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White Chili Recipes

January 31, 2013
Karry Hosford, 
Searching for a new, mouthwatering chili recipe? Try these white chili versions for an exciting twist on this traditional tomato-based comfort dish.
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Wonders of White Chili

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: White Chili

Chili is a favorite dish during the colder parts of the year. White chili, often made with white beans, chicken, or ground turkey, offers a lighter alternative for those looking to enjoy this classic meal with fewer calories and less fat.

Our first recipe is traditional White Chili, which uses hot pepper sauce made from jalapeños to add a kick of intense flavor, proving to be just the right about of spice.

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Beef and White Bean Chili

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Beef and White Bean Chili

Blended corn tortillas add a delicious masa flavor and give the chili extra body. Buttery, starchy, and tender, cannellini beans succeed as a creamy mash, chili base, or filling. Jalapenos are so much more than a garnish. Char in the pan, pickle, or chop for relishes and marinades.

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White Chili With Avocado Cream

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: White Chili With Avocado Cream

White chili with both pork and chicken? Yes, please! Ground pork is seasoned with warm spices while tender chicken breast packs a lean but mighty punch. But even with the double dose of meaty goodness, plant power remains strong here. Two beans (chickpeas and cannellini) thicken and enrich the base while char-roasted peppers and corn fill this pot to the brim. Plenty of garlic, fresh lime juice, and smoky chipotle peppers make this chili sing. Rich half-and-half adds creamy goodness while tangy, fresh tomatillos and silky avocado top with tasteful elegance. Chili doesn't get much heartier than this!

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White Bean Chili with Corn Chip Crunch

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: White Bean Chili with Corn Chip Crunch

The classic munchy—corn chips—adds a little salty, crunchy punch to each bite.

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Can't-Believe-It's-Vegan Chili

Photo: Jason Varney
View Recipe: Can't-Believe-It's-Vegan Chili

Packed with kale, beans and an assortment of veggies, this dish is sure to make it into your regular rotation. This completely satisfying chili also cooks in a fraction of the time it takes to make traditional meat chili.

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Chicken Chili with Pesto

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Chicken Chili with Pesto

This classic version of white chili with chicken is overflowing with veggies. Add a generous dollop of pesto before serving for a fresh twist.

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White Bean and Turkey Chili

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: White Bean and Turkey Chili

Quick and easy to prep with canned white beans and chicken broth, this crowd-pleaser is the perfect dish on a busy weeknight with the family.

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Fast Chicken Chili

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine
View Recipe: Fast Chicken Chili

Ready in under 30 minutes, this chicken chili really is fast, but will smell and taste like you spent hours working away in the kitchen.

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White Turkey Chili

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: White Turkey Chili 

This white turkey chili is a tasty alternative to the traditional red chili and makes the perfect meal on a cold winter night.

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White Chicken Chili

Photo: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: White Chicken Chili

Enjoy the herbs and spices in this delicious White Chicken Chili, perfect for an appetizer or light meal at only 233 calories per serving.

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White Bean and Homini Chili

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: White Bean and Homini Chili

Vegetarian chipotle sausage packs quite a punch, adding savory depth to the entire pot of white chili.

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Chicken Green Chili with White Beans

Karry Hosford, 
View Recipe: Chicken Green Chili with White Beans

For a twist on standard chili, try this recipe that uses Anaheim chiles. Reviewer Monkey offers this tip for prepping: “Roast Anaheims whole over a gas stove flame until completely charred. They're much easier to peel.” Create a spicy chili or something family friendly by determining your peppers' heat factor before adding them to the dish. Most Anaheim peppers are fairly mild, but if you want to figure out your chile's heat before sinking them into your dish, take a nibble. We found that Anaheim chiles can run the gamut from mild to fairly hot, so it's better to know before you're surprised at the dinner table.

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