Instant Pot White Bean Chicken Chili

The type of beans are pretty versatile as well, I use what I have on hand. White beans are called for but if you wanted to double up on the kidney then have at it. The difference between the colors is the texture really, and flavor a bit. For a milder version go for Northern beans for sure. You could start from dry but canned beans are way faster.

Ninja Foodi White Chicken Chili

You can amp up the amount of legumes inside too. If I have a second and there is another guest in the house it is an easy way to make more without really changing the timing. No draining required, the liquid in the can is helpful so add as is.

Instant Pot Chicken Chili

As for the meat I always say use what you have on hand. We use leftovers really the most often for this because I hate wasting food. If you do have and want to use fresh you will just need to saute at first for a few minutes with a bit of olive oil. It doesn’t need to be cooked thru, just enough for the pink on the outside be be browned.

It will continue cooking thru to the center when all the other ingredients are added. Under high pressure it doesn’t need long since it should be diced up into bite size pieces. The rest of the ingredients just need to be warmed up so it’s a quick under 30 minutes meal.

Chicken and olive oil (if cooking fresh vs. pre cooked chicken)
Taco seasoning
Chicken stock or broth
Onions are optional but diced fine are a nice add in
Black beans

If making homemade black beans cook on high pressure using this recipe first. Then you can drain them and go for it with these.

Easy Leftover Chicken Chili Recipe

If you wanted to make this on the stovetop you could. Since everything is cooked, assuming your meat already is, you just need to warm everything together to enhance all of the flavors.

Kidney beans
White beans are also called great northern beans
Can of green chiles
Rotel – we choose mild but there is a hot version too
Tomato sauce
Shredded cheese and sour cream are great on top too
Chili powder can be added for heat

As you can see, other than 2 items, this is a great pantry item recipe! If you’re looking for a really cheap Instant Pot recipe to stretch your budget, this is a great one.

We have made Crockpot white chicken chili too but this way is much faster. Here are a few questions you might be asking yourself before getting started.

What kind of meat is in chili?

That is totally up to you! If you find a recipe you like, just add precooked chicken, ground beef, shredded pork, or even sausage to the mix. Like more than one, then do half and half for a hearty version.

What goes with chicken chili?

I think this is a complete meal in itself for sure. With meat and beans together all you’re really missing is a vegetable I guess so you could serve those.

Are kidney beans and chili beans the same thing?

Chili beans that are canned include seasonings where kidney are larger with a tougher skin and plain. You could really use either.

Instant Pot Chicken Chili Dry Beans

If you want chicken chili no beans you can of course do that too. Using dry beans in Instant Pot, no problem! We have instructions for that method too. It takes longer but some prefer super homemade and fresh to canned.

We used a 13 bean mixture for this pressure cooker chili with dry beans recipe here. It offers a lot of variety, texture and flavor with a bunch of different varieties in there. Takes quite a bit more time because you are starting from scratch but so good.

Vegetarian White Bean Chicken Chili

Add what you like and omit what isn’t your favorite. You could load it with vegetables too if you wanted or make it completely vegetarian. It is just a great base to make to your liking. We love this recipe for that very reason. With a really quick cooking time your white chicken chili recipe will be done a lot faster than in a slow cooker.

I almost always make this with leftover rotisserie shredded chicken, or our Instant Pot chicken and rice is a close second.
Done cooking in about 15 minutes it’s not only fast but healthy and super filling too.

Top with things like avocado slices, green chilies, or we love shredded cheddar cheese!! I mean this is a great one for a buffet table if you have a lot of guests over. Everyone loves a bar of some sort where you can personalize your plate, or bowl. This is a great place to offer dried jalapenos that some people might like to use as a topping.

When submerged and stirred in with everything else they will rehydrate and add a spicy nature to their bowl of YUM.

White Chicken Chili Instant Pot no Cream Cheese

If you wanted it to be a bit creamier you could incorporate some sour cream on top or stir some inside too. We have a bunch of easy Instant Pot chicken recipes to choose from here too;

Our Instant Pot chili verde is beyond amazing using pork instead, but could be altered for poultry too.
Throw it inside tortillas for tacos or on top of white rice. Skip if you want a low carb dinner option of course.
Instant Pot orange chicken is to die for with only a handful of ingredients in it.
Chili mac in an Instant Pot is a favorite amongst my girls. We make it a bit spicy but could be left mild for sure.

Instant Pot Chicken Chili with Frozen Chicken

If you forgot to defrost your meat, pressure cooking frozen chicken in Instant Pot first. You can dice up into small bite size pieces or shred with two forks on a cutting board. Then proceed with the rest of these directions.

How long can you leave cooked chili out?

It is recommended that once you’re done cooking it you store it and put it in your fridge within an hour or so. Wait until it is completely cooled. I like to break it up into individual airtight containers so you can reheat easier the next day.

Does chili freeze well?

It does!! As long as you put it into freezer bags or storage containers free from air it can last as long as 6 months. Allow it to defrost before reheating for best results. Microwave in 30 second increments stirring in between times.

Do you let chili cool before freezing?

Whether you want to put it in the fridge or freezer it should always come to room temperature first. This will prevent bacteria from growing inside as rapidly.

White Bean Chicken Chili Instant Pot

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Instant Pot White Chicken Chili with Rotisserie Chicken