Warm Up with White Chili: Delicious Recipes and Tips
White chili, a creamy and flavorful alternative to traditional red chili, is a comforting and satisfying dish perfect for cool evenings. Made with chicken or turkey, white beans, green chilies, and a blend of spices, it’s a relatively quick and easy meal that’s endlessly customizable. This blog post will guide you through several delicious white chili recipes, offer tips for customizing your chili, and answer some frequently asked questions.
## What is White Chili?
Unlike red chili, which gets its color and flavor from tomatoes and chili powder, white chili relies on white beans (such as Great Northern, cannellini, or navy beans), poultry (chicken or turkey), and green chilies for its signature taste. It’s often thickened with cream cheese, sour cream, or a roux, resulting in a rich and creamy texture. White chili is generally milder than red chili, but you can easily adjust the spice level to your liking.
## Why You’ll Love White Chili
* **Comforting and Hearty:** White chili is a warm and filling meal, perfect for chilly weather.
* **Easy to Make:** Most white chili recipes are relatively simple and require minimal cooking skills.
* **Customizable:** You can easily adjust the ingredients and spice level to suit your preferences.
* **Versatile:** White chili can be served as a main course, appetizer, or even a side dish.
* **Great for Leftovers:** White chili tastes even better the next day, as the flavors have time to meld together.
## Key Ingredients for White Chili
* **Protein:** Chicken or turkey is the most common protein source for white chili. You can use shredded cooked chicken, ground chicken, or ground turkey.
* **White Beans:** Great Northern beans, cannellini beans, and navy beans are all excellent choices for white chili. Be sure to rinse and drain the beans before adding them to the chili.
* **Green Chilies:** Diced green chilies add a mild heat and characteristic flavor to white chili. Canned diced green chilies are convenient and readily available.
* **Onion and Garlic:** These aromatics form the base of the chili and add depth of flavor.
* **Broth:** Chicken broth or vegetable broth is used to create the liquid base of the chili.
* **Spices:** Cumin, oregano, chili powder (optional, for a touch of red chili flavor), and salt and pepper are essential spices for white chili.
* **Creamy Element:** Cream cheese, sour cream, or a roux (a mixture of butter and flour) are often used to thicken and add creaminess to white chili.
* **Toppings:** Toppings are essential for adding flavor and texture to white chili. Popular toppings include shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, and tortilla chips.
## White Chili Recipes
Here are several delicious white chili recipes to get you started:
### Recipe 1: Classic White Chicken Chili
This recipe is a classic and easy-to-make white chicken chili.
**Ingredients:**
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 pound ground chicken
* 2 (15-ounce) cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies, undrained
* 4 cups chicken broth
* 1 teaspoon cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon oregano
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
* Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, tortilla chips
**Instructions:**
1. **Sauté the aromatics:** Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
2. **Brown the chicken:** Add the ground chicken to the pot and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
3. **Add the beans and chilies:** Stir in the rinsed and drained Great Northern beans and the undrained diced green chilies.
4. **Add broth and spices:** Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
5. **Simmer:** Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, to allow the flavors to meld.
6. **Stir in cream cheese:** Stir in the softened cream cheese until it is melted and the chili is creamy.
7. **Serve:** Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, and tortilla chips.
**Tips and Variations:**
* For a spicier chili, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeño pepper.
* You can use shredded cooked chicken instead of ground chicken. If using cooked chicken, add it to the chili during the last 15 minutes of simmering.
* Add a can of corn for extra sweetness and texture.
* Use a different type of white bean, such as cannellini or navy beans.
### Recipe 2: Creamy White Turkey Chili
This recipe uses ground turkey for a leaner version of white chili. The addition of sour cream adds extra creaminess.
**Ingredients:**
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 pound ground turkey
* 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies, undrained
* 4 cups chicken broth
* 1 teaspoon cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 1/2 cup sour cream
* Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, tortilla chips
**Instructions:**
1. **Sauté the aromatics:** Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
2. **Brown the turkey:** Add the ground turkey to the pot and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
3. **Add the beans and chilies:** Stir in the rinsed and drained cannellini beans and the undrained diced green chilies.
4. **Add broth and spices:** Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
5. **Simmer:** Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, to allow the flavors to meld.
6. **Stir in sour cream:** Remove the chili from the heat and stir in the sour cream until it is smooth and creamy.
7. **Serve:** Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, and tortilla chips.
**Tips and Variations:**
* For a thicker chili, mash some of the beans with a fork before adding them to the pot.
* Add a squeeze of lime juice for a bright and tangy flavor.
* Top with a dollop of guacamole for extra creaminess and flavor.
* Use a slow cooker for a hands-off cooking method. Simply combine all of the ingredients (except for the sour cream) in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir in the sour cream before serving.
### Recipe 3: Vegetarian White Bean Chili
This recipe is a vegetarian version of white chili, using vegetable broth and a variety of vegetables.
**Ingredients:**
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 red bell pepper, chopped
* 1 green bell pepper, chopped
* 2 (15-ounce) cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies, undrained
* 4 cups vegetable broth
* 1 teaspoon cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon oregano
* Salt and pepper to taste
* Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, tortilla chips
**Instructions:**
1. **Sauté the vegetables:** Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper and cook for another 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
2. **Add the beans and chilies:** Stir in the rinsed and drained Great Northern beans and the undrained diced green chilies.
3. **Add broth and spices:** Pour in the vegetable broth and stir in the cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
4. **Simmer:** Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, to allow the flavors to meld.
5. **Serve:** Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, and tortilla chips.
**Tips and Variations:**
* Add other vegetables, such as corn, zucchini, or carrots.
* For a smoky flavor, add a teaspoon of smoked paprika.
* Use vegetable stock cubes to adjust the saltiness of the chili if needed. Start with half a cube, dissolve it in a little hot water and add to the pot, taste and repeat as necessary.
* Top with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt for a healthy and tangy topping.
### Recipe 4: Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
This recipe offers a hands-off approach, perfect for busy weeknights. Let the slow cooker do the work for you!
**Ingredients:**
* 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 (15-ounce) cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies, undrained
* 32 ounces chicken broth
* 1 teaspoon cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon oregano
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 4 oz cream cheese, cubed
* Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, tortilla chips
**Instructions:**
1. **Combine Ingredients:** In a slow cooker, add the chicken breasts, onion, garlic, Great Northern beans, green chilies, chicken broth, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and pepper.
2. **Slow Cook:** Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and easily shreds.
3. **Shred Chicken:** Remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
4. **Add Cream Cheese:** Add the cubed cream cheese to the slow cooker and stir until melted and creamy.
5. **Serve:** Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, and tortilla chips.
**Tips and Variations:**
* No need to brown the chicken beforehand – it will cook perfectly in the slow cooker.
* For a thicker chili, mash some of the beans against the side of the slow cooker during the last hour of cooking.
* If you don’t have cream cheese, you can use 1/2 cup of heavy cream or sour cream, stirred in just before serving.
### Recipe 5: Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
For a quick and easy weeknight meal, this Instant Pot recipe is a lifesaver!
**Ingredients:**
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 2 (15-ounce) cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies, undrained
* 4 cups chicken broth
* 1 teaspoon cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon oregano
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
* Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, tortilla chips
**Instructions:**
1. **Sauté:** Turn the Instant Pot to the ‘Sauté’ function. Heat the olive oil and add the chopped onion. Cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
2. **Add Ingredients:** Add the chicken pieces, Great Northern beans, green chilies, chicken broth, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper to the Instant Pot.
3. **Pressure Cook:** Close and lock the lid of the Instant Pot. Set the valve to ‘Sealing.’ Cook on ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ for 10 minutes.
4. **Release Pressure:** Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, then quick-release any remaining pressure.
5. **Shred Chicken:** Remove the chicken and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the Instant Pot.
6. **Stir in Cream Cheese:** Stir in the softened cream cheese until melted and creamy.
7. **Serve:** Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, and tortilla chips.
**Tips and Variations:**
* Be sure to deglaze the bottom of the Instant Pot after sautéing the onion and garlic to prevent the ‘Burn’ warning.
* Adjust the cooking time depending on the size of your chicken pieces. Smaller pieces will cook faster.
* For a smoother chili, use an immersion blender to partially blend the chili before adding the cream cheese.
## Tips for Customizing Your White Chili
* **Adjust the Spice Level:** Add more or less diced green chilies, jalapeños, or cayenne pepper to control the heat. Remove the seeds and membranes from the jalapeños for a milder flavor.
* **Add More Vegetables:** Corn, zucchini, bell peppers, and spinach are all great additions to white chili.
* **Use Different Beans:** Experiment with different types of white beans, such as cannellini beans or navy beans. You can also use a combination of beans.
* **Thicken the Chili:** If your chili is too thin, you can thicken it by simmering it uncovered for a longer period of time, mashing some of the beans, or adding a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water).
* **Add a Smoky Flavor:** Add a teaspoon of smoked paprika or a few drops of liquid smoke to give your chili a smoky flavor.
* **Make it Creamier:** Add more cream cheese, sour cream, or heavy cream to make your chili even creamier. You can also use coconut milk for a dairy-free option.
* **Play with Toppings:** Don’t be afraid to experiment with different toppings! Some popular toppings include shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, green onions, tortilla chips, and lime wedges.
## Serving Suggestions
* **As a Main Course:** Serve white chili as a main course with a side of cornbread, tortilla chips, or a salad.
* **As an Appetizer:** Serve white chili in small bowls or shot glasses as an appetizer at a party or gathering.
* **As a Topping:** Use white chili as a topping for nachos, baked potatoes, or tacos.
* **With a Garnish:** Garnish white chili with fresh cilantro, green onions, or a dollop of sour cream.
## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
* **Can I freeze white chili?** Yes, white chili freezes well. Allow the chili to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
* **How do I reheat white chili?** You can reheat white chili in a saucepan on the stovetop or in the microwave. If reheating on the stovetop, add a splash of broth or water to prevent it from drying out. If reheating in the microwave, heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
* **Can I make white chili ahead of time?** Yes, white chili can be made ahead of time. In fact, it often tastes better the next day, as the flavors have time to meld together. Store the chili in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
* **What kind of beans should I use for white chili?** Great Northern beans, cannellini beans, and navy beans are all excellent choices for white chili. Choose the bean that you prefer or use a combination of beans.
* **Can I use canned chicken in white chili?** Yes, you can use canned chicken in white chili. Drain the chicken well before adding it to the chili. Canned chicken is a convenient option, but it may not have as much flavor as fresh chicken.
* **Is white chili gluten-free?** Most white chili recipes are naturally gluten-free, as they do not contain any wheat-based ingredients. However, it’s always a good idea to check the labels of your ingredients to ensure that they are gluten-free.
* **Can I make white chili in a Dutch oven?** Yes, a Dutch oven is an excellent choice for making white chili. It provides even heat distribution and helps to create a rich and flavorful chili.
## Conclusion
White chili is a delicious, comforting, and versatile dish that’s perfect for any occasion. With these recipes and tips, you can easily create your own unique and flavorful white chili that your family and friends will love. So, gather your ingredients, fire up your stove, and get ready to enjoy a warm and satisfying bowl of white chili! Don’t forget to experiment with different ingredients and toppings to create your own signature version of this classic dish. Happy cooking!