The Ultra Creamy Version

I was making white chicken chili for dinner when my partner walked by and said, “This is good, but it needs more cream.” I grabbed another block of cream cheese and stirred it in. His eyes lit up after the first spoonful. “This tastes like a fancy restaurant made it,” he said. This Cream Cheese Chicken Chili became his favorite comfort food, and now I make it every time he hints he wants something special.

This silky, luxurious chili is the ultimate lazy dinners indulgence. For the quickest version, my easy white chicken chili is ready in 30 minutes on the stovetop. When you want hands-off cooking, my crockpot white chicken chili simmers all day. And for lightning-fast pressure cooking, my instant pot white chicken chili is done in 15 minutes.

Why This Cream Cheese Chili Wins

I have made this countless times when I want pure comfort, and here is why it is unstoppable.

Ultra Creamy: This is not your average chili. It is a silky, luxurious experience in a bowl.
Sophisticated Flavor: The cream cheese adds depth and richness that elevates this from simple to special.
Indulgent Yet Simple: Despite tasting fancy, this requires zero culinary skill. Just dump and stir.
Freezer-Friendly: Make a double batch and freeze half. Thaw for instant restaurant-quality meals.
Leftover Chicken Perfect: Uses any leftover cooked chicken. Rotisserie, shredded, or canned all work beautifully.

The Creamy Ingredients Lineup

This recipe is built on cream cheese abundance and quality ingredients.

The Chicken Base
Any cooked chicken works beautifully. Rotisserie chicken is fastest, but shredded cooked chicken, leftover chicken, or even canned chicken are all perfect. Use at least 2.5 cups total.

The White Beans
Great Northern beans or cannellini beans provide texture and absorb the creamy sauce. Use 2-3 cans for balanced heartiness.

The Green Chiles
Canned diced green chiles bring mild heat and that signature white chili flavor without overpowering the creaminess.

The Aromatics and Spices
Onion, garlic, cumin, and oregano are the foundation. These spices work beautifully with cream cheese, creating layers of flavor.

The Cream Cheese Lots of It
This is where the magic happens. Use 8 oz cream cheese to start, then add another 4 oz for ultra-creamy texture. Do not hold back on the cream.

The Fresh Finish
Fresh lime juice, cilantro, and avocado brighten all that rich, creamy goodness.

How to Make It: Creamy Timeline

This chili comes together simply and becomes more delicious as the cream cheese melts.

Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic, cumin, and oregano, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 2: Add Chicken and Beans
Add cooked chicken, drained white beans, diced green chiles, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.

Step 3: Simmer
Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The flavors will begin to meld together beautifully.

Step 4: Add First Cream Cheese
Cut 8 oz of softened cream cheese into chunks and stir into the chili. Keep the heat low and stir constantly until completely melted and incorporated.

Step 5: Add Extra Creaminess
Add another 4 oz of softened cream cheese, stirring constantly over low heat until completely melted. Do not boil or the cream cheese will break.

Step 6: Mash Some Beans
Using a potato masher, gently mash about 1/4 of the beans against the pot side. This creates additional creaminess naturally.

Step 7: Finish and Serve
Stir in fresh lime juice. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with fresh cilantro, diced avocado, tortilla strips, and a dollop of sour cream.

Easy Ways to Customize Your Cream Cheese Chili

This ultra-creamy base is flexible for personalization.

Make It Spicier
Add diced jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.

Make It Milder
Use mild green chiles and reduce the spices. The cream cheese is already rich.

Add More Vegetables
Mix in diced bell peppers, corn, or celery for texture and nutrition contrast.

Make It Even Creamier
Add heavy cream in addition to cream cheese for ultimate decadence.

Add Bacon
Cook bacon in the pot first, then use the bacon grease to sauté the aromatics. Crumble bacon on top when serving for smoky depth.

Go Southwestern
Add roasted poblano peppers and cotija cheese for an elevated flavor profile.

Party Planning with This Cream Cheese Chili

This luxurious chili is perfect for impressive dinners or special occasions. For a heartier bean version, try my white bean chicken chili that packs extra nutrition alongside the creaminess.

For a complete Mexican-inspired spread, serve this chili alongside my white chicken enchiladas for contrast and variety. For an Italian twist on cream chicken comfort food, pair it with my white chicken lasagna soup. And for classic tomato-based chili lovers, my chicken chili crockpot offers traditional flavors with similar richness.

If you need simpler options, my simple white chicken chili uses fewer ingredients while still delivering delicious results.

Pro Tips for Ultra Creamy Perfection

Softened Cream Cheese: Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. Cold cream cheese creates lumps.
Low Heat is Key: Never boil cream cheese. Keep heat low and stir constantly to prevent breaking or curdling.
Add Gradually: Do not dump all cream cheese in at once. Add in chunks and let each portion fully melt before adding more.
Use Quality Cream Cheese: Philadelphia brand or similar creates the smoothest texture. Avoid generic store brands.
Shred Leftover Chicken: If using cooked chicken, shred it finely. Large chunks prevent even distribution.
Mash Gently: When mashing beans for extra creaminess, be gentle. You want creaminess, not baby food texture.
Fresh Lime Juice: Bottled lime juice does not compare. Fresh brightens all that rich creaminess perfectly.
Storage: Keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently.
Freezer Friendly: Freeze for up to 3 months in individual portions. Thaw overnight before reheating slowly.
Double the Batch: This recipe doubles beautifully. Use a larger pot and freeze half for future indulgent meals.

The Cream Cheese Chili That Changed Everything

This Cream Cheese Chicken Chili is proof that indulgence and simplicity can coexist. Silky, luxurious, and bursting with flavor, it tastes like a fancy restaurant created it but requires zero culinary expertise. Make it once for a special dinner, and you will make it again and again.

Whether you are impressing guests or treating yourself to comfort food that feels special, this chili delivers pure, creamy satisfaction in every spoonful.

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili (Ultra Creamy)

Author: danyrecipes
Total Time: 35 mins
Yield: 6-8 Servings

Print Recipe

Description

Silky ultra-creamy white chicken chili loaded with cream cheese! Luxurious, indulgent, and surprisingly simple to make. Perfect for special dinners or comfort food cravings.

Ingredients

2.5 cups cooked chicken (rotisserie, shredded, or leftover)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
2–3 cans (15 oz each) white beans (Great Northern or cannellini), drained
2 cans (4 oz each) diced green chiles (mild or hot)
3.5 cups chicken broth
12 oz cream cheese, softened (8 oz + 4 oz additional)
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh cilantro, diced avocado, tortilla strips, sour cream for topping

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Instructions

Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic, cumin, and oregano, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add Chicken and Beans: Add cooked chicken, drained white beans, diced green chiles, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
Simmer: Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Flavors will begin to meld together.
Add First Cream Cheese: Cut 8 oz of softened cream cheese into chunks and stir into chili. Keep heat low and stir constantly until completely melted and incorporated.
Add Extra Creaminess: Add another 4 oz of softened cream cheese, stirring constantly over low heat until completely melted. Do not boil.
Mash Some Beans: Using a potato masher, gently mash about 1/4 of the beans against pot side for additional creaminess.
Finish and Serve: Stir in fresh lime juice. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with fresh cilantro, diced avocado, tortilla strips, and sour cream.