Nothing quite warms me up the same way this Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili does when the weather turns cold. It has all the cozy comfort of chili and tender chicken, but with a lighter spin that makes this dish extra rich and creamy. Once you try it, chances are you’ll be back for another bowl.

Close-up of a bowl of Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili with tender chicken, white beans, corn, green chilies, herbs, and a creamy broth. — Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

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Whenever I make this slow cooker meal, it’s always a hit, whether it’s a Thanksgiving dinner, winter comfort food, busy weeknights, or game day. It’s filling, crowd-friendly, and the kids enjoy it as much as I love that I can get it going ahead of time, so it’s ready by mealtime. If you have leftovers, they store well in the fridge or freezer and reheat well.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili arranged on a white surface, including chicken breasts, white beans, corn, green chilies, chicken broth, onion, cream cheese, heavy cream, and spices. — Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili Ingredients. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

How to Make Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

If you follow my simple instructions, you’ll see how easy it is to pull together a slow-cooked meal that tastes like you put in much more effort than you actually did.

Load the Slow Cooker

Place the boneless and skinless chicken thighs or breasts, white beans, sweet corn, green chilies, diced onion, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, salt, black pepper, and chicken broth into your slow cooker.

I use this programmable slow cooker, which gives me better control over temperature and time. Give it a good stir so everything blends together right from the beginning; a silicone spatula won’t scratch your slow cooker’s insert.

A slow cooker filled with the ingredients for Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili—raw chicken, corn, white beans, and chopped green peppers—sits on a white background. — Add chicken, white beans, corn, green chilies, and onion to the slow cooker.

A slow cooker filled with raw chopped onions, corn, beans, diced green chilies, spices, and chicken pieces—everything you need to make a delicious Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, ready to be cooked to perfection. — Add the garlic powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper.

A slow cooker filled with uncooked Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili ingredients, including chopped onions, corn, white beans, shredded carrots, green peppers, and spices in broth. — Pour the chicken broth into the slow cooker.

Cook Until Tender

Cover the slow cooker and let it do the work. Set it to Low for 6-7 hours or High for 3-4 hours, depending on your schedule.

When the chicken is fork-tender and cooked through, you’ll know it’s ready for the next step.

A slow cooker with a glass lid, showing chopped vegetables and broth simmering inside—perfect for preparing Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili. — Cover the slow cooker and cook on Low for 6–7 hours or High for 3–4 hours.

A slow cooker filled with Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, brimming with tender chicken, vegetables, and herbs, viewed from above on a white background. — Check that the chicken is fork-tender and fully cooked before moving to the next step.

Shred the Chicken

Take the chicken out and place it on a plate or cutting board. Use two forks to shred it into smaller pieces. It should come apart easily at this point, then you can return it straight back to the slow cooker.

I like using a large wood cutting board that gives me plenty of space to shred without the meat falling on the sides, keeping my counter clean as I go.

A single piece of cooked chicken breast, perfect for shredding into a hearty Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, rests in the center of a worn wooden cutting board. — Remove the chicken and place it on a plate or cutting board.

Shredded cooked chicken, perfect for Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, is piled on a wooden cutting board. — Shred with two forks, then return it to the slow cooker.

Make It Creamy

This is the step that takes your slow cooker white chicken chili from good to great. Add the softened or cubed cream cheese along with the heavy cream (or milk) and stir everything together until well blended.

Put the lid back on and cook for another 10-15 minutes until the cream cheese melts. Stir well so the broth becomes thick, smooth, and creamy; you don’t want to leave any lumps behind.

Using a heat-proof silicone whisk at this stage helps melt and blend the cream cheese more evenly into the broth.

A Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili fills the pot, topped with a dollop of sour cream, as seen from above. — Add cream cheese and heavy cream (or milk) to the slow cooker and stir to combine.

A slow cooker filled with Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, featuring tender chunks of chicken, white beans, corn, chopped herbs, and sliced green peppers for a creamy and comforting meal. — Cover and cook 10–15 minutes until melted and creamy, then stir until smooth.

Taste and Serve

Before serving, taste it and add a little more salt and pepper if needed. I always keep a salt and pepper grinder set nearby for this reason. Once I’m satisfied, I scoop it into my deep porcelain bowl using this ladle with spouts.

Dish it up hot and top with extras like shredded cheese, tortilla strips, chopped jalapenos, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, or even avocado slices. Enjoy your white chicken chili!

If you’re taking this to a potluck or gathering, use a food thermos so it stays hot or a leakproof portable container like this to prevent spills. If using a container, pack it inside an insulated casserole carrier to help keep it warm.

A bowl of Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili topped with tortilla strips, sliced jalapeño, cilantro, and sour cream sits beside a piece of cornbread. — Serve the seasoned white chicken chili hot, topped with optional extras.

Recipe Notes and Expert Tips

I’ve got a few simple tips that make this hearty slow cooker recipe come out right every time; keeping them in mind makes the whole process even easier.

Choose your chicken wisely: Go with chicken breasts for a leaner option, or chicken thighs if you want a richer, juicier flavor.
Rinse the beans: Drain and rinse the beans first to avoid extra starch and keep the broth clean and flavorful.
Try different beans: Replace the white beans with great northern beans for a creamier bite, or pinto beans for a heartier, earthier flavor.
Use onions for flavor depth: Always include diced onion to build a solid flavor base, and swap in yellow onion if you want a sweeter, fuller taste.
Build the spice base: Add chili powder along with the other spices like cumin and oregano for a deeper, warmer broth.
Dial up the spice: Double the green chiles for a bolder chili flavor, and add jalapeño if you like extra heat, either cooked in or as a garnish.
Shred while warm: Shred the chicken while it’s still hot and tender so it pulls apart effortlessly.
Adjust consistency: If the chili ends up thicker than you like, add a splash of extra chicken broth until it’s just right.

A wooden spoon lifts a portion of Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, brimming with creamy chicken, corn, white beans, onions, celery, and jalapeño slices from a pot. — Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

How to Store Leftovers

Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator, making this slow cooker white chicken chili recipe a great make-ahead meal. Just store them in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

I usually use a microwave-safe glass food container to keep everything fresh and ready to reheat. Warm gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, and add a little chicken broth if it thickens too much.

This dish also freezes beautifully. Once cooled, transfer it into freezer-safe containers and store for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.

For easy serving, I portion extras into these BPA-free freezer containers to make reheating less of a hassle and more controlled; they seal tightly and don’t crack easily, too.

A bowl of creamy Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili garnished with cilantro, sliced green pepper, tortilla strips, and a dollop of sour cream. — Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home

I’ve got plenty more slow cooker recipes up my sleeve that are just as comforting as this one, so you’ll never run out of ideas for your dinner table.

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Nothing beats a comforting bowl of Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili when the weather turns chilly, and you’ll love how it feels hearty yet still light and creamy. You can serve it for Thanksgiving dinner, game day spreads, busy weeknights, or as a winter meal, and it always perfectly fits right in. You also get to relax since it simmers away on its own. Leftovers keep beautifully in the fridge or freezer, so one pot gives you easy meals later too.

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 4 15

Total Time: 4 25

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, Slow Cooker White Chili Chicken

Servings:

Calories: 460kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
15 ounces white beans drained and rinsed
15 ounces sweet corn drained
4 ounces mild diced green chilies
1 small onion diced
3 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and black pepper to taste
4 ounces cream cheese cubed
½ cup heavy cream or milk

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Place the chicken, white beans, corn, green chilies, diced onion, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper, and chicken broth into the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
1½ pounds boneless, 15 ounces white beans, 15 ounces sweet corn, 4 ounces mild diced green chilies, 1 small onion, 3 cups chicken broth, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, Salt and black pepper
Cover and cook on Low for 6–7 hours or High for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
Remove the chicken from the pot and shred using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
Stir in the cream cheese cubes and heavy cream (or milk). Cover and cook for another 10–15 minutes, until the cheese melts. Stir until smooth and creamy.
4 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup heavy cream or milk
Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot with toppings like shredded cheese, avocado, tortilla chips, or fresh cilantro.

Notes

Choose your chicken wisely: Go with chicken breasts for a leaner option, or chicken thighs if you want a richer, juicier flavor.
Rinse the beans: Drain and rinse the beans first to avoid extra starch and keep the broth clean and flavorful.
Try different beans: Replace the white beans with great northern beans for a creamier bite, or pinto beans for a heartier, earthier flavor.
Use onions for flavor depth: Always include diced onion to build a solid flavor base, and swap in yellow onion if you want a sweeter, fuller taste.
Build the spice base: Add chili powder along with the other spices like cumin and oregano for a deeper, warmer broth.
Dial up the spice: Double the green chiles for a bolder chili flavor, and add jalapeño if you like extra heat, either cooked in or as a garnish.
Shred while warm: Shred the chicken while it’s still hot and tender so it pulls apart effortlessly.
Adjust consistency: If the chili ends up thicker than you like, add a splash of extra chicken broth until it’s just right.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

About the Author

A woman with long brown hair is smiling and standing with her arms crossed. She is wearing a sleeveless, black and white diamond-patterned dress.

Hey there! I’m Mandy

Mandy Applegate is a home cook, food blogger, and writer who believes the best meals are the ones shared with the people you love.

She’s all about easy recipes that taste amazing, the kind that make ordinary days feel a little more special and remind you why cooking at home matters.

She has been published on NBC, the Daily News, the Boston Herald, and the Chicago Sun-Times, amongst many others.

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Ingredients You’ll Need