This is the EASIEST crock pot white chicken chili recipe you will ever see. Dump, dump, dump, then cook for 4 hours. You are rewarded for your laziness with a great chili, and all your friends will demand the recipe.
Publisher note: Originally published March 2, 2010. Republished January 29, 2018. It was first published the third month of this blog, and maybe 50 people saw the first post. It has been republished once on January 22, 2013, which is five years ago. This wonderful chili has always been one of my most requested recipes. Anytime I take it to gatherings, I take copies, so I don’t have to write it down. Please enjoy some great chili.
No “inspired by” recipe here, I have done this one for 30 years plus. I even remembered the recipe without looking it up. And my memory is going.
My Rating
An absolute 5. No doubt about it.

The Girls with their new bunny babies.
Recipe Notes for Ultra Simple Crock Pot Chicken Chili
Get your chicken any way you want. My crock pot shredded chicken recipe is where mine came from after a one month stay in my freezer. A rotisserie chicken, canned or frozen. Or cook a couple of breasts in the oven until done (about 350 for about 40 minutes).
I like my chili a little thinner now, so I added an optional can of chicken broth. But leave it out, and you have a spicier very thick chili.
The spiciness is a 4/10. You can adjust that up and down. First is the pepper jack cheese. Pepperjack cheese is Monterey Jack cheese that is flavored with spicy chili peppers and herbs. So just using Monterey Jack instead will kick it down a few notches.
I recommend medium salsa so that can obviously be moved up or down. And lastly, the cumin can be adjusted.
This chili holds its physical heat for a long time due to the cheese. That makes it great for a party even if you can’t plug the crock pot.
A great recipe to double and it freezes well for 2-3 months. Good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.in
Other Great Crock Pot Chilis to Try
Crock Pot Chili
Crock Pot Three Bean Turkey Chili
Spicy 3 Chilies Texas Chili a la Crock Pot
Low Fat High Taste Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
A few simple ingredients. Get your chicken any way you want. I frequent will bake two skinless chicken breast at 350 for about 40 minutes until 165 degrees internal temperature. Rotisserie or leftover chicken works great. You will need about 3 cups.
Cube 8 oz of pepper jack cheese.
In a small (3.5 qt crock pot here) dump one 48 oz jar great northern beans (undrained), 8 oz of salsa, 3 cups of shredded chicken, 2 teaspoons cumin and 8 oz of pepper jack cheese (cubed).
Add a 14 oz can of chicken broth if you want a normal thick chili. Leave it out for extra thick. Stir very well.
Cook on low for 4 hours. Try to stir once or twice in the middle if you can to distribute the cheese, but it can wait until the end if needed.
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Servings | Prep Time |
8 servings | 5 minutes |
Cook Time |
240 minutes |
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![]() | This is the EASIEST crock pot white chicken chili recipe you will ever see. Dump, dump, dump, then cook for 4 hours. You are rewarded for your laziness with a great chili, and all your friends will demand the recipe.
|
- 48 oz Great Northern beans
- 3 cups shredded chicken
- 1 cup medium salsa
- 8 oz pepper jack cheese cubed
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 14 oz chicken broth optional
- Get your chicken any way you want. I frequent will bake two skinless chicken breast at 350 for about 40 minutes until 165 degrees internal temperature. Rotisserie or leftover chicken works great. You will need about 3 cups.
- Cube 8 oz of pepper jack cheese.
- In a small (3.5 qt crock pot here) dump one 48 oz jar great northern beans (undrained), 8 oz of salsa, 3 cups of shredded chicken, 2 teaspoon cumin and 8 oz of pepper jack cheese (cubed).
- Add a 14 oz can of chicken broth if you want a normal thick chili. Leave it out for extra thick. Stir very well.
- Cook on low for 4 hours. Try to stir once or twice in the middle if you can to distribute the cheese but it can wait until the end if needed.
Doubles nicely in a large crock pot. Good in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Good in a freezer for 2-3 months.
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All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
If you like this recipe or find it useful, the pleasure of a nice 4 or 5 rating would be greatly appreciated. Rating is done by clicking on the stars above.
Last Updated
January 29, 2018

Chris
We are rocking a 30f high with an ice storm here, so it’s down right tropical compared to a 9f high, lol. Great looking chili!
Dr Dan
The cheese in this keeps it HOT (physically) for a long time. So you can just set there an eat slowly and enjoy the heat.
Luv Boatin
Made this Super Bowl Weekend and it was a big hit!! This will be a regular on our table. Thanks for your great recipes!!!
Elizabeth Shelburne
Do you think this would freeze well?
Dan Mikesell
Absolutely…
Grace
This was pretty good! I doctor’d the recipe and used a salsa verde instead of a red salsa to keep it white. It was a lot thinner than I wanted, but, that’s okay, I wanted chicken tortilla soup so this was right in the middle and it was awesome. I will make this again and can’t wait for the leftovers!
NascarRen24
Will this be ok cooking all day while I’m at work, not just for 4 hours?
Dan Mikesell
I wouldn’t. I don’t think dairy products do that well with long cooking. It might tolerate 5-6 hours if you have a “cooler” running crock pot but so many of them run hot especially with long cooking’s..
Marcia
I’ve made this three times with no modifications for different quest and they all loved it! You’re right, be ready to copy the recipe. They won’t leave without it. Thanks for all the great recipes!
DrDan
This is in my top 5 of all time. I just love it. I could get low fat pepper jack for a while and it was reasonably healthy. With normal pepper jack not quit so much but still not bad…
Thanks for the comment
DrDan
Emily
I only have a large crock pot (5 or 6 qt). Does this double well?
DrDan
I actually cut the recipe in half from the original that I cooked for years. I do the “double recipe” for parties and the single for the two of us. It does freeze great.
DrDan
virginia
I am making this now in a 6 qt and it’s fine. I didn’t need to double the recipe for it to work.
It’s a great recipe. Thanks so much for sharing it.
DrDan
This recipe works in almost anything. I have used it in at least 5 different crock pots over the years and it always works. I have never had much trouble with the pot being too big. But to small and fill more then 2/3 can be an issue in some recipes.
Thanks for the note
DrDan
Andrea
Couldn’t you cook whole breasts in the chili as it slow cooks? Then shred and mix back in?
DrDan
I believe that would work fine. High for a couple of hours or low for 4 should cook the chicken well. My Low Fat High Taste Crock Pot White Chicken Chili ( https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/low-fat-high-taste-crock-pot-white-chicken-chili/) does just that. That is the only recipe I know of that does it that way. Shredding might be a bit of an issue with all that very hot cheese.
If you do it, please come back and report.
Thanks for the question
DrDan
Bethany
Would this recipe work over the stove top? I’m in the whole work-day predicament but would love to have it for dinner after I get off.
DrDan
I’m sure it would work well on the stove top. Everything is already cooked. The longer you could simmer the better. I’m thing a Dutch oven type pan. I would not do cast iron due to the tomato product.
DrDan
Tonya
I really want to try this. Can it be made started with dried beans? I have a ton.
DrDan
Hi Tonya, I just did a double batch of this for my office party today. It went over great.
Now your question. Yes BUT. Properly prepared dry beans would be fine. The but is the beans in the recipe are already cooked. Even with presoaking I don’t believe they would be tender with the cooking here. My limited experience with dry beans is that even with an over night soaking, they may take 10 hours or so to cook correctly not the 4 hours here. So you may say just let it cook… but cheese may not like that and the chicken was already cooked just not a good idea.
So in summery, with this recipe, I thing it is just to much work.
Heather
My children will not touch anything with beans in it. I can’t say I am a huge fan of them either. Would I need to add any extra chicken broth if I leave the beans out?
DrDan
Try it with the beans and you will be surprised how good it is. It may well convert all of you. Without the beans, I don’t see this working well.
DrDan
Dana
Process any veggies or ingredients kids won’t eat. I use my Magic Bullet. When you stir them into the recipe, they act like a thickener. The kids get the flavor and nutrition and they don’t even know it!
Mike King
Just made this using leftover roasted chicken that I shredded. Also started with dry beans. Soaked them overnight & cooked them in the slow cooker while at work. Then I simply added the other ingredients & continued cooking. Even tho it’s more time consuming & not as easy, it turned out fantastic!
DrDan
Thanks for the note. The taste combination of this chili is just so right no matter how you get there.
Dan
Shelia
Made this last week and it was a hit!! Because we had roasted chicken I was concerned that it would be mushy if I cooked it for hours so we added it about 30 minutes before the cooktime was up.
My sister enjoys meatless options so before we added it, she had a big bowl and really enjoyed it.
Dan
Just won a Chili Cookoff at work with this!
I have a large crockpot and doubled it with no problems.
DrDan
It is a recipe to love. I never make a single batch. I can somehow always get rid of a full double batch.
I can now call it award win I guess. You don’t tell them how easy it was, did you? Make them think you slaved.
Thanks for the note and congratulations on the win.
Dan
Karen Buttars
How much is a servings??
DrDan
There is no standard so I estimate the number of serving I would get out of the recipe and here it is about 1 1/2 cup.
jodi
I have a 3 qt and a 6 qt slow cooker. Which should I use?
DrDan
Hi Jodi,
Do the 6 qt. I can squeeze it into my 3.5 qt but it is too full really, so the 3 qt would be to the top. As general rule, 75% is the fullest you want to go.
Dan
Mirna Eads
This was so easy and a huge hit at work today. Our professional chef, chose it as the winner!
DrDan
Hi Mirna,
Thanks so much, many of our friends win at their office cook-off but none with a real judge that I know about.
I have been rewriting this post this evening for Super Bowl Week. If you look, the recipe is unchanged except I gave additional instructions for baking a couple of chicken breast if needed.
There is some additional discussion and the mandatory dog picture.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Yvette
Looks great and based on the comments I’d love to try the recipe. But, I’m not a melted cheese fan because of the texture. Does it incorporate smoothly or is it stringy? Thanks for your help.
DrDan
It is a smooth thick creamy type texture.
Judy McDaniel
What do you serve, with this? Crackers, corn muffins, corn bread or maybe tostitos?
DrDan
Hi Judy,
Yes, all those things are fine. I have done this recipe for almost 40 years so probably 200 plus cookings. I have used all those things. Corn chips usually for party type situations, tailgating etc. Corn bread or biscuits at home usually.
Thanks for the note and enjoy your chili.
Dan
Dan Defries
Could you substitute Mozzarella for the Pepper Jack? Or should I leave the cheese out?
-Dan
DrDan
Hi Dan (great name by the way),
I have used Monterey Jack when I was making a batch for company that didn’t want much spice. That worked fine. Mozzarella has very little taste to me, you can do it but I think it will be too blah. Leave it out? Not with this recipe. Try https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/low-fat-high-taste-crock-pot-white-chicken-chili/ instead.
Dan