This white hen chili is a hearty and creamy soup combined with shredded hen, beans, cream cheese, and the correct amount of spice. It’s even fast to make, particularly when you’ve got leftover hen!

If you have to feed a crowd or simply crave a heat, comforting meal, this white hen chili is a good alternative! Everybody loves this recipe as a result of it makes use of easy-to-find substances full of taste that fill you up, like cannellini beans, shredded hen, and quite a lot of spices.
Usually, chili is made with beef, pink sauce, and pinto or black beans. This white hen chili swaps the pink meat with lean hen, makes use of a white sauce constituted of cheese and broth to make a lighter soup, and blends in some cannellini beans so as to add a richer texture.
Why Use Cannellini Beans?
Cannellini beans are often known as “white kidney beans,” with the time period kidney merely referring to the form of the beans. These beans have a gentle and nutty taste profile in comparison with black or pinto beans. On this recipe, we take a number of the beans and mix them as much as make them as clean as potential, then add that combination to our soup base. This course of helps the soup have a creamier and thicker texture.

Elements
- Beans: You’ll want 2 cans of cannellini beans, however you can even use nice northern beans if that’s all you’ve got.
- Cream cheese: I like utilizing cream cheese to make it further creamy! Full-fat or reduced-fat each work.
- Hen: You should utilize any hen so long as it’s shredded. Be at liberty to make your individual or you’ll be able to shred a store-bought rotisserie hen to avoid wasting time.
- Seasonings: Garlic, floor coriander, floor cumin, chili powder, salt, oregano, black pepper.
- Inexperienced chiles: You’ll want 2 cans of diced inexperienced chiles. You should utilize a gentle or gentle selection relying on how spicy you need it.
- Greens: I used onion for taste and corn to make it extra filling.
The best way to Make White Hen Chili
Mix a number of the cannellini beans with some hen broth till fully clean. It will assist to naturally thicken the chili.

In a big pot, sauté some onions and garlic in just a little little bit of oil till softened and aromatic, then stir within the seasonings, corn, and diced inexperienced chiles.


Pour within the blended beans and remaining broth into the pot. Stir, convey to a boil, then flip the warmth to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir within the remaining can of beans, the shredded hen, and the cream cheese.


Take away the pot from the warmth, stir within the cilantro and lime juice, and serve instantly.

Advised Toppings
Whereas this soup could be very hearty by itself, I like layering on just a few further toppings! Listed here are just a few recommendations:
Tip!
Save a while by selecting up a cooked rotisserie hen out of your grocery retailer and shredding it at dwelling, or use any leftover hen you’ve got within the fridge.

Beneficial Instruments
- Blender: An all-purpose blender is helpful for tackling all kinds of various cuisines.
- Dutch oven: I believe that is one pot everybody wants of their kitchen, particularly for soups and stews!
Storing and Reheating
One in every of my favourite issues about chili is that it shops, freezes, and reheats superbly!
To retailer: Switch the chili to an hermetic container and refrigerate for as much as 1 week.
To freeze: Switch cooled chili to a freezer-safe storage bag and freeze for as much as 6 months!
To reheat: Place the chili in a pot on the stovetop over medium-high warmth and reheat till totally warmed by. Alternatively, you’ll be able to reheat it within the microwave till scorching. The chili could get just a little thicker because it sits within the fridge, so be at liberty so as to add in just a little broth to skinny it out.

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook dinner: 20 minutes
Whole : 30 minutes
This white hen chili is a hearty and creamy soup combined with shredded hen, beans, and cream cheese. It is prepared in solely half-hour!
Directions
-
Mix 1 cup of the cannellini beans and ½ cup of the hen broth till fully clean. Put aside.
-
Warmth the olive oil in a big pot or Dutch oven over medium-high warmth. Add the onion and saute for 3 minutes, stirring sometimes. Add the garlic and saute for 30 extra seconds till aromatic.
-
Add the coriander, cumin, chili powder, salt, oregano, and black pepper, and prepare dinner for 1 minute, stirring sometimes.
-
Add the corn and diced inexperienced chiles and prepare dinner for two minutes, stirring sometimes.
-
Pour within the blended beans and the remaining 3 cups of hen broth into the pot. Stir to mix, convey to a boil, cut back warmth to low, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
-
Add within the cream cheese and stir till fully melted and mixed.
-
Stir within the remaining cannellini beans and shredded hen. Cook dinner for two extra minutes to heat by.
-
Take away the pot from the warmth and stir within the cilantro and lime juice. Serve in bowls with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and diced avocado if desired.
Isabel’s Ideas:
- Corn: For those who don’t have canned corn, you possibly can additionally use 1 ½ cups frozen corn or 2 ears recent corn.
- Diced inexperienced chiles: You should utilize both gentle or scorching, relying on how spicy you need it.
Vitamin Info
Serving: 1serving Energy: 238kcal (12%) Carbohydrates: 9g (3%) Protein: 21g (42%) Fats: 14g (22%) Saturated Fats: 5g (25%) Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g Monounsaturated Fats: 6g Ldl cholesterol: 62mg (21%) Sodium: 649mg (27%) Potassium: 402mg (11%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 327IU (7%) Vitamin C: 5mg (6%) Calcium: 84mg (8%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
Pictures by Erin Jensen of The Wood Skillet.