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The best white chicken chili made in a slow cooker with sweet Italian chicken sausage. A creamy chili with hearty beans, chicken sausage, chiles and a rich flavorful broth.
I love a classic chili but I seek out a lighter alternative some times. This white chicken chili with chicken sausage is creamy and full of flavor. It’s honestly like a bowl of comfort in the Fall or Winter that I crave.
I tend to make a big batch when I have family coming over it’s also great for game day or meal prepping for the week. It is even better the second or third day!
Never had sausage in chili?! You need to try it. Prefer a more traditional chili with a tomato base try this slow cooker sausage chili.
Table of Contents
White Chicken Chili Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- Sausage– Italian ground mild chicken sausage works well. If you would like a little more spice use a hot Italian sausage. You can also use pork sausage instead of chicken.
- Great Northern Beans– You want a firm bean that will holds it’s texture or shape. Cannellini beans will also work.
- Vegetables– Chopped onions and minced garlic
- Green Chiles– I use mild green chiles that come in the small 4 oz cans. They add a great depth of flavor without being too spicy.
- Seasonings– A combination of cumin, Italians seasoning, salt and pepper
- Dairy– I like to add sour cream and half and half during the last 15-20 minutes of cooking. This gives the chili a nice creamy broth.
- Cornstarch– Mixing cornstarch with cold water will help thicken your chili or soup.
How To Make White Chicken Sausage Chili
- White chicken chili is really easy to make. In a frying pan heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until sausage is browned and crumbly about 7-10 minutes.
- In the slow cooker add sausage, beans, onions, chilies, garlic, seasonings and chicken broth. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
- When there’s 15 minutes remaining add sour cream and half and half. Stir to incorporate.
- If you like a thicker chili add in a slurry of corn starch and cool water. In a small bowl add cornstarch and cold water. Mix until cornstarch is dissolved. Add to slow cooker and mix. Cook another 5-10 minutes and serve with cheese.
Substitutions and Variations
Want to make this recipe dairy free? Leave out the half and half and sour cream. It’s still a delicious chili. If you are looking for a creamier dairy free texture blend one can of beans before adding it to the slow cooker.
Don’t want to use sausage? Grab a rotisserie chicken and use that instead. Just add it to the slow cooker instead of sausage.
Can You Freeze White Chicken Chili?
This chili freezes well with a few tweaks. Follow steps 1 and 2. Let chili cool completely and then freeze up to 4-6 months. When you are ready to reheat let it thaw then add it back to the slow cooker or stove top. Once it has come to temperature stir in sour cream and half and half. Let cook for an additional 15 minutes. If you are looking for a thicker texture add in your corn starch slurry and cook an additional 5-10 minutes.
Why do I do it this way? Sour cream does not freeze well so adding dairy in after is the best way to freeze this soup.
Slow Cooker White Chicken Sausage Chili
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage
- 2 15.5 oz Cans Great Northern Beans
- 1 cup Onion, Diced
- 2 4 oz. cans Green Chiles
- 2 tbsp Garlic, Minced
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Italian Seasonings
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- ½ cup Half and Half
- 3 tbsp Cornstarch
- 3 tbsp Cold Water
Instructions
- In a frying pan heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and break it with a wooden spoon. Cook until sausage is browned and crumbly about 10 minutes.
- Add sausage, beans, onions, chilies, garlic, seasonings and chicken broth to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 hours.
- When there’s 15 minutes remaining stir in sour cream and half and half.
- For a thicker chili add in a slurry of 3 tbsp of corn starch and 3 tbsp of cool water. In a small bowl add cornstarch and cold water. Mix until cornstarch is dissolved. Add to slow cooker and mix. Cook another 5-10 minutes and serve with cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
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