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I Make The Creamiest Keto White Chicken Chili In Under An Hour
The first time I made this keto white chicken chili, it was one of those chilly nights when I wanted something cozy but didn’t want to spend all evening in the kitchen. I always keep shredded chicken meal prepped in the fridge, so once the base was simmering, I melted in the cheeses and stirred in the chicken. My keto dinner came together fast, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Here’s why:
- Creamy comfort food – The broth turns thick and cheesy with melted cream cheese and Mexican blend cheese, and the green chiles give it just the right kick. If you’ve enjoyed my keto chicken tortilla soup, this low carb white chicken chili is a bit like it’s richer, creamier cousin.
- Very keto friendly – Regular versions of this dish use white beans, plus flours or other starches, so they’re not keto friendly. But making white chicken chili keto is actually super easy if you skip those and rely on simple low carb ingredients instead! My version has just 5.7 grams net carbs per bowl, but it’s still so hearty and satisfying!
- Simple ingredients – Like most of my keto recipes, this one uses simple staples you can find at any grocery store. I also thicken it naturally with cheese (one of my favorite soup tricks) instead of any specialty thickeners.
- Great for weeknights – I can make this start to finish in under an hour! And most of that time it’s just simmering on the stove while I prep toppings or keto cornbread on the side.
I recently tested this keto white chicken chili again to double check the ratios, and updated it to increase the chicken and garlic. Not only do I think it’s even better now, my kids had a friend over that day and she begged her mom to make it. Make it with me, and I think your family will do the same! (And then, try my classic keto chili recipe too, so you can let me know which one your family likes best.)
Reader Review
“This is a fave in our house, and in regular rotation for our lunches. I meal prep a double batch at the beginning of the week and we have it for lunches all week. My husband loves it. It was a huge hit at a church fellowship meal too!” –Teri
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my keto white chicken chili recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Shredded Chicken – I usually meal prep my easy Instant Pot shredded chicken with boneless, skinless breasts (or chicken thighs), but honestly any method works… slow cooker, stovetop, whatever you like. And if I know I’ll be in a rush, I grab a rotisserie chicken for a shortcut.
- Green Chiles – They give the chili a gentle heat without being overly spicy. You can always add more (or less) depending on how you like it.
- Cheeses – Mexican blend shredded cheese for cheesy flavor and cream cheese to make it creamy, which also acts as a natural thickener. Feel free to swap the Mexican blend with cheddar cheese if you prefer, or pepper jack if you like extra heat.
- Aromatics – Onions and garlic! I like yellow onion here, but any color works.
- Chicken Broth – I used store-bought this time, but homemade broth or bone broth gives this keto white chicken chili more depth. If bone broth feels too strong, you can cut it with a little water.
- Heavy Cream – For rich, creamy flavor. You can lighten it up with half and half, but this adds some carbs. Full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream also make good substitutes.
- Olive Oil – For sauteing the aromatics.
- Spices – Cumin adds warmth, dried oregano provides a little herby flavor, and cayenne pepper gives a gentle kick. You can also add chili powder if you like, but I find the green chilies (above) are enough without it.
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How To Make Keto White Chicken Chili
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Cook the aromatics. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven. Sauté the onion until it softens and starts to smell sweet. Then, toss in the garlic and let it cook just long enough to smell amazing.
- Build the base. Pour in the broth and cream, then stir in the green chiles and spices. I let it simmer until the flavors come together and the liquid reduces a bit.
- Melt in the cheeses. Lower the heat, add the cream cheese and shredded cheese, and stir until melty and smooth.
- Stir in the shredded chicken. Let it warm through until you’ve got a thick, comforting pot of keto white chicken chili. Don’t forget the toppings — see my serving ideas below!
My Recipe Tips
- Skip the lid. I simmer this keto white chicken chili uncovered, because this allows it to reduce and thicken as it cooks.
- It’s important for the cream cheese to be very soft at room temperature. If it’s cold, you’ll have little chunks in your soup. If I forget to soften it, I microwave it to soften before stirring in.
- This keto chicken chili is very rich, so use less cream cheese if you want less richness. I thought it was perfect as -is, but my friend, Maria, made it and told me she preferred it with half the cream cheese. A few reviewers have said the same thing. I tried this and it’s also good but not as thick.
- You can speed up blending in the cream cheese with an immersion blender. Just give it a spin before returning the chicken to the pot.
- Add the shredded chicken gradually, 1 cup at a time. The ideal amount can vary depending on how much the soup reduced during simmering. That’s why I prefer not to add it all at once, so I can check if the ratio of chicken to creamy broth seems right. If you have extra shredded chicken, you can always use it to make my chicken bacon ranch casserole or chicken florentine soup.
- Can you use raw chicken? Yes! When I don’t have any on hand, I just cook raw chicken breast right in the soup. Add 2 pounds to the pot at the same time as the broth, and remove it once cooked through, after about 20 minutes of simmering. Shred chicken and set aside until it’s time to add it back in toward the end.
- Do you need to add a thickener? I usually find the cream cheese and simmering make the low carb white chicken chili thick enough. If you like it even thicker, you can always stir in a little cornstarch substitute.
- Want to lighten it up? My favorite way to do this is to add keto vegetables. They add some carbs, but make the soup lower calorie per serving. You can saute heartier veggies, like green bell peppers or mushrooms, together with the onions, or add softer veggies, like zucchini or cauliflower rice, in the last few minutes of simmering.
- Can you make it in a Crock Pot? Yes, you can adapt this keto white chicken chili recipe for a slow cooker. I would slow cook the ingredients through step 3. It tastes better if you saute the onions and garlic on the stove first, but you can add them in raw if you really want to. Once the soup is cooked and you’ve shredded the chicken, you can stir in the cream cheese and shredded cheese.
Keto White Chicken Chili
By
My keto white chicken chili recipe is creamy, cheesy, and flavorful! No one will guess it’s low carb and this easy to make.
Instructions
[ See step photos See my tips ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 5-7 minutes, until soft.
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Add the garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
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Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, green chiles, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, sea salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium and simmer for about 40 minutes, until soup has reduced and thickened a bit.
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Reduce heat to low. Stir in the cream cheese and shredded cheese, until the cheese has melted and the soup is smooth.
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Stir in the shredded chicken. Simmer the keto white chicken chili for about 5 minutes, until thick and creamy. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste.
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get a creamier texture, the perfect chicken-to-broth ratio, and how to thicken if needed.
- Store: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. It reheats very well!
- Meal prep: I think this keto white chicken chili tastes even better the next day, so go ahead and make a big batch! You can also just prep the ingredients ahead of time, too.
- Reheat: Warm it gently on the stove over medium-low heat, or pop it in the microwave.
- Freeze: This low carb white chicken chili keeps well for about 3 months in the freezer.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Keto White Chicken Chili
Serving Ideas
This keto chicken chili can easily be a one-pot meal and honestly, that’s how we enjoy it most of the time! But if you want to round it out, here are a few of my favorite pairings:
- Toppings – I left them off the recipe card to keep things simple, but for me they make the bowl complete: sour cream, lime wedges, avocado, and plenty of fresh cilantro. I also like to crush in almond flour crackers for crunch. Shredded cheese or hot sauce are great extras, too.
- Salad – I like to balance low carb white chicken chili with something fresh but still seasonal, like my fall salad or brussels sprout salad.
- Bread – We usually go for keto-friendly options like keto dinner rolls, almond flour biscuits, or even a slice of keto white bread with butter. My keto cornbread is also a classic pairing that makes it feel like a true comfort meal.
262 Comments
Erica
0So delicious and easy! I added some zucchini and peppers into the onions and then a jar of salsa verde to the broth and cream. Amazing!
Martha Phillips
0Serving size matters when you are tracking macros. Noting that there are 9 servings is not helpful!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Martha, As listed in the recipe card, each serving is 1 cup. I always try to be helpful and include the serving size – you just have to read it to find out.
Michelle
0Can you use fat free cream cheese or Neufchâtel cheese, or maybe even Greek yogurt to lower the fat content?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Michelle, Yes, you can use low-fat cream cheese, but I think fat-free would taste pretty bland. I don’t recommend Greek yogurt here.
Sheila d
0So good. Used leftover turkey with the juice from my turkey and veggies from my turkey. Delicious!
Michael Jarman
0I made this chili for our chili cook off at work and got 1st place out of 22 entries.
EXCELLENT RECIPE
Stephanie
0This was FANTASTIC! Took this to a church potluck and they scraped it dry and raved about it. People had no idea this was low carb until I told them. Only thing I did different from instructions was added smoked paprika, just because I love that stuff. Thank you for an amazing recipe.
Caroline
0Hi, I notice that the portion tracker for 1cup measurements when I put in for 18 servings only produced 8…. Is the measurement for portion size supposed to be a 1/2 cup not 1 cup?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Caroline, Did you follow the times of the recipe? If it simmers too much, the liquid will evaporate and then there will be less servings. However, this recipe does make 8 servings, so not sure where you got 18.
Caroline
0Yes, followed to the recipe to the T
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Caroline, Sorry for the confusion, did you see the amounts changed when you changed the number of servings to 18? The recipe makes 8 servings as written, which is how many you got, so that makes me wonder if the amounts didn’t update.
Brian
0Awesome recipe, making it for the third time in 3 weeks.
Andrea
0How can I thicken it more? Mine is a bit thin.
Norma
0Hi! If doing on stove top, letting is simmer longer uncovered will thicken it, also.
Christina
0Girl, you did it again. Such a simple, easy recipe, but so much flavor. My entire family, even the picky teenagers loved it! Thank you for a another great recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Andrea, You can use xanthan gum or unflavored gelatin to thicken the soup, or just simmer it to cook down for longer.
Jaime
0I used this recipe in a chili cook-off at work. I took home the golden spoon – Best Overall Chili!! The only things I changed were I used smoked pork instead of chicken and Serrano peppers. I told everyone whose recipe it is so they can follow you. Your recipe was a great hit!!
Kristy
0Delicious recipe! So flavorful with the perfect amount of heat. Thanks!
Beth
0So creamy, flavorful, and delicious!! A family favorite.
Michelle
0This was delish! I recommend to anyone who wants the taste of white chili without all the carbs! My only regret is that I didn’t find this recipe sooner!
Judy
0Absolutely delicious! A new favorite!
Lynn
0Hi Maya, whats the recipe for crock pot shredded chicken, as i don’t have an instapot?
Thanks so much!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Lynn, I don’t have a recipe for shredded chicken in the Crock Pot, but you can use my Instant Pot chicken breast measurements and slow cook for 4-6 hours on low in your Crock Pot. You can also use a rotisserie chicken if you don’t want to cook the chicken yourself, or cook raw chicken right in the soup as described in my tips above. Hope this helps!
Tasha
1Hey Lynn!
I just put everything in the crock pot on high for 4 or low for 8. Shred the chicken and add the cream cheese the last 30 minutes ?
Pat
0How much chicken breast goes into this recipe?
Linda
0I used boneless thighs and stock that I cooked in an Instant Pot. Sooo good… I will be making this again very soon!!! Not too rich like some keto soups. Thank you!
Brian
0Awesome recipe. Now our favorite
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Pat, This info is on the recipe card above. Please read it to ensure you don’t miss a step or ingredient. Thanks for stopping by!
Stacy
0Absolutely amazing.
Anne
0Just made this and it is delicious. I used 1.5 lbs raw chicken and followed the directions for that and it came out perfect. What a winner! Thanks, Maya!
Tammy
0Is that 2 cups of chicken weight raw?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Tammy, The cups of chicken listed is the amount cooked. Grab 2 pounds if you’re using raw chicken. Hope this helps!
Amy
0Can you do this in a crock pot?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Amy, Yes, a slow cooker would work well. Please see my instructions in my tips above.