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Instant Pot White Chicken Chili is one of the easiest, coziest chili recipes! Made with tender chicken, white beans, green chiles, and a creamy broth, this family-favorite comes together with minimal effort!
Looking for more favorite cozy Instant Pot Chicken Recipes? Don't miss Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings, and Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup.
When the temperatures begin to dip and the sun sets earlier in the day, I find myself turning to my collection of chili recipes for a cozy, warming dinner.
And while I love chili of all varieties, Instant Pot White Chicken Chili ranks high on my (and my family's) list of favorites. From the mild heat of green chiles to the warm notes of cumin and the creamy broth, this white bean chili delivers a rich, hearty taste without being too spicy.
Best of all? With the help of the Instant Pot, this chili recipe is one of the FASTEST & EASIEST ways to deliver a comforting meal. And everyone loves it!
A Few Helpful Tips Before We Get Cooking
- Chicken Options: Use boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
- No Need to Thaw Chicken. Unlike the slow cooker, it is safe to cook frozen chicken in the Instant Pot.
- Don't Use Fat-Free Cream Cheese. Fat-free cream cheese does not blend well into the chili and can produce an unpleasant texture.
- Use a Blender. Blending softened cream cheese into a bit of cooking liquid will ensure a smooth creamy broth.
- Don't Forget Toppings. While delicious served plain, topping with diced avocado, tortilla chips, cilantro, sour cream, shredded cheese, and/or lime juice is always a great idea!
How to Make the Best Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
1. Sauté 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.
2. Deglaze the Inner Pot. Any time you sauté 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.
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.
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.
5. Serve. 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.
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.
- Spice it Up: For more heat, increase cayenne pepper or use medium, not mild green chiles.
- 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.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Once the white chicken chili has cooled, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Due to the addition of the cream cheese, I don't recommend freezing this chili, as may separate when thawed due to the addition of cream cheese.
- Reheat: Reheat individual servings in a heat-safe bowl, covered with a damp paper towel, in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
More Cozy Instant Pot Recipes
- Classic Instant Pot Chili
- Instant Pot Chicken Taco Chili
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
- Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup
- Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder
- Instant Pot Lasagna Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
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
Video
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, minced
- 2 (4.5 oz) cans chopped green chiles, mild heat level
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 2 (15.5 oz) can cooked great northern beans, rinsed and drained, see recipe notes on using dried beans
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, fresh or frozen
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
Instructions
- Turn the sauté function on the Instant Pot, add in 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil and let heat briefly. Once heated, add in 1 small yellow onion (diced) and 2 (4.5 oz) cans chopped green chiles. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until the onion has is softened. Add 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 2 teaspoons cumin, and 1 teaspoon dried oregano and sauté for 1 minute longer. Turn the Instant Pot OFF by hitting cancel.
- Pour in ½ cup of the 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock and scrape off any browned bits on the bottom of Instant Pot. Add the remaining broth to the inner pot. *Adding a small amount makes it so you don't splash yourself when deglazing the inner pot.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 2 (15.5 oz) can cooked great northern beans, rinsed and drained. Nestle 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs 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 thawed 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 4 ounces cream cheese (softened) 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I use ground turkey for this recipe?
Absolutely Shellie! I would brown up the turkey first using the saute function and then be sure to deglaze the pan and scrape off any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. The cook time will remain the same 🙂
Happy diners here!
I missed the part about "drained beans", so that was too much liquid.
I might even drop to three cups of stock.
As a soup, it was popular 😉
I am so glad you enjoyed, despite the error Clarence!
I was sending the slow cooker version to my daughter. I noticed that it includes pureeing some of the beans to thicken the chili. Why is that missing from the Instant Pot version?
I see some comments here from people who mash some of the beans.
I'm 65 years old, and just started cooking a couple of years ago.
I don't know what I'm doing, I just follow recipes 🙂
If I see an interesting recipe, I always check here, to see if you have a version.
Hi Clarenece! I am so glad you enjoy my recipes😊 The Instant Pot Version calls for the addition of cream cheese, which makes the broth super creamy. However, if you want a lower calorie recipe, omit the cream cheese and blend some of the beans for a thicker, low fat version.
I love White Chicken Chili and I love your recipe even more because I can get it in my belly so much quicker with the Instant pot! Thank you for making my busy weeknights easier!
I am so happy you enjoyed this Beth--and that it made your night a bit easier 🙂
This is a new family favorite! we all loved it so much, even the 5 year old!
When the kids love it--everyone is happy! So glad to hear that your all enjoyed!
Thank you for the recipes. When I made it last, we really enjoyed it. Now I cannot remember if I cut up the chicken into pieces before or after I cooked them. I am pretty sure I did cut them up last time.Maybe leave it whole and shred it after cooking? Thank you, really is delicious!
Hi Laura! I am so glad you enjoyed this so much. I shred the chicken up after cooking.
Best white chicken chili recipe I've found!
I can't do the cream cheese so I puree some of the beans to make it thicker and creamy. I also add a small amount of cut up canned chipotle peppers for more depth of flavor. I won first place in the annual chili cook-off at work with this version.
I am so glad you enjoyed and got such great reviews Tracy! I also LOVE the idea of pureeing beans in place of the cream cheese--that is a great tip for anyone that is watching calories or dairy free.
Do you soak the beans? Can I double this recipe?
Hi Ann, there is no need to soak the beans, unless you like your beans really soft, then I do recommend soaking. And an 8 quart instant pot has enough room to double this recipe--it may be cutting it a bit too close in an 6 quart. Hope you enjoy!