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This white chicken chili is so easy! I love a good one-pot meal. You basically toss everything into a slow cooker and let it be for half the day. It takes minimal effort and it’s definitely a crowd pleaser!
My co-worker, Amaia, shared this recipe with me after bringing it to a potluck. Thanks Amaia; it was well-loved by my husband ;). I hope your takeaway from the video tutorial is how easy this recipe really is!
Ingredients for white chicken chili:
2 chicken breasts (frozen or fresh)
1 (15 oz)can black beans; drained and rinsed (or cook your own beans!)
1 (15 oz) can white beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 (15 oz) can corn, un-drained
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, un-drained
1 Tbsp chili powder 1 tsp cumin
1 (o.4 oz) package ranch dressing mix
1/2 bunch of cilantro; chopped
1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth (I used Better than bouillon reduced sodium)
1 (8oz) package cream cheese (regular or reduced fat)
Optional (but highly recommended) garnish:
Mixed Mexican cheese, sour cream and chives
The How To (please watch the video for the visual tutorial):
Place everything into the slow cooker in the order that it’s listed above:
1. Place 2 chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot.
2. Drain and rinse (rinse until water runs clear) black and white beans; then add them to the pot. P.S. We’re now cooking our own beans to reduce the amount of BPA in our diet. Click here to learn how to easily make your own beans.
3. Add finely chopped medium onion, un-drained can of corn, un-drained can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
4. Top with 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 package ranch dressing mix, 1/2 bunch of chopped cilantro, 1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth (I used 1 cup and it does thicken up as it stands; especially after being refrigerated) and finally place your 8 oz package of cream cheese in the center.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. After it’s been cooking 5 hours, break up the cream cheese into the rest of the mix. Cover and continue cooking the last hour (if you forget this step, it won’t hurt anything to mix it at the end).
6. After the 6 hours, remove the chicken breasts into a medium bowl and shred using two forks. The chicken is so tender it just falls apart. Place the chicken back into the slow cooker and stir to combine everything.
Amaia served this over baked potatoes topped with cheese and sour cream. It’s also great with tortilla chips or white rice.
Chicken Cream Cheese Chili (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Ingredients
For the chili, you will need:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz can white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 15 oz can of corn, with its juice
- 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies, with it's juice
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 0.4 oz ranch dressing mix packet
- 1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth, I used Better than bouillon reduced sodium mixed with water
- 8 oz cream cheese, regular or reduced fat
Optional (but highly recommended) garnish:
- shredded Mexican cheese, sour cream and chives
Instructions
Put everything into the slow cooker in the order that it's listed above:
- Place 2 chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot.
- Drain and rinse (rinse until water runs clear) black and white beans; then add them to the pot.
- Add finely chopped medium onion, undrained can of corn, undrained can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
- Top with 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 package ranch dressing mix, 1/2 bunch of chopped cilantro, 1/2-1 cup chicken broth (depending on how thick you want it; I used 1 cup) and finally place your 8 oz package of cream cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. After it's been cooking 5 hours, break up the cream cheese into the rest of the mix. Cover and continue cooking the last hour (if you forget this step, it won't hurt anything to mix it at the end).
- After the 6 hours, remove the chicken breasts into a medium bowl and shred with two forks. Chicken should be fall-apart tender. Place the chicken back into the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Serve over baked potatoes topped with cheese and sour cream. It's also great with tortilla chips or white rice.
Hi Natasha, can I make this dish
without the canned tomatoes. I am allergic to tomatoes. What do you recommend I use instead, I would a can of mild chili’s. I love your recipes!
Thank you, Judith
Hi Judith, I haven’t tried it that way but I think it would still work without the tomatoes. You might add some diced bell pepper instead.
Can I cook it on high in a crock pot for half the time?
Hi Venus, It should still work on High for 3-4 hours. 4 might be a little too long on high. Check it at 3 hours for doneness.
I made this last night using my crock pot and it was delicious!!! The entire family loved it.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Absolutely delicious. Make this!
I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe Deborah!
Hello Natasha,
Can I substitute the cream cheese for something else? Like maybe half and half or viola? I’m just out of cream cheese and looking for substitutes. Thank you in advance.
Hi Ruth, we love it with cream cheese but one of our readers did comment with the following “I make this and everybody loves it!!.. the only difference is instead of cream cheese I add half a cup of heavy whip. Thank you so much for posting recipes that are truly delicious. Blessings to you and your family” I hope that helps.
Can you give the nutritional facts for this recipe? I have made it several times now, we really like it, and it is so easy to make.
Hi Terri, we are slowly working through all of our recipes to add nutrition info but it is a time-consuming process as they have to be added one at a time. Thank you for being patient but also feel free to plug the ingredients into a nutrition app to get the full calories count!
Delicious! Made for a group lunch and everyone loved it! Some asked for a recipe! I didn’t use the packaged seasoning but substituted with seasoned salt, onion and garlic powder, doubled the whole recipe and it came out perfect! Thank you!
That’s so great! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
For those who cannot get ranch dressing mix. You can make your own ranch dressing mix- google that and you will have many ideas!
Basically salt, parsley, garlic and onion powder. (The packet also contains dry buttermilk but not essential since adding cream cheese)
Thank you for sharing that with us!
I have made this once following instructions and used canned beans. I am now making my own beans according to hour recipe, how much should I use for this recipe after they are cooked?
Hi, I would recommend using the same amount of beans as you would from a can.
I made your chicken cream cheese chili and it’s so easy and tasty. Thank you
Thank you so much for your good feedback!
just asking, if you use BTB, do you dilute with water too, or add to whatever broth you use?
Hi Martha, we use the BTB to make our broth.
I don’t have a slow cooker. How can I make it in a dutch oven in the oven please
Hi Barbara, you could probably use a dutch oven and bake it, but I don’t know what temperature since I haven’t tried this method.
Greetings, may I ask the type of Japanese Cast Iron pot this is shown in? If already mentioned… then I apologize.
Hello Michael, I used this Crack Pot in this recipe. I hope that helps!
I just made this tonight and my family loved it. This was delicious and very easy to make. I love that I was able to use frozen chicken. Amazing recipe and thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Tracy!
Quick question – can this be made in cast iron dutch oven? If so, what would the cooking instructions be? Thanks in advance!
Hi Jenn, I have not tested that in a cast iron but I imagine that should work, you could do this on the stovetop but it would require a long cook time over low heat for the chicken to become tender. Bring it to a simmer then reduce the heat to just barely a simmer and cook until chicken is easy to shred with forks. If you experiment please let me know how you like it.
Hi, I prefer my chili a little thinner. Not like soup, but like a stew consistency. What liquid should I add?
Thanks!
Hi Haley, you can add more broth if you would like. I hope that helps.
What other brand would you recommend for the S&W White Beans?
Hi Trisha, it really isn’t brand specific, just buy whichever you like normally.
I love this recipe!!! I’m curious if I use precooked chicken (from the deli) would I need to add more liquid? It doesn’t look like it has enough liquid in it.
Hi Deborah! I haven’t tested that to advise the changes needed but I imagine the cook time can be reduced since the chicken is cooked.
Just saw you on Facebook, I like the white Chicken chili in instant pot.
Thank you for watching! That’s so great!!
This dish tastes amazing and so easy to make. Thank you for sharing.
You’re so welcome, Julia! Thank you for sharing that awesome review with me!