Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese

Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese

from eatingwell.com

Enjoy a bowl of this healthy white chicken chili with cream cheese. Mashing some of the beans helps thicken the chili while cream cheese adds a sweet tang.

Ingredients

  • 2 (15 ounce) cans no-salt-added great northern beans, rinsed, divided
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 ½ cups chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
  • ¾ cup chopped celery (2 medium stalks)
  • 5 cloves garlic, chopped (2 tablespoons)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles
  • 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
  • ½ cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

  1. 1

    Mash 1 cup beans in a small bowl with a whisk or potato masher.

  2. 2

    Heat oil in a large heavy pot over high heat. Add chicken; cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add onion, celery, garlic, cumin and salt. Cook until the onion is translucent and tender, 4 to 5 minutes.

  3. 3

    Add the remaining whole beans, the mashed beans, stock and chiles. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cream cheese until melted. Serve topped with cilantro.