Pantry White Chicken Chili (Instant Pot, Slow Cooker Version)

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Need some warming and comforting food? You will love this Instant Pot White Chicken Chili recipe. It is so easy to make from pantry staples and includes a regular, Instant Pot and slow cooker version.

This recipe is naturally Gluten-Free. I have included a Low Carb option and the Weight Watchers Freestyle Points per serving below.

pot of white chicken chili recipe garnished with radishes next to a white towel

What do you do on a day when you’re snowed in, there’s no school or work and you spend the whole day sledding and having snowball fights in the beautiful snow-covered fields?

You whip up a big batch of White Chicken Chilli (White Chicken Chili) of course. It’s hearty, warming and comforting – especially comforting for the adults who suddenly realize the beautiful snow must be shovelled and driven in very soon.

Even better it is made entire of pantry staples and freer staples so you dont need a trip to the store to whip this up.

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Shovelling and driving in snow = comfort food required. But the kiddoes had a wonderful time in the snow and that’s all that matters.

children playing in snow covered field before eating white chicken chili

That particular snow day was over a month ago and fingers crossed there will be no more snow until 2045 at the earliest. (Too much to ask??) But I will still enjoy comforting bowls of this White Chicken Chilli recipe up until it’s warmer outside than my bowl of soup.

Because good chilli is good chilli no matter the time of the year, right?

blue rimmed white bowl containing serving of white chicken chili with sliced radishes on top

What is White Chilli (White Chili)?

There many popular flavours and types of chilli, but white chilli (white chili) is a popular choice. How does white chilli differ from regular chilli? White chilli:

  • Contains no tomatoes
  • Uses white beans like cannellini beans or garbanzo beans (unless you make a low carb version; see the low carb section below)
  • Usually contains chicken (but can be made with turkey or as vegetarian)
  • Has a milder flavour (my recipe uses 1 small jalapeño but the amount can be reduced or even eliminated depending on your preference)
  • Is lighter in colour (as expected, white chilli is a white or light beige colour)

How to Make this White Chicken Chili Recipe – Step-by-Step Tutorial

For the Instant Pot and Slow Cooker versions, keep reading.

This awesome White Chicken Chili recipe is soooo easy to make. Let me show you how…

Step 1. Heat the olive oil in a pan and sauté the onions for 5 mins until softened.

overhead view of white pot containing sauteed garlic and onions for white chicken chili

Step 2. Add the chicken and cook stirring occasionally with a spatula for up to 5 mins until it is lightly browned. (To use cooked chicken instead, omit this step and add cooked chicken to step 3.)

overhead view of chunks of chicken in a pot for white chicken chili

Step 3. Stir in the garlic, and spices and fry for 30 secs until fragrant.

Step 4. Add the beans, corn, jalapeño and chicken stock, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, about 20 mins or until the chicken is cooked through. Then adjust seasoning.

overhead view of pot containing white chicken chili ingredients including spices

Optional step: You can mash some of the beans with the back of the spoon to thicken the chilli if you prefer.

Then garnish and serve.

overhead view of finished white chicken chili that has been garnished

How to Make Instant Pot White Chicken Chili – Step-by-Step Tutorial

Instant Pot lovers, I have got you covered with an Instant Pot version of this White Chicken Chili recipe. Follow the Instant Pot version (both ingredients and instructions) on the recipe card to successfully make Instant Pot White Chicken Chili. (No Instant Pot yet? Try the Instant Pot DUO Plus 6 Qt 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker.)

The only difference in the ingredients is you will be using less chicken stock because the liquid does not evaporate in the Instant Pot.

Step 1. Set your Instant Pot to Sauté and add in the olive oil until hot.

Step 2. Add in the onions and sauté for 5 mins until softened.

instant pot containing sauteed onions for instant pot white chicken chili

Step 3. Add in the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally for up to 5 mins until it is lightly browned. (To use cooked chicken instead, omit this step and add cooked chicken to step 4.)

instant pot containing chicken pieces cooking for instant pot white chicken chili

Step 4. Add in the stock and quickly deglaze the inner pot (by scraping the bottom with a spatula) in case anything is stuck on.

Step 5. Add the rest of the ingredients ending with the beans (on top). Do not stir.

instant pot filled with uncooked ingredients for white chicken chili

Step 6. Cover your Instant Pot, set the vent to seal, select the manual setting and set the timer to 5 mins, and let the chilli cook under high pressure until done.

instant pot clock stating 5 minutes for jollof rice

Step 7. When done let the pressure release naturally.

Optional step: You can mash some of the beans with the back of a spoon to thicken the chilli if you prefer. Or you can sauté the chilli for a few mins if you want it thicker.

fully cooked instant pot white chicken chili inside an instant pot

Then garnish and serve.

How to Make Slow Cooker White Chili

To make this a slow cooker  recipe

  • Follow the non-Instant Pot recipe until the end of step 3.
  • Then transfer everything to your slow cooker and cook for 4 hrs on high or 8 hrs on low.

Serving Suggestions

How to Make White Chicken Chili Soup

To make the regular recipe into a soup instead of a thicker chilli, make these changes to the recipe:

  • For the regular version: Add 250 ml (1 cup) chicken stock.
  • For the Instant Pot version: Use the amount of chicken stock used in the regular version.

How to Make Low Carb White Chicken Chili

To make a low carb version of this White Chicken Chili recipe, you’ll need to substitute the high-carb beans with a low-carb vegetable like cauliflower. To make low carb white chicken chili with cauliflower, substitute the 2 tins of beans with 430g (4 cups) chopped cauliflower.

You can also replace the beans in the recipe with black soy beans which are naturally low in carbs.

large pot of white chicken chili ungarnished next to a white towel

Now that you know everything about this delicious white chili recipe, it’s time to go make some gooood food. Enjoy.

More Chicken Recipes.

Here are some other chicken recipe you might like

The Ultimate Guide to the Instant Pot

For everything you need to know about the Instant Pot, check out my post, Instant Pot Review – The Ultimate Guide to the Instant Pot.

Weight Watchers Points 

There are 0 Blue Plan SmartPoints per serving in this if you replace the 1 tbsp olive oil with a calorie-controlled cooking spray.

Thank you for reading my white chili recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you.

**This post contains affiliate links.

Get The White Chicken Chili Recipe

Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try White Chicken Chilli! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.

pot of white chicken chili recipe garnished with radishes next to a white towel
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5 from 5 votes

White Chicken Chilli

You will looove this warming and comforting White Chicken Chilli recipe.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main
Servings: 6
Calories: 391kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

Regular version:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup frozen diced onions 1 medium onion diced
  • 450 g (1 lb) boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped
  • 0.5 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 X 400g tins (14.5 oz cans) white beans like cannellini beans or garbanzo beans
  • 90 g (1/2 cup) corn kernels
  • 1 small jalapeño chopped or to taste
  • 710 ml (3 cups) chicken stock

Instant Pot version:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 frozen diced onions or medium onion diced
  • 450 g (1 lb) boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped
  • 415 ml (1.75 cups) chicken stock
  • 0.5 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 X 400g tins (14.5-ounce cans) white beans like cannellini beans or garbanzo beans
  • 90 g (1/2 cup) corn kernels
  • 1 small jalapeño chopped or to taste

Instructions

Regular version:

  • Heat the olive oil in a pot and sauté the onions for 5 mins until softened.
  • Add the chicken and cook stirring occasionally for up to 5 mins until it is lightly browned.
  • Stir in the garlic, and spices and fry for 30 secs until fragrant.
  • Add the beans, corn, jalapeno and chicken stock, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, about 20 mins or until the chicken is cooked through. Then adjust seasoning.
  • (optional step) You can mash some of the beans with the back of a spoon to thicken the chilli if you prefer.
  • Garnish and serve.

Instant Pot version:

  • Set your Instant Pot to Sauté and add in the olive oil until hot.
  • Add in the onions and sauté for 5 mins until softened.
  • Add in the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally for up to 5 mins until it is lightly browned.
  • Add in the stock and quickly deglaze the inner pot (by scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon) in case anything is stuck on.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients ending with the beans (on top). Do not stir.
  • Cover your Instant Pot, set the vent to seal, select the manual setting and set the timer to 5 mins, and let the chilli cook under high pressure until done.
  • When done let the pressure release naturally.
  • (optional step) You can mash some of the beans with the back of a spoon to thicken the chilli if you prefer. Or you can sauté the chilli for a few mins if you want it thicker.
  • Garnish and serve.
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Notes

To use cooked chicken instead, omit the step where you brown the chicken and instead add the cooked chicken to the next step.
Instant Pot users: Please note 5 mins is the time it cooks under pressure in the Instant Pot. This does not take into account the time it takes to come to pressure or the time it takes to release the pressure.

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 849mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 7.3mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 5.1mg

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5 from 5 votes

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10 Comments

  1. thanks for the information
    i would like to share this page
    keep rocking
    by ranjit kumar
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  2. 5 stars
    Gorgeous recipe and I love all the different options for diets and the instant pot.
    I’ll go with extra chillie in mine 😀

  3. What’s up, yup this article is really pleasant and I have learned lot of things from it

  4. This looks absolutely awesome!! I love chili and love that this is a change from traditional beef. I have everything I need to make this right now, so printing it to make tomorrow. Can’t wait to chow down on a big bowl of this gorgeous chili!

  5. 5 stars
    Your chilli version sounds really delicious! I really want to get myself an instant pot after reading so much about it and seeing so many great recipes.