Ingredients
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs, cooked and shredded
1 large Yellow Onion, chopped
4 cloves Garlic, minced
2 cans (4 oz each) Canned Green Chiles, diced, mild or medium
3 cans (15 oz each) Great Northern or Cannellini Beans, rinsed and drained
4 cups Chicken Broth (low sodium)
2 teaspoons Cumi
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (optional, for heat)
1 teaspoon Salt (or to taste)
½ teaspoon Black Pepper (or to taste)
4 oz Cream Cheese, softened, full-fat or light
½ cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
1 Lime, juiced (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Start by cooking your chicken. You can boil it, bake it, or use a pressure cooker until it's fully cooked. Once cooked, shred it finely using two forks or your hands. Set the shredded chicken aside. This pre-cooking ensures your gluten free white chicken chili comes together quickly
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and cook until it softens and becomes translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Then, stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic bur
- Add Chiles and Spices: Stir in the diced green chiles, cumin, chili powder, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to toast the spices. This step really deepens the flavor profile of your gluten free white chicken chili
- Incorporate Beans and Broth: Add two cans of rinsed and drained Great Northern or cannellini beans to the pot. Add all four cups of chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer
- Create Creaminess: Take the remaining can of rinsed and drained beans and mash them with a fork or potato masher directly in the pot, or blend about half a cup of the chili mixture with these beans in a small blender until smooth. Stir the mashed/blended beans back into the chili. This trick creates a rich, creamy texture without any heavy cream, perfect for our gluten free white chicken chili
- Simmer and Combine: Add the shredded chicken back into the pot. Stir everything together. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the gluten free white chicken chili simmer for at least 20-30 minutes. This allows all the flavors to meld beautifully. The longer it simmers, the richer it becomes
- Finish with Cream Cheese: Just before serving, stir in the softened cream cheese until it melts completely and the chili becomes wonderfully creamy. Taste the gluten free white chicken chili and adjust salt and black pepper as needed. A final squeeze of fresh lime juice brightens all the flavors
- Serve: Ladle hot chili into bowls. Garnish with fresh cilantro and your favorite toppings. Enjoy this comforting gluten free white chicken chili!
Notes
Roast Your Chicken: While boiling or pressure cooking chicken works, roasting your chicken breasts or thighs before shredding them adds an incredible depth of flavor. A simple seasoning of salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder before roasting makes a big difference. This extra step truly enhances the chicken in your gluten free white chicken chili.
Don't Rush the Simmer: The longer this gluten free white chicken chili simmers, the more the flavors develop and meld. Aim for at least 30 minutes, but an hour or even two on low heat will make it even more delicious. Just add a little extra broth if it gets too thick.
Mash Some Beans: The trick to a creamy chili without heavy cream is to mash or blend a portion of the beans. This creates a natural thickener and gives the chili a velvety texture. This is key for an amazing gluten free white chicken chili.
Season in Layers: Add salt and pepper as you go, and always taste your chili before serving. The initial seasoning can be adjusted later. A final squeeze of fresh lime juice right before serving also brightens all the flavors beautifully. Do not skip this step for your gluten free white chicken chili.
Fresh Cilantro and Lime Are Musts: These two ingredients are not just garnishes; they provide essential freshness and acidity that cuts through the richness of the chili, balancing every bite. Always have fresh cilantro and lime ready for your gluten free white chicken chili.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg