Creamy Chicken Chili – Chicken Chili Recipe with Cream Cheese

Creamy Chicken Chili is a versatile recipe that can be made on the stove top or in the Crock Pot. The ingredients are simple, including chicken, corn, diced green chilies, cream cheese and great northern beans. This Chicken Chili Verde will hit the spot on a cool day and will cure any hunger pains.

Creamy Chicken Chili Recipe

Baby, it’s cold outside, and that means I’m making soup…again. I asked my husband the other night if he ever got tired of soup, and luckily he said no.  Truth be told, if he had said yes, I would have probably responded, well that’s too bad because I love soup.

At this current moment, there are three different types of leftover homemade soup in the icebox (refrigerator for anyone not in our family!) – Poor Man’s Soup, White Bean and Sausage Soup and this slow cooker creamy chicken chili.

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

My co-worker, Mary, surprised the office with lunch a couple weeks ago. She made this amazing white chicken chili and brought all the toppings (Fritos and shredded cheese), and we all gorged ourselves during our lunch minute.  Shhh, I actually slipped into the lunch room when nobody was looking and ate some for a mid-morning snack (it’s my secret).

Of course in true Barbara fashion, I begged for the recipe and she obliged. Some of my favorite recipes come from co-workers including Tami’s Pan-Fried Zucchini, Patty’s French Onion Joes, Mindy’s Easy Sloppy Joes, and Janette’s Caramel Puff Corn (AKA CRACK).

That day, Mary prepared the creamy chicken chili in the Crock Pot, but the cool thing is that this soup can be made easily on the stove top too, so I’ll be sure to share both.

Chicken Chili Recipe with Cream Cheese

Can you put cream cheese in chili?

Yes, cream cheese is the perfect addition to chili because it makes it creamy, and it calms down some of the heat. Cream cheese is a great option if your chili is too spicy.

Sour cream is another ingredient that will cool down an extra spicy soup or recipe.

Ingredient List for Creamy Chicken Chili (Stove Top or Slow Cooker)

Chicken Breasts

Chicken Broth

Onion, diced

Frozen Corn

Diced Green Chilies, canned

Dried Oregano

Garlic Salt

Cumin

Cayenne Pepper, optional

Cilantro, optional

Cream Cheese

Great Northern Beans, drained

How To Make Crock Pot Chicken Chili

1. To the Crock Pot insert, add chicken, chicken broth, onion, green chilies, corn, and seasonings.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken is falling apart and tender.
3. Remove chicken; shred with two forks.
4. Add chicken, beans, cream cheese and cilantro (optional) to the liquids already in the crock pot.
5. Cover and continue to cook until cream cheese is incorporated, stirring often.
6. If desired, serve with Fritos and shredded cheese.

For the full ingredient list and recipe steps for Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Chili, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

How to Make Stove Top Chicken Chili (with cream cheese)

1. Sauté chopped onion in a large saucepan.
2. Add chicken breasts and broth, and simmer over medium heat until the chicken is tender.
3. Once cooked, remove chicken and shred.
4. To the broth, add green chilies, beans, corn, seasonings and shredded chicken; simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add cream cheese and chopped cilantro (optional), stirring often until the cream cheese is incorporated.
6. Taste, adding salt and pepper if desired.

For the full instructions and ingredient amounts for Chicken Chili Verde, scroll to the bottom of this post. 

Notes About Chicken Chili Soup:

• Soups are versatile; add more or less of any given ingredient or try adding something else you have on hand. Try adding diced tomatoes, salsa, or diced peppers to this recipe.
• If you prefer more heat, try swapping in medium or hot diced green chilies or add more ground cayenne pepper.
• Chili powder can be used instead of cayenne pepper.
• Substitute canned corn for frozen corn.
• I drained my Great Northern Beans but you can add the whole can, if desired.
• Hate cilantro? Leave it out completely.
• Feel free to use both the cilantro leaves and stems. The stems have great flavor.
• Be sure to taste before serving and add salt and pepper if desired.
• Try my other Slow Cooker Chicken Chili for a completely different version.

To make a full meal with this chicken chili soup, try serving it with our favorite cornbread recipe and a Jalapeno Cape Codder.

Our Favorite Soup Recipes

Soups are probably our favorite recipes to share here on These Old Cookbooks. Here are some of our favorites from our site:

Tuscan White Bean and Sausage Soup

Crock Pot Chicken Chili

Stove Top Italian Bean Soup

Mom’s Broccoli Wild Rice Soup

Gramma’s Beef Barley Soup (Instant Pot)

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Hamburger Vegetable Soup

Crock Pot Low-Carb Taco Soup

r