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Why I Love Chicken Chili
Sometimes a meal can be made up of just soup, and that is the most wonderfully comfortable thing you can imagine eating. In my humble opinion, cold winters are made for craveable warm meals. But it’s also important to have something that is also filling, and that’s just what this white bean chicken chili is!
This is not a traditional chili, but it has similar components that work together to create a super delicious soup. This soup has simple steps that, put together, can totally be considered a one-pot meal. After simmering, which creates a deeper flavor, the soup is ready to serve.
But I’ll let you in on the secret reason I love this soup: it makes great leftovers all week.
Chicken Chili Ingredients
- Onion is the base flavor of many meals. As the onion sautés, the natural sugars are released for a sweeter flavor. Because of this, I like to choose a sweet onion for this recipe.
- Jalapeños have spice but also have a fresh, bright punch of flavor. To tame the spice, remove the seeds and pith.
- Poblano peppers are one of my favorite peppers. They have a slightly smoky flavor with just a hint of spice. Again, remove any seeds and pith to lower the heat level.
- Cumin is essential in any chili and adds an earthy, warm flavor.
- Coriander is a unique flavor that works well with cumin and oregano.
- Oregano is a classic chili herb to use. I use Mexican oregano, which is different from Italian or Greek oregano, because of its distinct and unique flavor. If you cannot find Mexican oregano, just use what you have.
- Chicken breast makes this soup a hearty meal. The breast is cooked within the soup, adding more flavor and enriching the stock. Plus, it just makes it easier, right?
- Corn adds great texture and a little sweetness. The canned variety works, but frozen corn will hold its texture better.
- White beans are the star of this chili. One trick I use to thicken up the soup is to mash a few of the canned beans. It really does add body. The remaining whole beans add creamy texture.
The full amount of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.
This soup is easy to assemble and has major flavor. My favorite part is how you can make it your own. Serve with toppings such as tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, avocado, salsa, and pickled peppers. Each person can make this their own and thoroughly enjoy it!
More Soup Recipes
- Chipotle squash soup
- Tomato and roasted red pepper soup
- Turkey, sweet potato, and kale soup
- Curry butternut squash soup
White Bean Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 medium onion
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2 small jalapeños diced with seeds and pith removed
- 2 poblano peppers diced with seeds and pith removed
- 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¾ tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups frozen sweet corn thawed
- 2 14.5-oz cans white beans drained
Instructions
- In an 8-quart stockpot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and salt. Sauté until softened but not browned, 4-6 minutes. Once the onions are softened, add the peppers and sauté until the peppers begin to soften, 3-4 minutes. Add the cumin, coriander, and oregano. Stir together until the spices become aromatic, 1 minute.2 tbsp neutral oil, 1 medium onion, 1 ½ tsp kosher salt, 2 small jalapeños, 2 poblano peppers, 1 ½ tsp ground cumin, ¾ tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp dried oregano
- Add in the chicken stock and chicken breast. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until the chicken reaches 160°F.5 cups chicken stock, 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the soup and cool slightly. Take 1 cup of white beans and mash with a fork until smooth. Immediately add the mashed white beans, remaining whole white beans, and the corn to the soup and return to a simmer.2 cups frozen sweet corn, 2 14.5-oz cans white beans
- When the chicken has cooled slightly, use two forks to shred it into bite-size pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the soup to warm through, 5 minutes. Serve with desired toppings.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below!
I’m from Texas, and this was the perfect recipe for our icy weather last weekend! It was delicious, and I will definitely be making it again! Keep those soup recipes coming!❤️