Creamy White Chicken and Turkey Chili Recipe for Cozy Dinners

Our memorable Thanksgiving was spent in sunny Arizona. The weather was delightful, but what made the holiday truly special was being together with family. Thirty-five of us Joneses gathered, and the week passed far too quickly—aside from the two 24-hour drives to and from Minnesota, which felt much longer.
 
 

Now the difficult part: returning far from loved ones. We long to live closer to family, but sometimes life requires a different path. While visiting, I often found myself asking God, “Are you sure we still belong in Minnesota?” Watching my children delight in the attention and affection of cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents tugged at my heart. I wish that closeness could be more than an occasional reunion.

So we head back north to Minnesota’s cold, long winter, grateful for the warm memories we created. We feel incredibly blessed and have much to celebrate this season.

 
If you have leftover turkey from your Thanksgiving feast, this comforting white chili is a perfect way to use it up and warm you as temperatures drop. No turkey on hand? The recipe swaps easily for cooked or raw chicken. It yields a large pot of chili that freezes well, making it practical and satisfying.

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White Chicken (or Turkey) Chili


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Ingredients


Scale

  • 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 lime
  • salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder to taste
  • 2 Tb olive oil
  • 1/2 large onion, chopped
  • 2 large cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cans chopped green chilies
  • 3 cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 215 oz cans chicken broth
  • 1/4 C chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 C chopped flat leaf Italian parsley
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 Tb sweet Hungarian paprika

Instructions

1. If using chicken, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the chicken in a greased pan, squeeze the lime over the top, and season generously with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Bake for 30–40 minutes until fully cooked. Reserve the pan juices, then chop or shred the chicken once it has cooled. If using leftover turkey, simply cut it into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic for about 3 minutes. Add the chopped red bell pepper and sauté for another 3 minutes. Stir in the green chiles, drained beans, chicken broth, cilantro, parsley, and spices (cumin, cayenne, and paprika). Add salt and pepper to taste and pour in enough water to just cover the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes to blend the flavors. Serve topped with grated cheese, diced tomatoes, a squeeze of lime, and tortilla chips.

Notes

You can easily substitute leftover cooked turkey for the chicken. This chili freezes well—portion and freeze for quick future meals.

  • Author: Carole

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/6th
  • Calories: 420
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 900mg
  • Fat: 9g
  • Saturated Fat: 7g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 35g
  • Fiber: 11g
  • Protein: 46g
  • Cholesterol: 7mg

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