What happens when you take a zesty and flavorful chicken chili and add Queso to it? Magic, that’s what happens! This Queso White Chicken Chili is the perfect comfort food and a cool weather menu staple!
Hi there and happy Monday! It’s a crisp fall Monday in Columbus today, a welcome relief from the 90 degree weather we had last week! It’s finally starting to feel like football weather! Football and fall weather go together like football and chili! Football and chili go together like baseball and cracker jacks! Chili goes into our menu rotation on full blast come fall. We’ve already plowed our way through a batch of my go-to chili (you can check out that recipe here) so I decided to take another stab at perfecting my White Chicken Chili recipe.
When I say take another stab, what I mean is that every previous attempt has been a fail. You know how when you make up a recipe and it isn’t quite right and you keep tweaking it and then it’s over-tweaked and you don’t really know where it went (even more) wrong? Yeah, that’s been my situation with attempting to find a white chicken chili recipe that I love. Well I finally found the missing piece. Queso! Queso, you complete me. Or at least you complete my white bean chicken chili.
Are you ready to try it? Let’s go!
What beans do you use for Creamy White Chicken Chili?
Any kind of white beans will do. I used Great Northern for this one but I’ve also used Cannelini and those work just as well. One of my favorite tips for this recipe is mashing half of the beans. My friend Heather taught me this trick and it adds such a dreamy creamy consistency to your white chicken chili. This Queso Chicken Chili has layers of flavor and is the perfect bowl of comfort!
Check out the video and grab the printable recipe card below.
Grab a bowl of this, and some football or Netflix and you have the perfect night in, I’d say!
Tips for making any soup
I highly recommend using a dutch oven to make this chicken chili and any soup. I have a glass electric cooktop and after over 2 years in our house, I still can’t predict how hot it will decide to be on a given day. These are the sautéed onions for the chili in a dutch oven. In any other pan, by this point in the cooking there would be several scorched spots.
How to serve Queso White Bean Chicken Chili
With more queso, of course! Also adding some tortilla strips, avocado, cilantro and sour cream round out the flavors perfectly.

Queso White Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast cooked and shredded
- 4 cans Great Northern beans 2 cans mashed, 2 cans whole beans
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 8 oz. Queso cheese shredded
- 2 cups onion diced
- 2 poblano peppers diced
- 2 cans diced green chiles 4 oz. cans
- 2 limes juiced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Optional toppings
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Tortilla strips
- More shredded queso!
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven, sauté onion in olive oil over medium heat until softened. Add peppers and garlic and sauté until onions are browned.
- Rinse and drain beans. Mash 2 cans of the beans, leave 2 cans whole. (The mashed beans give the chili a wonderful creaminess!)
- Add spices, chicken stock and beans; simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes.
- Add shredded chicken, chiles and lime juice; simmer for 20 more minutes.
- Add queso and stir until cheese is melted.
- Top with your favorite fixings!
Video
I hope you enjoy this yummy Queso White Chicken Chili recipe as much as we do! Please let me know if you try it, I’d love to hear what you think!
Pin in for later!
Casey H says
A big pot of hearty chicken and corn chowder!
Lydia says
That sounds so good Casey! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Michelle says
This queso chicken chili would be perfect to try first. Yum
Lydia says
I hope you try it and love it Michelle! Thanks for stopping by!
Crystal @ Hello Creative Family says
I’ve been wanting to dry making dutch oven bread for a long time. I think that’s the first thing I’d make!
Lydia says
That sounds so good Crystal! I’ve never tried it either, I’d love your recipe! 🙂
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
Mmm I love white chili but never thought to add queso!
Lydia says
Every recipe now I think I’ll ask… “would this be good with queso?” 😉 Thanks Erin!
Jenn Cornette says
Super excited to try this!! Always looking for new soup recipes! I’m a huge fan of Le Creuset too!
Lydia says
Yay thanks Jenn! Let me know how you like it! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Stella @ Stellicious Life says
Aww I’ve had a Dutch oven on my wishlist for some time now. The first thing I would make in it? Some creamy, hearty soup or a vegan, pumpkin chili with quinoa! Thanks for the giveaway, this Le Creuset Dutch oven looks so pretty! 🙂
Erin Trimbull says
I’ve always wanted one! My aunt makes great lasagna in hers.
Lydia says
I haven’t tried that yet but I’ll add it to my list, I love lasagna!
cyndi br says
I would want a beef stew recipe
Lydia says
That sounds good Cyndi! I love beef stew in the winter.
Melissa @ Made by Melissa Lee says
I love a good chili recipe! I’ll have to try this one out 🙂 It looks delicious!
Lydia says
Thanks so much Melissa, let me know how you like it! 🙂
Robin says
This looks so delish! I can’t wait to try the receipe out!
Lydia says
Thanks so much Robin! I’d love to hear how you like it! 🙂
Ashley says
Holy smokes that Dutch oven is gorgeous! Can’t wait to try your chili recipe!
Lydia says
Congrats again on winning the giveaway! I’d love to hear how you like the chili in your new dutch oven! 😉
Michele says
I don’t know what I like better…. the le cruesette pan or this recipe! Cant wait to make it~
Lydia says
Thanks so much Michele! I’d love to hear what you think! 🙂
Eryn G says
I’ve been dying for a great white chicken chili recipe! I can’t wait to try this one!
Lydia says
I hope you like it Eryn! 🙂
Renee {Eat.Live.Blog} says
I love white chili! But I can’t have the queso, so it would be back to the drawing board for me!
Lydia says
The flavors are all still great even without the cheese Renee. 🙂
Patricia Kasiewicz says
I sure hope i could win, thanks for a chance and that chili looks yummy
Lydia says
Thanks Patricia, I’m sorry that you didn’t win but I have another great giveaway coming up in a few weeks! 😉
Abbey says
This looks amazing. I hope I win!
Lydia says
Thanks Abbey! I’m sorry you didn’t win this one. 🙁
Bets says
A braised chicken dish.
Lydia says
Great choice. Thanks for stopping by Bets! 🙂
Maria says
Queso… you complete me too!
Lydia says
Haha a gal after my own heart! 😉
Ann Thompson says
I’ve always been partial to the gorgeous red one, but I’d definitely take the gray one, too! Or any other color for that matter!
Lydia says
I love the red one too Ann!
Lisa says
Hi! I love cooking with them! I hope I win!