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White Chicken Chili with Great Northern Beans Using Chicken Thighs

This will be the best white chicken chili you've ever had. It is flavor-packed. My friend said it was "like a deconstructed enchilada".
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Kevin Godbee

Equipment

  • 1 Instant read thermometer to check internal temperature of the chicken.

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken thighs poached and shredded
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 white onion medium diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 7 oz can of green chilies
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 tbsp cayenne papper
  • 2 32 oz boxes of chicken broth
  • 2 14.5 oz cans of Great Northern beans
  • 2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese shredded
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 2 pinches MSG (The food industry's secret ingredient.)
  • sour cream optional garnish
  • cilantro optional garnish
  • avocado, large diced optional garnish

Instructions

Poaching Chicken

  • Remove any excess fat from the thighs.
  • Fill a large pot with with salted water and bring to a medium boil.
  • Add the whole chicken thighs and turn the heat down to maintain a low simmer.
  • Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Check with an instant-read thermometer. Chicken is done when the internal temp is 165 ºF.
  • Remove chicken from pot to a cutting board, and shred using two forks.

Chili

  • Heat the oil in a soup pot on medium high.
  • Add the onion and cook until tender.
  • Add the garlic and green chiles. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the chicken broth and beans.
  • Add the shredded chicken and 1 cup of the Monterey Jack cheese.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste, and two pinches of MSG.
  • Simmer for about 30 minutes.
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro, sour cream, and large diced avocado, plus the remaining cup of the shredded cheese.