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Easy Award Winning Chicken Chili

A rich, creamy base with shredded chicken, white beans, tomatoes and chilis, and just enough heat to satisfy chili lovers and ready in 1 hour
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course chicken, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large onion, chopped small
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 2-3 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 packet ranch dip mix
  • 1 can Fire Roasted Rotel Tomatoes & Green Chilies
  • 2 cubes Knorr chicken bouillon cubes
  • 1 box 32 ounce, low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 4 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast)
  • 12 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 cans Great Northern beans or Cannellini beans (about 15.5 oz. each)
  • 1 bag frozen corn (10 oz.) or 1 can corn (optional)
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • 8 ounces Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded for serving
  • 1 avocado, sliced (optional for serving)
  • tortilla chips (optional for serving)

Instructions
 

For Chili

  • In large Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté onion in olive oil until translucent.
  • Add garlic and stir into onions. Add salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, and ranch dip mix. Crush dried oregano between your hands to release oils, then add to Dutch oven and stir and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
  • Add tomatoes and green chilies with juice, Knorr chicken bouillon cubes, water, and chicken broth. Cook and stir to combine.
  • If using raw chicken, add it to the broth mixture now. Heat to boiling with lid partially covering the pot to allow steam to escape. Once it starts to boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 25 minutes or until chicken tests done at 165 degrees with a meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of chicken breast. Remove chicken from broth to plate to cool slightly before shredding. Set aside.
  • If using already cooked, shredded chicken, add it when adding the beans.
  • Add cubes of cream cheese to broth and whisk to combine until melted and smooth. Add heavy cream and heat on medium heat until bubbly. Then turn heat down to simmer.
  • Add shredded chicken, beans, and corn, if using.
  • Simmer until heated through, about 20 minutes.
  • Squeeze in lime juice to taste. Serve with Monterrey jack cheese, avocado, and tortilla chips, if desired.
Keyword chicken chili, chili cookoff, ready in 1 hour