Thick White Chicken Black Beans (Printable Version)

Hearty, creamy chili with tender chicken and three bean varieties for a satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 cup frozen corn kernels

→ Beans & Legumes

07 - 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
08 - 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 1 (15 oz) can great northern beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

10 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half

→ Spices & Seasonings

12 - 2 tsp ground cumin
13 - 1 tsp dried oregano
14 - 1 tsp chili powder
15 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
16 - 1/2 tsp ground coriander
17 - 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
18 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Garnishes

19 - Chopped fresh cilantro
20 - Sliced green onions
21 - Shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
22 - Lime wedges
23 - Sour cream

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, jalapeño, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add cumin, oregano, chili powder, smoked paprika, coriander, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to toast spices and release their oils.
04 - Add chicken and pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
05 - Remove cooked chicken from pot and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
06 - Stir in black beans, cannellini beans, great northern beans, and frozen corn. Simmer for 10 minutes to meld flavors.
07 - Pour in heavy cream and simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until chili thickens and becomes creamy.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot with desired garnishes.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The combination of three different beans creates layers of texture that make every spoonful interesting
  • Heavy cream transforms this from a standard soup into something velvety and luxurious without being heavy
  • Leftovers actually improve overnight as the spices meld and the thickens naturally
02 -
  • Mashing a cup of beans against the side of the pot before adding cream creates a velvety thickness without any flour or cornstarch
  • The chili will continue thickening as it sits, so do not worry if it seems slightly thin when you first add the cream
  • Using rotisserie chicken works perfectly, just skip the simmering step and add shredded chicken with the beans
03 -
  • Simmer the chili uncovered to help it reduce and thicken naturally
  • Let the spices toast in oil for a full minute rather than rushing this step, it makes all the difference in depth

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