How to Make White Chicken Chili

Like a red chili, the real magic of a white chicken chili shows up in its spices. You can make it easy on yourself and buy a whole bag of chili flavor at once in the form of our McCormick® White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix. Use this in our White Bean Chicken Chili recipe for a super-fast cooking time.

If you want a more meditative cooking process, then you can prepare the spices individually. We recommend an earthy pinch of cumin for a robust flavor base. Garlic powder sharpens the savory taste, while oregano tops it off with warm Mediterranean notes.

Chili powder gently adds flavor depth while cayenne is pure heat, allowing you to dial in the spiciness level directly. Go easy on the latter unless you know your diners can take it. There's also nothing to stop you adding some green chiles too, as we do, which bring an extra dimension of garden freshness to the dish.

Lean chicken breasts are a common choice, as in our Spicy White Chicken Chili Recipe, but boneless skinless chicken thighs are a fattier alternative if you're looking for maximum flavor and tenderness.

The beans in a white chicken chili recipe are a key part of the dish. Great Northern beans offer an especially creamy texture, but cannellini beans are a great substitute. Navy beans also work as a smaller bean option.

Also, pay extra attention to toppings and garnishes. What goes on your white chicken chili is equally important to what goes in it. Break out some fresh cilantro and lime wedges for bright flavors, along with shredded Monterey Jack or white cheddar.

You can use Greek yogurt or sour cream to enrich your chicken chili's creamy texture still further, and diced avocado lends some gentle green color while providing more healthy fat content. Some fresh green onions add color and tang.

One of our favorite toppings is tortilla strips or chips. You can use these straight out of the bag or even fry them for some added flavor. Either way, they bring a wonderful crunch to your white chili chicken dish.

Preparing white chicken chili couldn't be easier. If you're using raw beans, then an overnight soak or a two-minute boil followed by an hour's soak will prepare them for cooking. Canned beans are even simpler; just remember to drain and rinse before using. After dicing your onions uniformly, trim the chicken and cut into even-sized cubes.

You have two ways to go when cooking: stove top, or slow cooker. If you're cooking on the stove, sautéing your onion first will allow its flavor to bloom. You can also brown the chicken pieces for a deeper taste. Simmering time is typically short at 15 minutes or so.

For a non-sautéing method, turn to slow cooker recipe like this Creamy Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili. A long cook time allows those flavors to build slowly. Shredding the chicken and blending some of the chili mixture at the end helps to create a thick, meaty texture.

Don't add any dairy ingredients to these recipes until the end, especially when cooking on higher heat. You want them to add to the creaminess, not curdle the chili.

A warm cornbread makes a great pairing for white chicken chili, or you can serve it with Mexican rice. Serving it over a baked sweet potato is the ultimate comfort food option. Whichever you choose, it's a lean, flavorful way to enjoy your next get-together. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Looking for more sides when you serve up your white chicken chili? Try these.

• Garlic Bread with Parsley
• Cool Cucumber Salad
• Sweet Potatoes On The Grill