whole30 & SO nutritious).
Jalapeño: This is not an overly spicy chili. If you want to add spice, add 1/2 tablespoon of chopped jalapeño. Be sure to deseed before adding.
Green Chiles– You can substitute green chiles for jarred salsa (red or verde). It will have a very different flavor (similar to our Salsa Verde Chicken), but so delicious!
Can I Use Rotisserie Chicken?
Yes, you absolutely can. Using rotisserie chicken is great if you need dinner on the table quickly.
Sub raw chicken breasts for shredded cooked rotisserie chicken and make sure to cut down the chili cooking time by half.
Freezing and Reheating Healthy Chicken Chili
Freezing: This white chicken chili freezes very well. We like these containers for freezing.
Fridge: You can store this healthy chicken chili in your refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheating: When you’re ready to enjoy, you can take a container out of the fridge or freezer and heat over the stove or in the microwave. It’s great for a quick meal!
Healthy Chicken Chili FAQ
The healthiest chili is one that’s loaded with protein, healthy carbs and veggies. This chicken chili is all of that!
Chicken chili can be good for weight loss. This chili is pretty high in protein, which can help keep you full. If weight loss is your goal I would serve this with some veggies and rice mixed with cauliflower rice.
Yes it is! This is a healthy dinner that you’ll love. We also love these Chili Chicken Meatballs!
Usually white chicken chili is thicker than red chicken chili. The tomatoes are what thins chili out. Most white chicken chilis do not have tomatoes, so they are often thicker. This is a thicker white chicken chili recipe!
Love chicken? Check out our favorite healthy chicken breast recipes!
Other healthy crockpot recipes:
If you love soup as much as we do, we actually have a free healthy soup ebook that you will love! We also have a post filled with 25 Healthy Soup Recipes! Here are some of our other favorite crockpot recipes:
Looking for other healthy slow cooker recipes? Check out these Healthy Crockpot Recipes!
Healthy Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 cup onion diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- 4 oz canned diced green chiles
- 1 cup chicken broth low or no salt
- 1/2 tablespoons paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt omit for low salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 13.4 oz cannellini beans canned, rinsed + drained
- 1 cup frozen corn optional
Instructions
Crockpot Instructions:
- Chop onions and garlic. (Optional: you can sauté in 1 teaspoon of olive oil for 2 minutes before adding to the crockpot.)
- Lay chicken breasts along the bottom of the crockpot.
- Cover chicken with onions, garlic, green chiles, broth and spices.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
- After 6 hours, shred chicken breasts. You can shred them right in the crockpot with two forks or remove from the pan and pull apart on a cutting board. The chicken will be tender enough that it falls apart. Stir the chicken in with the other ingredients. Add cannellini beans and frozen corn.
- Optional if you have time: Allow the chicken to sit for an additional 10-20 minutes after shredding the chicken. The chicken will absorb some of the liquid and thicken the chili.
- Garnish with avocado or guacamole + enjoy!
Instant Pot Instructions
- Set your instant pot to sauté and add 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Sauté the onions and garlic for 2 minutes.
- Add chicken, green chiles, broth and spices.
- Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Allow a 5 minute natural release.
- Remove the chicken from the pot. The chicken will be tender enough that it falls apart. Stir the chicken in with the other ingredients. Add cannellini beans and frozen corn.
- Optional if you have time: Allow the chicken to sit for an additional 10-20 minutes after shredding the chicken. The chicken will absorb some of the liquid and thicken the chili.
- Garnish with avocado or guacamole + enjoy!
StoveTop Instructions
- In a large soup pot, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Sauté the onions and garlic for 2 minutes.
- Add chicken, green chiles, broth and spices.
- Cover and bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes
- Remove the chicken from the pot. The chicken will be tender enough that it falls apart. Stir the chicken in with the other ingredients. Add cannellini beans and frozen corn.
- Optional if you have time: Allow the chicken to sit for an additional 10-20 minutes after shredding the chicken. The chicken will absorb some of the liquid and thicken the chili.
Carleigh says
So so good and so easy! Really simple to customize/make changes based on what you have and like.
The Clean Eating Couple says
Thanks, Carleigh! So happy you liked it!
Stephanie M Christiansen says
I made this for lunch the other day and it was super simple and SO good! My husband actually said he would eat this everyday! Currently waiting on ingredients to be delivered to make again tomorrow 🙂
This time we might sub out the beans and add some rice! We topped ours with cilantro, cheese and some sour cream.
The Clean Eating Couple says
so glad you liked it Stephanie! I bet that would work great with the rice. Thanks for trying!
Sara says
This is, hands down, the best white chicken chili recipe out there! And it’s healthy! I loved how seemingly easy it was to throw together. Definitely looking forward to making this again soon!
The Clean Eating Couple says
So happy you liked it!
Patty Tomerlin says
Made this several times – easy and delicious!!
Thanks for all the wonderful recipes!!
The Clean Eating Couple says
Thank you so much, Patty!
Jess says
This is the best chicken chili I have tried! I have made this several times now and it’s both easy and delicious. It’s not too spicy even my toddlers love it. I add a little extra broth because they like it that way. We make enough to have it 2 nights in a row. I almost never leave recipe reviews but I really enjoy this one!
The Clean Eating Couple says
So glad you like it! Thank you so much, Jess!!
Rebecca says
SO GOOD AND SO EASY!! I made it in the crock pot and it was PERFECT for my meal prep!
The Clean Eating Couple says
This makes me so happy to hear! Thank you 🙂
Lisa says
We ate this chili on its own, but will put over brown rice next time. It really is a delicious and hearty meal on its own, but the suggested add-one are what puts it over the top. I added a small amount of cheese, avocado cubes and crumbled tortilla chips. Used rotisserie chicken just because I like the flavor more with the added benefit of making the recipe come together faster. I’ll definitely make this again, thanks for the recipe!
The Clean Eating Couple says
So glad you liked it, Lisa! Thanks so much!
Elizabeth Taylor says
This chili is so delicious! I love white chicken chili but most have a lot of cream cheese and I love that this is a healthier option while still being SO flavorful! It also reheated very well.
Marsha says
I use ground chicken. Meal prepping a pot for work lunches.
Denise Caskey says
Very good and easy to put together. I did add more broth. It wasn’t “soupy” enough for me. But it was very good. I’ll make it again. I topped it with – sliced avocado, tomatoes and some crushed tortilla chips. YUMMO!!!!!
Lillie says
This recipe is amazing! I am recently dairy free, and was missing the creamy consistency. I remembered I had Chipotle Sauce in the fridge & added a spoonful to a bowl & it definitely gave a creamier consistency & kicked up the heat a notch.