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Creamy White Chicken Chili with Cannellini Beans – Easy 30-Minute Dinner

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This creamy white chicken chili comes together in about 30 minutes using simple ingredients like rotisserie chicken, cannellini beans, and green chiles. It’s a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cans (4 oz each) diced green chiles
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3 cups shredded cooked chicken (from one rotisserie chicken)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half (optional)
  • Juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for topping)
  • Shredded Monterey Jack cheese (for topping)
  • Diced avocado (for topping)
  • Tortilla chips or strips (for topping)
  • Lime wedges (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Add the drained cannellini beans, chicken broth, diced green chiles, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, and cayenne (if using). Stir together. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Remove about 1 cup of the bean mixture (mostly beans, some liquid) and blend until smooth using an immersion blender or regular blender. Return the blended mixture to the pot. (Alternatively, use an immersion blender directly in the pot with a few quick pulses.)
  4. Stir in the shredded chicken. Cook for 5 minutes until the chicken is warmed through. If the chili seems too thick, add a little more chicken broth or water.
  5. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the sour cream and heavy cream (if using). Heat for another 2-3 minutes, but do not let it boil.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Squeeze in the lime juice and stir. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  7. Serve immediately, ladled into bowls and topped with cilantro, cheese, avocado, tortilla chips, and lime wedges as desired.

Notes

Don’t skip the bean-blending step—it creates a creamy texture without heavy cream. Use a rotisserie chicken to save time. Toast the spices before adding broth for more aroma. Keep heat low when adding sour cream to prevent curdling. The chili thickens as it sits; add a splash of broth when reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: white chicken chili, creamy chicken chili, cannellini beans, easy dinner, 30-minute meal, weeknight dinner, rotisserie chicken, comfort food

Find it online: https://spoonluma.com/creamy-white-chicken-chili-with-cannellini-beans-easy-30-minute-dinner/