Description
A creamy, hearty, and easy slow cooker white chicken chili that requires minimal prep time. This dish uses cannellini beans and salsa for a rich flavor without heavy cream, making it a perfect comfort food for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 16 oz jarred medium salsa
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon mild chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 cup frozen corn (optional)
- 1 jalapeño, diced (optional)
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Chop the onion, mince the garlic, and dice the jalapeño if using. Rinse and drain the cannellini beans.
- Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and jalapeño to the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle cumin, chili powder, oregano, and bay leaf over the chicken.
- Pour in the chicken broth and salsa. Add the rinsed cannellini beans. Ensure the chicken is mostly submerged.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours until the chicken is cooked through (165°F).
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Discard the bay leaf.
- Scoop out about 1 cup of beans and some broth. Blend until smooth using an immersion blender or regular blender, then return to the pot to thicken the chili.
- Return the shredded chicken to the pot. Stir in the lime juice and optional corn.
- Cook on HIGH for an additional 15-20 minutes to meld flavors.
- Serve topped with fresh cilantro, green onions, sour cream, and lime wedges.
Notes
For best results, cook on LOW to keep the chicken juicy. Blending some of the beans creates a creamy texture without heavy cream. If the chili is too watery, blend more beans or cook uncovered on HIGH for the last 30 minutes. Add lime juice at the end to brighten the flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 28
Keywords: slow cooker, white chicken chili, cannellini beans, easy dinner, meal prep, comfort food, gluten-free, dairy-free option