Slow-cooker white chicken chilli

Slow-cooker white chicken chilli recipe

This white chicken chilli is a satisfying, hearty family favourite with tender chicken thighs, creamy cannellini beans, and sweetcorn, slow-cooked to perfection. With warming spice flavours familiar from chilli con carne, and a hint of heat from fresh green chillies, it delivers those classic chilli flavours with a creamy twist. The rich broth, enhanced with crème fraîche, makes this chilli both filling and family-friendly. It’s also versatile—perfect for adding extra veggies or making the most of what’s in your fridge. You can serve this as a warming bowl of comfort food, or alongside rice for a satisfying meal.

The Slimming Foodie in One

This recipe is from my second cookbook, The Slimming Foodie in One. Discover 100 delicious, healthy recipes all cooked in one pot, pan, tray or dish. This bestselling cookbook is packed with delicious, family-friendly dishes that are simple to prepare. With everything from quick, fuss-free meals to comforting slow-cooker favourites. If you enjoyed this recipe, grab the book for even more inspiration!

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thigh fillets?

Yes, you can use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs in this white chicken chilli recipe. While chicken thighs are more tender and can be more flavoursome, chicken breasts will work just fine. Just keep in mind that chicken breasts may cook faster than thighs, so adjust the cooking time accordingly to prevent them from drying out. To ensure the best texture, cut the chicken breasts into smaller pieces before adding them to the slow cooker. This way, they’ll blend well with the other ingredients and soak up all the delicious flavours!

What can I serve with Slow-cooker white chicken chilli?

Slow-cooker white chicken chilli pairs well with a variety of accompaniments. For a hearty meal, serve it over baked potatoes or fluffy rice. Tortilla chips make a great crunchy side. You can also enhance the flavours with toppings like guacamole, sliced avocado, grated cheese, and jalapeños. A squeeze of fresh lime juice adds a perfect zesty finish.

Can I cook Slow-cooker white chicken chilli in the oven instead?

To cook this in a regular oven, preheat the oven to 180ºC/160°C fan (350°F), Gas Mark 4. Follow step 1, but mix the ingredients in a medium or large casserole dish with a lid. Place into the oven and cook with the lid on for 1 hour 20 minutes. Follow steps 3 & 4 towards the end of the cooking time and serve as in step 5.

Can I use other beans and vegetables in this chilli?

Of course! One of the best things about this white chicken chilli is its versatility. You can easily swap out the cannellini beans for other types, such as pinto beans, butter beans, haricot beans, black beans – or just go for a mix! Feel free to add or substitute vegetables based on your preferences or what you have on hand. Peppers, courgettes, mushrooms, spring onions, carrots, celery, onion, sweet potato and even spinach can all add to the dish.

Can I add extra crème fraîche to make it creamier?

Yes, you can definitely add extra crème fraîche to make your white chicken chilli creamier! If you find that the current amount isn’t quite rich enough for your taste, feel free to increase it gradually until you reach your desired creaminess. Just remember that adding more crème fraîche will also enhance the richness and tanginess of the dish, so you might want to balance it with additional seasoning if needed. Stir in the extra crème fraîche towards the end of cooking to maintain its smooth texture.

How does Slow-cooker white chicken chilli work on Slimming World?

This slow-cooker white chicken chilli is an absolutely fantastic low syn meal if you are following Slimming World. It’s packed full of healthy proteins.

Please be aware that some of the suggested side dishes do contain syns. Here is how the following sides work if you are following Slimming World:

Rice: If you are cooking your rice from dried then it is syn free. If you are using a microwave packet of rice then it does have syns, usually 1 to 2 per packet, although it depends on which brand.

Avocado:  Avocados are high in syns, but bear in mind that this is a very healthy way to use up your syns because avocados are highly nutritious! They are full of healthy fats, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, offering lots of potential health benefits. 25g of fresh avocado is 2.5 syns. A large avocado (approximately 195g without the stone) is 18.5 syns. A small avocado (approx. 100g without the stone) is 9.5 syns.

Baked potatoes: Baked potatoes (or jacket potatoes) are syn free, as long as you don’t add additional toppings such as butter. If you are buying a frozen pre-baked one then make sure you check the syns using the Slimming World app.

Guacamole: I make my own guacamole as it’s much nicer than a bought one. If you are buying a pre-made guacamole it is usually around 1.5 syns per tablespoon, but you will need to check the specific brand. 25g of fresh avocado is 2.5 syns. A large avocado (approximately 195g without the stone) is 18.5 syns. A small avocado (approx. 100g without the stone) is 9.5 syns.

Sliced jalapeños: These are syn free, such good news because these are such a fabulous ingredient for adding great flavour and spice!

Tortilla chips: These are high in syns but perfect as a treat! Generally these have around 6 syns per 25g.

Crème fraîche: Half fat crème fraîche contains 1.5 syns per level tablespoon (so 4.5 syns for the whole batch). If you prefer to use full fat, this is 2 syns per tablespoon.

Cornflour: Cornflour contains 1 syn per tablespoon