This white bean chili with chicken (or turkey) is really one of those soups that is packed with a ton of flavor. It’s healthy and simple to make. You know what the best part is???? You can use leftover turkey or chicken! No more plain leftover chicken! If you don’t have leftovers, you can also chop up a turkey or chicken breast and cook it with spices, then prepare the soup.. This white bean chili is made with easy to find ingredients like chicken or turkey, canned white beans, canned green chilies, and chicken broth. It’s satisfying, delicious, and ready in a few minutes with very little effort. Perfect for fall!

Types of Beans

The white beans that we like to use in this recipe are: navy beans, white kidney beans (also know as cannelloni), lima beans or great northern beans. All are great, so use what you have in the pantry.

How to Make White Bean Chili with Chicken (or Turkey)

First prep all the ingredients. This is a super easy quick recipe and fly by if everything is ready. First, measure the spices. Then chop the onion and garlic. If using raw chicken or turkey cut it into small bite size pieces. If using an already cooked chicken/turkey shred it into strips.

Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan and add the chopped onions and garlic. Cook until the onions start to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken and the spices. Cook over medium heat until the chicken is done. About 5 to 10 minutes depending on the size of the chicken pieces. (If using already cooked chicken, just heat through and incorporate the spices.) The spices will start to stick to the bottom and sides of the pan, don’t worry about it, they will come up when the chicken broth is added and really infuse a ton of flavor into the soup.

Add the broth and bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer for 15 to 30 minutes. If using dry beans add the pre-soaked beans when the broth is added. If using caned beans wait until the broth has simmered for a while until the broth is really flavorful.

White Bean Chili – Dried Beans or Canned Beans

We made the white bean chili with dry beans but if you want a really quick chili make this with canned beans. If using dry beans place the beans in a large bowl and cover with water. Let them soak overnight. They will be soft but will need a little extra time to cook than canned beans. So, we added the beans when the broth was added. They cooked and softened to the similar texture of canned beans.

Puree one can of the beans or two cups of pre soaked dry beans. Add the the pureed beans to the soup and simmer for an additional 10 minutes or so

Chop the Anaheim/ Hatch chilies or use already chopped green chilies. Remove from the heat and stir the peppers into the white bean chili.

NOTE: We actually roast some Anaheim and Hatch chilies in the summer and freeze them so we have them to make dishes like this white bean chili through the winter. It’s really easy to roast peppers and they are so delicious, we highly recommend trying it.

Serve the white bean chili with cilantro, sour cream, green onions and even cheese. Play with your favorite toppings. This is always fun to have several choices for everyone to try something new. Hey, this white bean chili is good with no toppings.

We’ve also found its fun to have Frito’s, Corn Chips, or Doritos with the chili. And of course we had to add a Jalapeno for a little heat. So darn good!!!!

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