Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

With just 5 minutes of prep, this Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili will soon be your favorite! This easy, dump-and-go chicken chili is made in the crockpot and comes together in a creamy chicken broth for a flavorful, cozy, easy dinner. It has everything you love about classic chili and can be made in the crockpot or stovetop

Chicken chili in a white bowl with cheese and corn chips in the background. A red and white dishtowel next to the bowl.

Slow cooker recipes, such as my crockpot orange chicken, easy crockpot turnip green soup, and 4-ingredient slow cooker pulled pork, are wonderful on busy nights when you need a simple and satisfying meal.

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💗Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Family Friendly: This recipe is mild enough for kids and flavorful. Slow cooker chicken chili is a perfect meal for the whole family.

Slow Cooker or Stovetop: Cream cheese chicken chili can be prepared in the crockpot or on the stovetop. This recipe is repeated in my home all winter.

Easy to Customize: Whenever I make this crockpot chicken chili with cream cheese, I like to customize it with toppings. Add white or great northern beans for a creamy white chicken chili.

Dump and Go: This is a great dump-and-go crockpot recipe for busy days. Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker, set it, and forget it. It’s so amazing my family calls it crack chicken chili.

🥘Here’s What You’ll Need

The ingredients are simple and pantry-friendly. Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need. Please see the printable recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients.

Ingredients needed to make crock pot chicken chili with text overlay.
  • Chicken -I have made this recipe with cooked, shredded chicken and uncooked boneless chicken breasts. Either will work. I use what I have in my freezer. I add about 4 cups of cooked chicken to this recipe. I don’t believe in having to look for the meat in a dish, so this recipe ensures every bite is packed with tender chicken.
  • Canned Vegetables – Visit your pantry for a can of corn, black beans, Rotel tomatoes, and diced tomatoes.
  • Ranch Dressing Mix and Chili Seasoning – You’ll need a package of both. Sometimes, I use hot chili seasoning for my family. You can adjust the seasonings just like with my Sausage and Beef Chili.
  • Chicken Broth – Use homemade or store-bought. This forms a flavorful base for the soup.
  • Cream Cheese – Place the block of cream cheese on top of the ingredients in the crockpot. Give it a good stir about 15 minutes before serving.
  • Shredded Cheese – This is optional but makes a good topper.

🥣Recipe Substitutions

  • You can swap the black beans for white beans, cannellini beans, or great northern beans and turn this dish into an easy white chicken chili recipe.
  • Use a rotisserie chicken. I’ve done this many times, and it cuts down on the cooking time.
  • Swap the slow cooker for a soup pot or Dutch oven and cook this on the stovetop.
  • Instead of chicken, use cooked ground turkey or ground beef. Brown on the stovetop first and then add to the slow cooker with the other ingredients.
  • Swap the chicken broth for vegetable or beef broth.

🔪How To Make This Recipe

Everything goes into the crockpot at once. You do not have to precook the chicken. Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili is definitely a crowd-pleaser and perfect for feeding hungry family and friends. Feel free to double the recipe if needed.

Ingredients added to a crockpot for chicken chili.

Step 1: Add the Ingredients to the Crock Pot: Place chicken in the crockpot. Add corn, black beans, Rotel tomatoes, diced tomatoes, dry ranch mix, chili powder, and chicken broth. Stir well.

Adding cream cheese to the crockpot for making chicken chili.

Step 2: Add cream cheese: Add cream cheese to the top of the chicken chili in the crockpot. Add the lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. If using cooked chicken, you can adjust the time.

Shredded chicken for the recipe.

Step 3: Shred the Chicken: After cooking, take out the chicken, shred it with a fork, and return it to the crockpot. If using a Rotel chicken, omit this step. Mix well.

Cooked Chicken chili in a white bowl with a spoon.

Step 4: Serve: Add shredded cheese to the top of each bowl. Serve the slow cooker chicken chili with crackers or cast iron skillet jalapeno cornbread.

💭Recipe Tip

📖Recipe Variations

Stovetop Method: If you prefer to make this creamy chicken chili on the stove, it’s easy to adapt the recipe. Cook the chicken first over medium heat until done. If you are short on time, use a rotisserie chicken. Then, add all of the ingredients to a large pot or Dutch oven, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for about  25-30 minutes. Stir the cream cheese until melted. Simmer until you are ready to serve.

❔Recipe FAQs

Is this slow cooker creamy chicken chili spicy?

No. This chicken chili has a ton of flavor without being spicy. The cream cheese helps to cut the seasonings and spice.

Can I freeze chicken chili with cream cheese? 

Yes. This chicken chili freezes nicely. Allow the chili to cool completely and place it in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3-4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Can I Make Cream Cheese Chicken Chili on the Stovetop?

You can make chicken cream cheese chili on the stovetop. Cut the chicken into small bite-size pieces and cook the chicken first. Add the remaining ingredients, and cook on medium heat for about 25-30 minutes. Stir the cream cheese until melted. Simmer until you are ready to serve.

What are some good chicken chili toppings?

The toppings for chili are endless. Here are a few of my favorite toppings for cream cheese chicken chili: Avocado slices, Sour Cream, Cheddar Cheese, Jalapenos, Crunchy Tortilla Chips, Cilantro, Lime Wedges, and Green Onions.

Chicken chili in a white bowl with a spoon. Cheese and corn chips in the background in white bowls.

More Cozy Soup Recipes

📋Recipe

Chicken chili in a white bowl.

Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

Gina Abernathy
With just 5 minutes of prep, this Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili will soon be your favorite! This easy, dump-and-go chicken chili is made in the crockpot and comes together in a creamy chicken broth for a flavorful, cozy, easy dinner. It has everything you love about classic chili and can be made in the crockpot or stovetop
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people
Calories 341 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3-4 cups cooked chicken OR 4-boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 can whole kernel corn undrained
  • 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 can rotel tomatoes undrained
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 package Ranch Dressing Mix dry mix
  • 1 package chili powder
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 8 oz. package cream cheese
  • 1 cup shredded cheese

Instructions
 

  • Add the Ingredients to the Crock Pot: Place chicken in the crockpot. Add corn, black beans, Rotel tomatoes, diced tomatoes, dry ranch mix, chili powder, and chicken broth. Stir well.
  • Add cream cheese: Add cream cheese to the top of the chicken chili in the crockpot. Add the lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. If using cooked chicken, you can adjust the time.
  • Shred the Chicken: After cooking, take out the chicken, shred it with a fork, and return it to the crockpot. Mix well.
  • Serve: Add shredded cheese to the top of each bowl. Serve the slow cooker chicken chili with crackers or cast iron skillet jalapeno cornbread.

Notes

If using uncooked/raw chicken, place the chicken in the crockpot with the other ingredients and cook according to the instructions. Once the cooking time has completed, remove the chicken, shred it, and return it to the pot.
About 30 minutes before serving, stir the chili to mix in the cream cheese. Allow the cream cheese to melt, and mix with the chili before serving.
Stovetop Method: If you prefer to make this creamy chicken chili on the stove, it’s easy to adapt the recipe. Cook the chicken first over medium heat until done. If you are short on time, use a rotisserie chicken. Then add all of the ingredients to a large pot or Dutch oven, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for about  25-30 minutes. Stir the cream cheese until melted. Simmer until you are ready to serve.
Chili Toppings: The toppings for chili are endless. Here are a few of my favorite toppings for cream cheese chicken chili: Avocado slices, Sour Cream, Cheddar Cheese, Jalapenos, Crunchy Tortilla Chips, Cilantro, Lime Wedges, and Green Onions.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 23gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 836mgPotassium: 524mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 704IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 177mgIron: 2mg
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12 Comments

    1. So happy to hear this! We love this recipe as well. The temperatures are very low this week, so I will be making this again.

  1. Yum! This sounds so simple – I love when I can throw everything in a crockpot for a filling meal. I used my crockpot this past weekend for soup and can’t wait to start using it more in the cold months

    1. Throwing everything in the crockpot is my kind of meal. I love to walk in at night and have dinner ready and waiting on me.

  2. This looks so hearty and comforting. Something you want to dig in to, after a long hard day. Such great flavours in this creamy delicious chili.

  3. I make something similar to this in my crock pot and it is always so good! However, I’ve never thought to add ranch seasoning and now I feel like I’m missing something! I’m going to have to try out this recipe next time 😊

  4. I am always looking for easy chicken dinners and I’m so glad I found this one. My whole family loves this chicken chili!

  5. This recipe looks so comforting and simple! Rotel tomatoes add a great depth of flavor. Thank you for sharing!

5 from 1 vote

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