White Chicken Chili

Cozy, Crowd-Pleasing Comfort in a Van! 🌵🍗🥣

Okay, confession time — I’m not the biggest fan of traditional chili. Give me a bowl of White Chicken Chili, though, and I’m as happy as Leo with a new toy! 🐾✨
This creamy, flavorful version is my go-to for a cozy van meal, and it’s got enough leftovers to keep me happy through next week’s crazy schedules. Plus, it’s perfect for feeding a crowd or just cozying up for some solo chillin’ time.

Pro tip: I first made this using an NYT recipe (link below!), but over the years, I’ve tweaked it to make it my own. Now it’s become a staple in my van life kitchen arsenal!

Ingredients (for a hearty pot for 4-6 bowls):

2 chicken breasts 🐔
2 tbsp olive oil (plus more for grilling) 🫒
1 good-sized yellow onion 🧅
2 tbsp garlic, minced 🧄
1 tsp dried oregano 🌿
1 tsp cumin 🌟
1 tsp chili powder 🌶️
1/4 tsp cayenne (adjust to your spice level!) 🌶️🔥
1 tsp kosher salt (plus more to taste) 🧂
Fresh ground pepper 🧂
1 quart low-sodium chicken broth 🥣
2 cans white beans, drained & rinsed 🥫🥫
2 cans diced green chilis (mild & hot for a little kick!) 🌶️
1 cup frozen corn (or fresh, yum!) 🌽
Juice of half a lime 🍋

Let’s get cookin’:

Grill the chicken: Preheat your grill to 400°F. Rub the chicken with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Grill for about 6 mins, flip, then cook another 4 mins (or until internal temp hits 165°F). Rest, then chop into bite-sized pieces. Easy! 🔥🐔
Make the chili: In your large pot or Dutch oven, heat a splash of olive oil over medium. Sauté the onions until tender (~5 mins). Add garlic and spices, stir, and cook for about a minute — your kitchen smells amazing already! 🌿🧄
Simmer & thicken: Pour in chicken broth, add beans and chilis. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer for about 20 mins. Mash some beans with a potato masher right in the pot to thicken the chili.
Finishing touches: Stir in the cooked chicken and frozen corn. Heat for 3 more mins, then squeeze in the lime juice. Taste and season as needed.

Serve it up! 🎉

Ladle into bowls and top with your favorite garnishes:

Chopped cilantro 🌿
Sliced avocado 🥑
Crumbled queso fresco 🧀
Pickled onions 🧅
Sour cream 😋

This chili hits all the right notes — creamy, spicy, tangy, and oh-so-comforting. Perfect for chilly mornings, cozy nights, or whenever you need a big bowl of happiness in your van.

Happy cooking and even happier eating!
— Leslie Cooks in a Van

P.S. Want the original NYT recipe? Check the link below!

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024345-white-chicken-chili

#VanLifeCooking #WhiteChickenChili #ComfortFood #FoodOnTheRoad #YumInTheWild