Description
Cajun White Chicken Chili brings zesty southwestern comfort straight to your dinner table, warming hearts with its bold, spicy charm. Hearty chicken, creamy white beans, and a kick of Cajun seasoning make this one-pot wonder a weeknight favorite that everyone will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (shredded)
- 1 can (15 oz) white beans (drained and rinsed)
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
Supporting Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 can (4 oz) green chilies
- ½ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 1 lime
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a large pot at medium heat (375°F). Sauté 1 small diced onion for 3 minutes until translucent.
- Incorporate 3 minced garlic cloves and 4 oz green chilies. Cook for 1 minute, releasing aromatic flavors.
- Add 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts. Sprinkle 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper across the meat.
- Pour 4 cups chicken broth into the pot. Bring liquid to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low (200°F). Cover and simmer for 22 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Extract chicken from pot. Shred meat thoroughly using two forks, separating into small, uniform pieces.
- Return shredded chicken to pot. Mix in 4 oz softened cream cheese, ½ cup heavy cream, and 1 can (15 oz) white beans.
- Stir continuously for 5 minutes at low heat (200°F) until cream cheese completely dissolves and mixture becomes smooth.
- Sprinkle 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese into chili. Cook 2 additional minutes until cheese melts completely.
- Garnish with ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges for a tangy finish.
Notes
- Chicken cooking time varies, so check internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
- Swap cream cheese with Greek yogurt for a lighter version that still provides creamy texture.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning amount to control spice level, starting with less and tasting as you go.
- For gluten-free option, verify all packaged ingredients are certified gluten-free before preparing.
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 32-37 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 314 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 874 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg