Stunning keto white chicken chili: 1 secret tip

Hi there, I’m Alex, and I’m so glad you’re here! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that just because we’re eating low-carb doesn’t mean we should skip out on true comfort food, right? Sometimes you just need something hearty that tastes like a vacation hug in a bowl. That’s why I poured so much love into perfecting this **keto white chicken chili**. It’s unbelievably rich and creamy, packed with flavor from great spices, and best of all, it’s completely beanless. Creating simple, flavorful keto alternatives like this is exactly what brings me pure joy in the kitchen, and I know this recipe is going to become a staple for your **filling keto dinner ideas** list!

Why This Keto White Chicken Chili is Your New Favorite Keto Comfort Food

When you need that cozy, satisfying classic chili flavor but can’t touch the beans, this recipe is the answer. I truly believe this is the best keto chili recipe you’ll find because it checks every box for a perfect **keto comfort food**. It’s robust enough for a cold night but light enough that you won’t feel weighed down the next day.

SAVE

• Beanless and Perfectly Low Carb

  This is essential for strict keto folks! By leaving out the beans completely, this **keto white chicken chili** stays firmly in low-carb territory. Trust me, you won’t miss them at all; the chicken and dairy give you all the substance you need in a truly **hearty low carb meals** option.

• Incredibly Creamy Texture

  Forget those thin, watery soups! We use the magic duo—cream cheese and heavy cream—to give this chili that dreamy, velvety finish. It transforms into a stunning **cream cheese chicken chili** that feels totally indulgent, even though it’s perfectly healthy for our lifestyle.

• Fast Prep for Weeknights

  Life is too busy for complicated dinners. Whether you’re tossing it into the slow cooker before work or using the speed of your Instant Pot, this recipe transitions beautifully. It’s truly an easy keto soup that gets dinner on the table fast when you need that warm hug.

If you want to explore more recipes that capture that same warm, soulful feeling, check out my main collection of comfort food favorites—they are all designed to bring joy back to your table!

Gathering Ingredients for Your Keto White Chicken Chili

Alright, let’s get our mise en place ready! Building flavor in any dish, especially a great keto white chicken chili, starts with good ingredients prepared correctly. Don’t worry, the shopping list isn’t long, and everything here is designed to maximize flavor payoff for minimal work. I always lay everything out before starting the pot—it makes the cooking process feel so much more relaxed!

Chicken and Base Components

We need about 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken here. I usually lean toward the thighs because they stay a bit juicier, but breasts work perfectly too! You also need 1 tablespoon of olive oil for sautéing that flavor foundation: one medium yellow onion, chopped nice and small, and 2 cloves of garlic, minced as finely as you can manage. Four cups of low-sodium chicken broth is our liquid base, along with one 4-ounce can of diced green chiles, undrained—don’t drain that juice!

Spices and Seasoning for Flavor Depth

This is where we build the backbone of our creamy keto chili recipe. Don’t skimp here! You’ll want: 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of salt (or more to taste later), 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and just a tiny pinch—1/4 teaspoon—of cayenne pepper if you like a little kick without making it fiery. These spices are what keep this from tasting like just ‘creamy chicken soup’!

Achieving the Creaminess: Dairy Additions

For that wonderful velvety coating, measure out 8 ounces of cream cheese, which I suggest cutting into cubes first—it melts much faster that way. Then, we need 1/2 cup of heavy cream. If you want to go truly decadent, you can add 1/2 cup of shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese, but that’s optional. The cream cheese and heavy cream are the non-negotiables for richness!

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Best Keto Chili Recipe

Okay, this is the fun part! As I mentioned before, this recipe is a real MVP because it works beautifully whether you’re using the speedy Instant Pot or letting your slow cooker do the heavy lifting all day. No matter your method, the payoff is a wonderfully rich and satisfying **keto white chicken chili**. Just follow these steps, and you’ll have an amazing weeknight dinner ready in no time.

Cooking the Chicken (Instant Pot/Slow Cooker)

First things first: get that chicken submerged. If you’re rocking the Instant Pot, put all your ingredients—chicken, broth, aromatics, and spices—right into the liner. Seal it up, set it to High Pressure for 10 minutes, and then let it do a Natural Pressure Release for 10 minutes before quick releasing the rest. That’s it for the IP crew! If you’re using your slow cooker, just toss everything except the cream cheese and heavy cream in. Set it low for 6 to 8 hours, or high for 3 to 4 hours. These methods make it perfect for both **keto instant pot meals** and **slow cooker low carb recipes**.

Shredding and Returning Chicken

Once the chicken is cooked through and tender, pull it right out of the liquid into a separate bowl. Use two forks—this is where the satisfying shredding happens! Once it’s all shredded nicely, just drop that gorgeous pile of chicken right back into the pot with all that flavorful broth.

Melting the Cream Cheese for Smoothness

This is where the magic happens, so pay attention to the heat! You must reduce the heat to low—or switch your Instant Pot to the ‘Keep Warm’ setting. You don’t want to boil it now. Add those cubed cream cheese pieces in, stirring constantly until every single cube has melted away and the chili is velvety smooth. If you rush this and keep the heat too high, you risk the cheese separating, and we want that gorgeous, even texture for our **keto white chicken chili**.

SAVE

Finishing Touches and Final Seasoning Check

Once the base is smooth, stir in the 1/2 cup of heavy cream. If you decided to go extra, slide in that optional shredded cheese now and stir until melted. Now—the most important part—taste it! Does it need more salt? A pinch more pepper? Give it a little final seasoning adjustment. That’s how you ensure this is the absolute best keto chili recipe for your palate!

Expert Tips for Perfect Keto White Chicken Chili Every Time

Having made this dish more times than I can count, I’ve learned a few little tricks that take this from ‘good’ to ‘must-make-again.’ Building trust in the kitchen often comes down to understanding how ingredients behave, especially when we’re cutting out staples like beans. These little adjustments mean the difference between a decent soup and the richest, most satisfying bowl of **keto comfort food dinners** you’ve ever had!

Achieving the Thickest Beanless Chicken Chili

Since we aren’t using beans to bulk this up, sometimes the chili, especially when using the Instant Pot, can feel a touch thin for what you want in a true chili texture. If that happens, don’t worry! We have a simple **keto chicken recipes no beans** fix: xanthan gum. Just take 1 tablespoon of the gum and mix it really, really well with 2 tablespoons of cold water in a separate small bowl. Whisk that slurry into your simmering chili. It thickens almost instantly! Trust me, using a tiny bit of xanthan gum is how you ensure you get that perfectly thick, rich texture in your **beanless chicken chili** without adding any unwanted carbs.

Rotisserie Chicken Shortcut for an Easy Shredded Chicken Chili

If you are really pressed for time, let the grocery store do the initial cooking work! Buying a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is a game-changer for an easy shredded chicken chili. You can skip Steps 1 through 3 entirely. Just pull all the meat off the bird—skin and bones tossed, of course—and dump the meat right into your pot with the broth, spices, and green chiles. Then proceed with melting in the cream cheese. It cuts the total active time in half, turning this into an amazing quick keto lunch** option the next day!

SAVE

If you want to see some of the other shortcuts I use when things get hectic, check out my general Kitchen Tips & Tricks page for more ways to simplify your cooking without sacrificing flavor.

Making Your Creamy Keto Chili Recipe Your Own: Variations

Even though this **keto white chicken chili** is just about perfect right out of the pot, I love seeing how you all customize it! That’s the joy of cooking at home, isn’t it? You get to tailor everything exactly to what your family craves. Since we aren’t bogged down by starches or beans here, we have tons of room to play around with heat and texture. Think of the base recipe as your starting point for the ultimate **low carb soup for winter**!

Spice Level Adjustments for a Spicy Low Carb Chili

If you’re like me and you like a little fire in your bowl, you can bump up the heat easily. The original recipe calls for just a tiny dash of cayenne, but feel free to double that up! For real depth of flavor in your **spicy low carb chili**, try dropping in one diced fresh jalapeño along with your onion in the beginning. Just remove the seeds if you want manageable heat, or leave them in if you’re aiming for serious spice. Be careful when handling those peppers, though!

Adding More Low-Carb Bulk

Sometimes I want to stretch this recipe a little further between meals, or maybe I just have some veggies looking lonely in the crisper drawer. That’s when I add some extra low-carb filler. Toss in a cup of diced celery or even about a cup of frozen cauliflower florets when you add the broth. The cauliflower melts away almost entirely, just thickening the chili a bit more, while the celery adds a nice background vegetable flavor that complements the spices in this **creamy keto chili recipe** beautifully.

Serving and Topping Suggestions for Keto Comfort Food Dinners

A great chili isn’t just about what’s in the bowl; it’s about what you pile *on* the bowl! This **keto white chicken chili** is begging for some texture and extra fat to make it the ultimate experience. When serving this as one of your **keto comfort food dinners**, think of toppings as essential components, not afterthoughts. A little drizzle here, a fresh chop there—it makes all the difference in keeping it filling and delicious.

Essential Toppings for Filling Keto Dinner Ideas

You absolutely need a dollop of full-fat sour cream sitting right on top. It melts beautifully into the hot chili and adds a great cooling tang. Don’t forget the fresh avocado slices—they bring healthy fats which are key for a filling keto dinner ideas situation. A little sprinkle of shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese on top, and if you have a lime handy, trust me, a tiny squeeze of fresh lime juice brightens everything up. It’s all about texture and balancing that creamy base!

Serving Alongside Low Carb Sides

If you’re serving this chili up for a real meal and not just a quick satisfying **keto lunch**, you might want something on the side. Since we’re avoiding beans, we can recreate that classic chili accompaniment! I sometimes whip up a small batch of my quick-mix keto cornbread. It’s surprisingly fluffy and perfect for dipping. If you’re looking for something green, a simple side salad with a sharp vinaigrette cuts through the richness of the chili perfectly.

SAVE

Storage and Make-Ahead for Your Keto White Chicken Chili

I love that we can talk about easy keto meal prep! This **keto white chicken chili** is seriously one of the best things to make ahead of time. It tastes even better the next day, which is a huge win when life gets busy. Making a big batch means you’ve got lunches sorted, or a ready-to-go **filling keto dinner ideas** option waiting in the fridge. It’s all about setting yourself up for success during the week, and this recipe makes that part so simple.

Refrigerating Leftovers Safely

The absolute best way to store your leftovers is to let the chili cool down almost completely on the counter first. Don’t put a huge pot of piping hot chili directly into the fridge, okay? That can actually bring the overall temperature of your fridge up too much. Once it’s cooled down a bit, transfer the chili to airtight containers. It keeps beautifully for about 4 days in the refrigerator—perfect for quick reheating!

Freezing This Low Carb Chicken Dinner

Yes, you absolutely can freeze this! This makes it an excellent **low carb soup for winter** supply to have on hand. Transfer the cooled chili into sturdy, freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving a little space at the top because liquids expand when they freeze. When you thaw it out later, the texture might be *slightly* looser than when it was fresh because of the dairy components, but honestly, once you reheat it gently on the stovetop and stir everything back together, it’s still fantastic. Just reheat slowly on low heat, stirring often!

For more ideas on batch cooking and saving time later, you should definitely bookmark my guide on easy meal prep basics!

Frequently Asked Questions About This Keto White Chicken Chili Recipe

I get so many wonderful questions about tweaking this **keto white chicken chili recipe**, and I love helping you all create your perfect bowl! It’s such a versatile dish, so I wanted to address the most common things I hear. If you have even more questions, feel free to send me a message over on Facebook!

Can I use canned chicken instead of fresh for this easy shredded chicken chili?

Oh yes, absolutely! Canned chicken is a fantastic shortcut! If you’re aiming for something truly fast—maybe for a last-minute quick keto lunch—draining two cans of quality chunk chicken and tossing it in when you add the broth is a total life-saver. You just skip the initial pressure cooking step for the chicken, which really slashes your active time down. It’s still incredibly delicious!

Is this chili safe if I skip the heavy cream?

You can skip it, but I strongly recommend against it if you want the *ultimate* experience. If you absolutely have to leave out the heavy cream, the chili will still be rich thanks to the cream cheese, but it won’t have that luxurious, velvety mouthfeel we’re aiming for in these keto comfort food dinners. It will definitely be thicker and less soupy, but you’ll lose some that signature smoothness.

What is the best appliance method for the richest low carb chicken dinner?

While the Instant Pot is certainly the fastest way to get dinner on the table, I have to say, the Stovetop/Sauté method usually yields the absolute richest flavor. Why? Because you have complete control! When you melt the cream cheese and heavy cream on the stovetop, you can simmer it gently for an extra 5 to 10 minutes near the end, allowing those flavors to meld beautifully. It gives you the best possible finish for your **low carb chicken dinner**.

SAVE

Nutritional Estimate for Your Keto White Chicken Chili

I know that when we stick to a lifestyle like keto, tracking those macros is super important, so I always try to give you a solid estimate! Please remember that these numbers are just guidelines. They are based on the recipe ingredients listed above, using standard measurements, and will change depending on the exact brands of chicken broth, cream cheese, or whether you added those optional extra cheeses.

For one serving (which the recipe yields 6 servings total), here is the estimated breakdown:

• Serving Size: 1.5 cups
• Calories: 410
• Sugar: 3g
• Sodium: 450mg
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 11g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 6g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 45g
• Cholesterol: 140mg

The low sugar and very low net carb count (5g net carbs!) shows you how perfectly this stands up as a truly **filling keto dinner ideas** option. Because we aren’t using beans and are relying on healthy fats from the cream cheese and heavy cream, you get a ton of satisfying nutrients in every spoonful. For a deeper look into how I calculate these figures and my overall site standards, you can check out my disclosure policy!

Creamy Keto White Chicken Chili (Beanless Comfort Food)

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

This creamy Keto White Chicken Chili delivers rich, satisfying comfort food flavor without the carbs. It uses tender shredded chicken and spices to create a hearty, low-carb dinner perfect for cozy nights.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 30 min
• Total Time: 45 min
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stovetop/Instant Pot
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Low Fat

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles, undrained
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
• 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese (optional, for extra creaminess)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Place the chicken breasts in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. If using a stovetop, place chicken in a large pot.
2. If using the Instant Pot, add chicken broth, onion, garlic, green chiles, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 10 minutes, followed by a natural pressure release for 10 minutes.
3. If using a slow cooker, combine all ingredients except cream cheese and heavy cream in the slow cooker. Cook on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours.
4. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pot and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
5. Reduce the heat to low on the stovetop or switch the Instant Pot to the ‘Keep Warm’ setting. Stir in the cream cheese cubes until fully melted and the chili is smooth.
6. Stir in the heavy cream. If using, stir in the shredded cheese until melted. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
7. Serve the keto white chicken chili hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.

Notes

• For an Instant Pot, after shredding the chicken, you can use the ‘Sauté’ function briefly to help melt the cream cheese faster before switching back to ‘Keep Warm’.
• If you prefer a thicker chili, mix 1 tablespoon of xanthan gum with 2 tablespoons of cold water, then stir into the simmering chili until thickened.
• Toppings like avocado slices, sour cream, or shredded cheddar cheese work well with this low carb chicken dinner.
• This recipe is naturally beanless, making it ideal for a strict keto diet.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1.5 cups
• Calories: 410
• Sugar: 3
• Sodium: 450
• Fat: 22
• Saturated Fat: 11
• Unsaturated Fat: 11
• Trans Fat: 0
• Carbohydrates: 6
• Fiber: 1
• Protein: 45
• Cholesterol: 140