WOAH! This White Chicken Chili is done in less than an hour start to finish in the Instant Pot with melt-in your mouth tender chicken. It’s one of our favorite instant pot recipes! Just stir everything together, top with cream cheese and set for 20 minutes. So EASY!!
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Instant Pot White Chicken Chili!
We love chili around here including this hearty beef chili and easy turkey chili. It’s wonderful to have quick homemade meals like this in your pocket for busy weeknights. The instant pot makes it faster than ever to enjoy a piping hot bowl of white bean chicken chili in no time!
Ingredients for White Chicken Chili:
We have made this recipe healthier over the years by using organic produce and non-bpa lined cans. You can absolutely use home-cooked beans, or your own bone broth and freshly boiled corn on the cob (if using fresh corn from the cob, use 1 cup of chicken broth instead of 1/2 to compensate for the lost liquid).
*What Size Ranch Dressing Mix Should I Use?
Various ranch mix brands come in different sizes. It should be enough to make 16 oz of dressing or dip per the package instructions.
- Hidden Valley brand ranch packets come in a more concentrated 0.4 oz packet yielding 2 cups ranch.
- Simply Organic ranch dip used here came in a 1.5 oz packet which also yields 2 cups ranch dip.
How to Use an Instant Pot:
**CAUTION: If you are new to using the pressure cooker, always read the instruction manual and safety warnings for your machine as various brands or even models might have a different process and settings for use.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee and call on your inner nerd to read through the instructions. Instant pots are fabulous tools for speedy cooking, but they have to be used properly.
How to Make White Chicken Chili:
Step 1: Combine everything in your Instant Pot and stir together
Step 2: Top with cream cheese and set on manual high pressure for 20 minutes. It will warm up, cook 20 minutes then let it naturally depressurize 10 minutes.
Step 3: Remove chicken and shred then put it back and stir everything together.
The shredded chicken absorbs the liquid and because super juicy and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Instant pot chicken is the only way to get super tender chicken this fast!
How to Serve White Chicken Chili:
White chicken chili can be served over baked potatoes or as an appetizer with tortilla chips. Garnish with:
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Shredded Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Jalapeños
Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Make Over and Over:
- Chicken Bone Broth – the best way to make bone broth!
- Instant Pot Beef Plov – a flavorful one-pot rice pilaf
- Dulce De Leche – unbelievably fast in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Beets – blazing fast and so flavorful
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients for White Chicken Chili:
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 oz can white beans, drained
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 15 oz can corn with juice
- 10 oz can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilis , (with their juice)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or stock
- 1 tsp chili powder, or to taste
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 0.4 oz packet ranch dip or dressing mix*
- 8 oz package cream cheese, cut into 6 pieces
Optional Toppings and Serving Suggestions:
- 1/2 cup chopped Cilantro, for garnish
- 1 avocado, diced, for garnish
- Tortilla chips or baked potatoes to serve
Instructions
- Place all of your ingredients into your instant pot bowl in the following order: 2 chicken breasts, drained black and white beans, chopped onion, corn with juice, tomatoes with juice, and 1/2 cup chicken broth.
- Add 1/2 to 1 tsp chili powder (use 1/2 tsp to make it kid friendly), 1 tsp cumin, ranch packet. Stir everything to combine, getting some of the juice under the chicken to keep it from scorching.
- Cut cream cheese into 6 pieces and place over the top of chili. Cover and seal with lid, switch the valve to the "sealing" position and cook for 20 min on manual high pressure. Once it is done cooking, let it naturally depressurize for 10 min then switch the valve to the "venting" position to completely release steam before opening lid.**
- Remove the chicken breasts to a plate and shred apart with 2 forks. Stir everything together in the pot to melt the cream cheese into the chili then return the shredded chicken and stir to combine. Serve garnished with avocado and cilantro if desired.
Notes
**CAUTION: If you are new to using a pressure cooker, always read your instruction manual prior to use.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Q: What is YOUR favorite way to use an Instant Pot? If you were to name 1 recipe that makes owning an instant pot worthwhile, what would it be?
There is confusion about natural release once the cooking cycle has finished. If you don’t turn the pot off it will automatically count the specified amount of time to depressurize. Doesn’t this cause overcooking of the chicken? Some recipes tell you to do a natural release but say to turn the pot off after the cooking cycle has finished. My instruction book says for natural release to turn the pot off after 10 minutes or whatever the recipe specifies.
We love this recipe and have made it multiple times. I can’t get the cream cheese to melt all the way though. I even tried cutting it into smaller pieces this time. Any suggestions?
Hi Jamie, Is your cream cheese really cold when you place it in the chili? Maybe bring it closer to room temperature before putting it in? or softening it? We have experienced that so it’s hard to advise.
We made this the other night!! It was so good…even my picky 11 year old thought it was good!
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!
OMG!!! This was absolutely EVERYTHING!!! I cant wait to get home to have leftovers for dinner. This will definitely be in heavy rotation in my household! I added fresh jalapenos to my bowl and it added a little bit of a kick. Definitely prefer this chili over any other. Thank you for this recipe!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback! 🙂
Hi Natasha, I made this last night for the first time in the instant pot. I’ve made it several times in my old slow cooker and its a favorite. However it was really soupy and we prefer it thick and hearty. The slow cook version doesn’t come out as soupy. Any suggestions on how to avoid that next time? Thx.
Hi Kelly, I’m so happy you enjoyed that! Were any alterations made to the recipe or extra liquid added? If not, I recommend trying it with less liquid next time.
I really want to make this but not sure how to sub the ranch dressing packet, as I’m trying to keep it as “clean” as possible. Do you know how to season similarly using spices?
Hi Diana, without testing anything else, I really can’t make any other recommendation. The best I have found is the organic/natural packet of ranch. If you discover something else, let me know! 🙂
I made it without… didn’t have any on-hand… smells great… I’ll tell you how it turned out in 45 minutes 😀
ok… made it without ranch. FAN-Freakin’-Tastic!
I used chili powder, a bit of chipotle, a generous spoonful of cumin (we love smokey, earthy cumin) some oregano, garlic, and a rounded spoonful of cocoa powder. My sole mistake was forgetting to add salt (presumably there’s lots in the ranch dressing) 100% will add this to the regular rotation!
Smachnoho!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!.
Ooh – Cocoa powder! Nice touch. I will try that on the next batch. We also used chipotle and added a large clove of minced garlic. Boyfriend was ‘Wowed’. It’s easy enough for him to make too so it’s going in his “Taco Tuesday” rotation
Made this tonight and it was a hit. I doubled the recipe and the only issue was it took almost 40 minutes to come to pressure. We had time so it wasn’t a big deal but for those wanting to double, keep that in mind. We will add this in to our monthly rotation of recipes. Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it
What size instant pot do you have? I want to double for company, but worried it will be too full.
Hi Jillena, we made this recipe in a 6-quart pot, several of our readers have doubled this in an 8qt pot just fine.
Thank you. I only have a 6-quart pot. I am cooking it at work to wow a few coworkers so I wanted to have a little more than the recipe makes. I did 1 1/2 of the recipe so I did not go past the fill line. I am hoping for the same great results. No one brought lunch today!
That sounds like the perfect lunch!! Thank you for sharing that with us!
I have the 8 quart and it was at maximum capacity. Some have said it’s soupy and I agree however not knowing the difference I didn’t mind it. I received a lot of compliments.
Super easy & flavorful (but not too complex for picky eaters). We topped with crushed corn chips. It was even better the next day! Definitely a keeper!!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
I’ve made this recipe many times in my slow cooker and I love it. I just got an instant pot and I wanted to try it in there but when it heats up the instant pot keeps saying burn. Has anyone else had this problem?
Hi Jessica, To avoid any kind of burn, you need to make sure you stir to get liquid under the chicken. If the chicken is sitting directly on the surface, it is more likely to scorch. You can also add 3/4 cup broth to 1 cup if your pot gives you problems with burning.
Yeah, got the burn error, too. 😥 I stirred it and added more water – still burn.
Quick, easy, and delicious
Isn’t that the best! Thank you for the great review!
I just made this tonight (with 3 chicken breasts) and it may be the best pressure cooker recipe ever! My brand of ranch powder said 1 oz and it made 16 oz of dressing so I used it all. Flavor was out of this world!
That’s so great! Thank you for that awesome review!
Excellent recipe! I used Mild Rotelle tomatoes because I don’t like too much spice/heat. However, I don’t think Original Rotelle would be overpowering for those preferring mild chili.
Excellent leftover too!
Thank you for sharing that with us!
What does the dressing mix “do?” Does it add flavor, or act as a thickening agent? I’m wondering if I can substitute an appropriate ingredient, or make this recipe without using the dressing mix.
Hi Marianne, It does both but I think you could get creative and substitute :). You can make your own ranch seasoning mix but it’s just much easier to get the packet 🙂
Made this last night – it was creamy and delicious. I think it’s going to be my go-to chili recipe from now on. Everyone in my house went back for seconds!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Hi! I am planning on making this tonight!
I have 2 questions…
1.Can I use 4 boneless chicken breasts without adjusting the recipe? It seems like doubling all the other ingredients would make way too much soup.
2. Can I add the cream cheese at the end (while I’m shredding the chicken)? I have had trouble with past curdling.
Thank you!
Hi Heather, I haven’t had this recipe curdle with the cream cheese but as long as you give it enough time to melt into the chili, adding cream cheese at the end should be fine. Also, with doubling the chicken, you might get the “burn” error on the instant pot if there is not enough liquid. You might consider at least 1 1/2 times the recipe. It also depends on the size of the chicken breasts – if you use 4 small ones, you will probably be ok keeping everything else the same.
Hi there! I used 4 small chicken breasts without adjusting the recipe and it turned out amazing!
That’s so great! Thank you for sharing that with us, Angie!
This was such an easy and delicious dinner to make! I will definitely be making this more often! Thank you for the recipe!!! I can’t wait to heat it up for lunch today. SO GOOD!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
I’m planning on making this but I am unsure about the Ranch dip mix. Do I use the whole packet of the Hidden Valley Ranch? Packet says 1.0 oz.
Hi Shelly, The recipe calls for 0.4 oz packet ranch dip or dressing mix, These are two that we use: Hidden Valley brand ranch packets come in a more concentrated 0.4 oz packet yielding 2 cups ranch. or Simply Organic ranch dip used here came in a 1.5 oz packet which also yields 2 cups ranch dip. It depends on the concentration of the mix for that many oz.
My Original Ranch packet is 1.0oz but yields 2 cups of dip – should I use entire pack?
Hi Gail, yes that will work, see the “*What Size Ranch Dressing Mix Should I Use?” section above. I hope you love the white chicken chili!
Sorry if you’ve answered this somewhere else, I wasn’t able to find it. Most of the recipes I’ve found for IP are for the 6 qt unit and require more liquid for the 8 qt unit. Would you recommend any changes for the 8 qt IP?
Hi Travis, I haven’t tried it in an 8 qt so I can’t advise. Here is what one of our readers wrote “Doubled in my 8 quart and came out perfect. Served with chils and even the picky 6 year old loved it (I did decrease the chili as suggested for kids).”
New to cooking with an instant pot, but have made this recipe twice already – it’s super easy and my family loves it. Thank you!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Awesome!! Made the chicken chili today. Now a favorite here.
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me 🙂
This is a keeper!!! It’s so good and creamy. Don’t make the mistake of trying to shred your chicken in the pot…lol it just doesn’t do well. I tried but then removed it to shred. We served ours with cilantro and shredded cheese on top. My 5 year old INHALED her bowl in about 2 minutes and she’s extremely picky!! I made it exactly as stated and it’s perfect. Don’t change it up!!! Thank you for posting!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite! Thank you for sharing that shredding tip with us, yes it is best down outside the chili.
I just made this for the first time. My daughter just decided she is a vegetarian, so I used veggie stock. I doubled the recipe and used some Hatch green chilies since we live in Arizona and have some on hand. I plan to add some cooked chicken to my son’s, but the taste is amazing!! Thank you for a quick, easily adaptable recipe. Delicious!!!
That’s so great! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!