Made with hearty chunks of tender chicken, creamy white beans, diced green chiles, and a rich cheesy broth, Instant Pot White Chicken Chili is a flavorful family-favorite recipe that comes together with minimal effort.
Inspired by my recipe for Crockpot White Chicken Chili, this ultra-creamy, easy version of White Chicken Chili made in the pressure cooker is absolutely delicious.
Why You Will Love Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
- Quick & Easy Dinner Recipe. This recipe for Instant Pot White Chicken Chili tastes like it has been simmered all day, yet is ready in less than an hour and most of that time is completely hands-off, making it one of the easiest Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes.
- Incredibly Flavorful. From the diced green chiles to the earthy cumin to the rich creamy broth, this white chicken chili is packed with flavor, yet not overly spicy.
- Versatile Recipe. Because this is an Instant Pot recipe, you can use dried or canned beans, and fresh or frozen chicken.
- Allergy-Friendly. White chicken chili is already naturally gluten-free and egg-free, but it can also be made dairy-free by omitting cream cheese.
Notes On Ingredients
- Chicken: Use fresh or frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs for this recipe.
- Beans: White chicken chili is made with white beans. You can use Great Northern or Cannelini beans. I have also included instructions on how to use dried beans if desired.
- Green Chiles: Use canned green chiles, but be sure they are labeled as mild, not hot, or your chili recipe will be overly spicy.
- Chicken Broth: Use either store-bought or homemade chicken stock or broth. It is best to use low-sodium broth to control the level of sodium in the chili.
- Spices: To flavor, this white chicken chili, add cumin and oregano. They add flavor without overwhelming the chili with heat.
- Cream Cheese: The cream cheese is optional, but will give the chili a creamy, almost cheesy finish. Be sure to use full-fat or reduced-fat cream cheese, not fat-free cream cheese as it is not as creamy and will not blend well into the soup.
Recipe Modifications
- Dairy-free: Omit the cream cheese from the recipe. I promise the white chicken chili will still be delicious, just not as thick and creamy.
- No Instant Pot? Use my recipe for the Crockpot White Chicken Chili.
- Start with Dried Beans. Instead of using canned beans, start this recipe by adding 1 cup of rinsed great northern beans and 4 cups of water to the pressure cooker. Cook on HIGH pressure for 25 minutes with a natural pressure release. Drain the cooking liquid from the cooked beans, and set the cooked beans to the side to add to the chili. Proceed with the recipe for white chicken chili.
Tips for the Best Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Tip#1: Saute the Onions and Spices. Starting this white chicken chili by sauteing the onion, chilies, garlic, and spices in a bit of oil, you build layers of flavor to this chili with just a few extra minutes of hands-on prep.
Tip #2: Deglaze the Inner Pot. Any time you saute anything in the instant pot, you want to deglaze the inner pot with a bit of thin liquid to prevent a burn notice. For this Instant Pot White Chicken Chili recipe, add in a small amount of chicken stock and scrape off browned bits on the bottom of the inner pot.
Tip #3: Let Pressure Release Naturally. After pressure cooking the white chicken chili, let the pressure release naturally for at least 15 minutes. This will ensure the chicken stays tender, not to mention prevent hot liquid from spewing out the vent knob.
Tip #4: Add Cream Cheese. To make this chili creamy and have the texture that white chicken chili is known for, blend a bit of the broth with cream cheese. Be sure your cream cheese is at room temperature BEFORE adding the chili so that it will become super creamy, not lumpy or gritty.
Serving Suggestions
White chicken chili can stand alone on its own in terms of flavor. However, my family loves to top this chili with shredded cheese, diced avocado, pickled jalapenos, sour cream, cilantro, and corn chips or a side of Homemade Cornbread. I personally love to add in a squeeze of fresh lime juice which really brightens up the flavors.
Storage Instructions
Once the white chicken chili has cooled, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I don't recommend freezing the soup, as it may separate when thawed due to the addition of cream cheese.
More Cozy Instant Pot Chili & Soup Recipes
- Instant Pot Beef & Bean Chili
- Instant Pot Chicken Taco Chili
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
- Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup
- Instant Pot Lasagna Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Need more inspiration for planning meals that your family will love? Sign up for my FREE Meal Plans and each week you will get a meal plan with a shopping list.
If you enjoyed this Instant Pot White Chicken Chili, I would love for you to leave a comment or review below.
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 small onion minced
- 2 (4.5 oz) cans chopped green chiles mild heat level
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 2 (15.5 oz) can cooked great northern beans, rinsed and drained or 1 cup dried beans (see notes on how to cook)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs fresh or frozen
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
Instructions
Instant Pot Chicken Chili Instructions
- Heat the Instant Pot by turning the pressure cooker to the saute function, add in the oil, and allow to heat for a minute or two. Once the oil has heated, add the diced onion, green chiles, cumin, and oregano and saute for 3-4 minutes, or until the onion is softened. Add in garlic and saute for 1 minute longer. Turn the Instant Pot OFF.
- Pour in ½ cup of the broth/stock and scrape off any browned bits on the bottom of Instant Pot.
- Add the remaining broth to the inner pot, along with the canned or cooked white beans and salt. Nestle the chicken into the liquid.
- Close the Instant Pot and be sure the vent knob is sealed. Using the manual or pressure cook button, set it to cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes if the chicken is fresh and 20 minutes if the chicken is frozen.
- Once the cooking time elapses, let the pressure release for at least 15 minutes.
- Once the pressure has been released, remove the chicken from the inner pot to a cutting board and let rest for a few minutes, before shredding with 2 forks or chopping into bite-sized pieces.
- Remove about 2 cups of the cooking liquid (it is okay if there are beans in the liquid) from the inner pot and place it into a blender. Add the softened cream cheese to the blender. Blend until well combined, being sure to leave the vent on the blender lid partially open to let the steam escape while blending.
- Pour the blended liquid back into the inner pot, along with the shredded chicken, and stir everything together.
- Serve as desired with any toppings you like, such as sour cream, shredded cheese, pickled jalapenos, diced avocado, fresh lime juice, and/or cilantro.
To Cook Dried Beans:
- Add 1 cup of rinsed dried Great Northern beans and 4 cups water to the pressure cooker. Close the pressure cooker and be sure the vent knob is sealed. Cook on HIGH pressure for 25 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes and then release pressure. Drain beans. Return the empty inner pot back to the pressure cooker, keeping prepared beans off to the side.
Lori trowbridge
I have this in my IP right now. I used Trader Joe's Green salsa verde in place of the seasonings and chilis. I had shredded chicken already from your other recipe. This only took me 5 minutes from start to finish. Thank you.
Wanda
Is this a super spicy dish since it uses chilies?
Kristen Chidsey
These are mild green chilies, so the spice level is quite low. Just be sure to look for mild canned chilies.
DB
This soup was very good, my husband had a second serving. I used mild chiles, so not spicy at all. I wasn't sure about the cream cheese, but it was good. I think next time I will add another can of beans.
Kristen Chidsey
So glad you enjoyed DB!
Kelsey
Wow. This was so quick and easy! Prep only took about 5 minutes and then it was totally hands off and I was able to knock out some dirty dishes while it cooked. Perfect recipe for busy nights.
Didn't have green chilies on hand so I used some hot cayenne which was tasty. I would have liked more beans but my husband loved how brothy it ended up being.
Kristen Chidsey
So happy to hear you enjoyed Kelsey!
John
Tastes great, but it’s more the consistency of soup than chili. This is totally picky and doesn’t detract from the flavor but more of a personal expectation when I hear something called chili.
Elle
Wow, YUM this was sooo tasty! I added some frozen corn and a teaspoon of chili powder. I also blended the cream cheese with some of the hot broth at the end before adding it to the pot. Delicious!
Daphne H.
I made this for my husband last night and he loved it! We will definitely be adding this white chicken chili to our meal rotation! He took a bowl for his lunch today and he said it was just as good and maybe better today. Thank you si much for sharing this recipe with us!
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. I love hearing you enjoyed this Chili so much....it is a favorite here as well.
Anne Flowers
Just made this for the first time and it was a hit! I added cilantro and substituted salsa verde for the chopped chilis. My only hiccup was that the cream cheese didn't blend into the broth very well. It melted into tiny globs that didn't melt completely. Next time I'll pull a few cups of broth out and blend the cream cheese in using the stick blender. But it still was yummy!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Anne! I am glad you enjoyed the flavor! I find that if the cream cheese is softened, it incorporates easily, but I love your solution as well.
Amanda
Love this recipe, so easy and tasty. I make it about every 2 weeks now and love that I have leftovers. Thanks so much for sharing.
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing how much you enjoy this Amanda! Thank you for sharing!
Candice
So excited to try this! It’s cooking tight now. However, I keep getting a burn notice before it comes to pressure. 🤷🏻♀️ HAAAALP?!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Candice. Be sure that you scrape up the browned bits on the bottom of the inner pot before adding the remaining ingredients to the inner pot.
Rylee
Today was my second time making this recipe since I found it and it keeps getting better!! I puréed cauliflower with half of your recommended cream cheese and two ladles of the cooked broth and it turned out so creamy. Thank you for the recipe, will likely be making again next week 😊
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you are enjoying this recipe so much Rylee! Thank you for sharing your tweaks to the soup as well.
Olivia
I LOVE this recipe and have made it regularly since first trying it! However, the last time I was at the store picking up ingredients they were out of green chiles. I feel like the recipe would feel incomplete without them and the little bit of kick and flavor they add. Could you recommend a good substitute for when I can’t get my hands on green chile? Thanks so much! I love your website so much for when I need ideas and tips!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Olivia! I am so glad you are enjoying these recipes <3 When you can't find green chiles, I would recommend using a minced, seeded jalapeno.
Beth Ann Grover
So so so yummy!! I replaced the chilies with frozen corn. So easy and so delicious!!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Beth Ann!
Ashley Whyte
Hello, can you use a can of kidney beans as well? I’ve made this recipe several times and it’s amazing but looking for a little color with some kidney beans haha
Kristen Chidsey
You sure can Ashley! It won't be as creamy, but it will still be tasty. Just be sure to rinse your beans well and I hope you enjoy 🙂
Cookie Roberts
What a great recipe! Served for lunch with crusty homemade bread for company and everyone loved it. It has a rich multilevel flavor. The only change was a can of original Rotel with chilies and Better than Bullion instead of broth. Thanks for the recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Cookie!
Angela
Too soupy, prefer creamy and thicker. The cream cheese didn't seem to dissolve and remained in small chunks. Really not a fan of this recipe for the IP, have enjoyed most of your other recipes and appreciate your efforts. Thanks.
Kristen Chidsey
I am glad you have enjoyed my other recipes Angela, but sorry this one let you down. I would suggest being sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so it will melt into the soup better.
Laura
If you purée the beans to make a lighter calorie version and omit the cream cheese, do you purée all of the beans?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Laura! I would only puree half, or one can. Enjoy
Carol Desrocher
Mine was kinda soupy. But delicious. First experience with Instant Pot. Love it.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Carol! You can cut back the chicken stock by 1 cup if you like in the future.
Taylor
Really great soup. It was just what I needed with this cold I’m facing. The frozen Hatch green chili proved medicinal. (Strongly recommend using high quality frozen hatch, and not the little green chili cans.)
For a thicker consistency, next time I’ll at least meet in the middle between the beans and chicken stock with 3 cups a piece. Not 2 and 4.
Intuitively, I’m still not sure if that change alone would thicken it up and will buy 4 cans of beans to be sure. And yes I drained the beans fully today.
For leftovers on this soupy batch, I may add in a bag of birds eye‘s frozen southwestern protein bowls. It’s full of lentils, corn, beans, and complimentary flavors. It’s what I add to canned white chili when camping and the flavor impresses everyone.
FWIW, the ingredients cost $22 from Trader Joe’s. I used about 1.3 lbs of chicken, and feel like I could probably use even more next time.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Taylor! I am really glad you enjoyed this soup! One suggestion to thicken is to blend one can of the northern beans and add to the soup--that does help thicken it. But this recipe certainly has more consistency of a thick soup than traditional chili.
Katie
Hi!
Am I able to substitute the cream cheese for sour cream? I have seen sour cream in other recipes and I didn't know if that was an option here.
Kristen Chidsey
Absolutely, just be sure to add after cook time 🙂 Enjoy!
Cindy McGrath
When using already cooked & shredded chicken, how long should I set to pressure the InstantPot after putting everything together?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Cindy! I would cook for 10 minutes to give the chili time to develop flavor! I hope you enjoy!