White chicken chili recipe!

I LOVE this white chicken chili recipe.  It is easy to make and very flavorful. Perfect for when the weather gets cooler.  The bonus is everyone can add their own toppings, customizing to their own tastes.

Some of our neighbors think we are crazy! Kristi and I invite all the ladies of our neighborhood over for a chili luncheon.  That would potentially be 110 ladies.  Heck, we don’t discriminate, if a guy was around and wanted to come, he’d be welcome too!  We normally have between 30 and 40 ladies join us.  We serve chili and traditional sides.

Nothing like bright red flowers to brighten a room!

We always do our luncheon in February.  Around Valentines Day.  So, I love getting anything red out!

Have you ever had 40 ladies in your kitchen.  In the dead of winter?  Who haven’t seen many of their neighbors and friends for months?  Ummm, lets just say it’s a little LOUD!   But loud in a fun, good, have so much to share with you kind of way : ) !

We have the formula figured out on how to do this luncheon.  So well that, about 1/2 hour before people were supposed to come, I said to Kristi, “Is there something that I should be doing?  I feel like I should be stressing and rushing around.”

Kristi told me that we had that same conversation the last time.  See, we each make a big batch of chili and leave it in a crockpot.

When people ask, “What can I bring?” we ask them to bring something (cornbread, a dessert etc.).  We live in a neighborhood where everyone wants to bring something and that’s normal (and awesome!).   But, we did say no thanks to many of the offers.  This year we ended up with most of the chili gone and lots of deserts left over.  Because so many people brought something. It was quite decadent!

Chili is an awesome food to share with a larger crowd.  You can make it ahead, and it’s healthy and hearty because of all the beans in it!

Let me share a funny story about Garbanzo beans.   I’ve ALWAYS bought those beans in the ethnic section of the store.  garbanzo beans are normally in the Mexican food section.   Can you believe that I didn’t realize that garbanzo beans are also sold in the canned bean section.   I think the main reason I didn’t realize garbanzo beans are also sold in the regular canned be section is……………….{sigh} I didn’t realize they were also called chickpeas!  Really!  Can you believe it?  I had no idea for years that chickpeas are garbanzo beans.  So, now I am left wondering if they are beans or peas?  What do you think??  Please tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t realize that garbanzo beans are chickpeas!!

White Chili With Chicken

Ingredients
3 Tbs vegetable oil
1/2 medium sized onion, finely chopped
4 oz canned green chilies, chopped (I added one can but I know some add two)
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 can chicken soup broth 15 oz
2 cups milk
1 1/2 lbs cooked, roughly cubed chicken breasts (about 1 inch cubes)

1 15.8 oz garbonzo beans (aka. chick peas), drained
1 15.8 oz great northern beans, drained
1 11 oz can corn, drained
Your choice of toppings:  Cheddar cheese, Monterey cheese, avocado, cilantro

Huge Helpful Hit:  Buy a rotisserie chicken and use the cooked meat!

Instructions (Printable directions at the bottom of this post!)

Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan.

Cook onions until translucent in a saucepan.
Add chopped green chilies and garlic. Cook another minute.
Into crock pot, add chicken broth, onions, green chilies, garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder and salt.
Add cubed chicken, all beans and corn.

After about 4  hours on high, the chicken cubes fall apart when you stir (it will look like shredded chicken).
Add 2 cups milk about 1/2 hour prior to serving.

Serve with optional toppings.

Yum!  Some folks also added corn chips on top. And, the next day when I was eating some leftover chicken chili, I added some fresh avocado.  Worked great with it!

I hope Kristi and I have inspired you to invite a bunch of friends over!   Don’t stress too much over having your house perfect!  If they are your friends, they aren’t going to judge you because you patched some nail holes and didn’t get to paint them before they came over : ).   Honest, they don’t!   But, they will appreciate you sharing your home to socializing, having good conversation and fun company.

My last big tip (if you are still with me) – use disposable bowls, plates, and cutlery!  Hey, if you have that many people over, it’s nice to be able to just toss and be done : ).

If you want to see more of my recipes, I pin them all onto one Pinterest Board.   Follow this link to take a look (and sign to follow my recipes on Pinterest).