Healthy Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili (Freezer to Crock Pot)

This healthy slow cooker white chicken chili is packed full of corn, white beans, chicken and cauliflower, and is easy to prep ahead and freeze as a crockpot freezer meal.

While January is the month for planning, February is the month for putting plans into action.

We have a long to do list for 2017, including finally starting to look for another house. We have definitely outgrown our cute little starter house, and it’s time to move on.

House hunting seems like it should be fun, but I still vividly remember the emotional roller coaster from last time around…almost buying two different condos before things fell through, then having to keep looking…and then, 30 houses later, finally finding our house.

I would love to fast forward through all of that (and moving too!), and just be settled in the new house already, but that’s wishful thinking. I’m guessing we’re going to need lots of easy dinners for this next go-round of house hunting, since we now have a three year old in tow.

Don’t forget to pin this recipe to save it for later!

Enter freezer to crock pot dinners. Remember how I mentioned that February is a month of action? Well one of my goals for the blog this year is to create more make ahead dinner recipes, and one technique I’ve been experimenting with are meals you can assemble ahead.

For this healthy slow cooker white chicken chili, all of the ingredients can be assembled ahead, and stored in the fridge for 2-3 days, or in the freezer for longer term. I recommend these heavy duty freezer bags if you’re going to freeze, and this glass storage container if you’re going to store in the fridge.

If you go the freezer route, simply pull them out the day before and thaw, then toss everything in the slow cooker with some chicken stock, and you’ll soon be greeted with amazing smells and delicious flavors. You won’t be able to tell it was ever frozen, pinky swear!

Freezer to crock pot recipes are kind of tricky, since lots of veggies will soften when they are thawed. Luckily the veggies in this healthy slow cooker white chicken chili are freezer friendly…corn, onions, celery, jalapeno and white beans.

Now the cauliflower is not freezer friendly (unless blanched first) and take it from me, cauliflower + 4 hours high in the crock pot is a complete disaster. So to avoid a pot of stinky mush, I add the cauliflower in the last 3o minutes of cooking. Result: cauliflower that holds its texture and bulks up the chili (not to mention that absorbs tons of flavor).

When adding the cauliflower I add another secret weapon: cornmeal. Whhhaat. I know. I got this tip from Pioneer Woman, who uses masa in her white chicken chili (I never have masa around). Basically it gives it a touch of extra corn flavor, and helps to thicken things up a touch. Win / win!

Now don’t you find that chili is all about the toppings? We loaded our healthy slow cooker white chicken chili up with avocado, cheese and tortilla chips. So so good. Feel free to use your favorite chili toppings…maybe some greek yogurt or salsa verde. Yum!

Alright, amigos! Go forth and cross stuff off your February to-do list. You can do it, especially if you are powered by a bowl of healthy slow cooker white chicken chili 😉

More prep ahead dinner recipes for us:

• this (Make Ahead) One Pot Black Bean Fajita Pasta can be assembled ahead for a ridiculously easy dinner
• and these Make Ahead Chickpea and Butternut Squash Fajitas are perfect for making ahead
• or you can make these Smashed White Bean & Spinach Quesadillas ahead and freeze them

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: freezer, gluten-free, healthy, meal prep, slow cooker

Calories: 215kcal

Author: Denise

Servings: 8

Crockpot white chicken chili is creamy, rich, hearty and full of flavor but lightened up a touch! With chicken, white beans, corn, cauliflower and green chiles, this recipe does not require sauteeing, and works great for meal prep.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time5 hrs

Total Time5 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients

Slow Cooker

• 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 1/2 lbs; see *)
• 2 cans of white beans (540mL/ 19 oz; cannellini or great northern; drain & rinse first)
• 4.3 oz can green chiles (127 mL)
• 11.5 oz can of corn kernels (340 mL; drained)
• 1 jalapeño (optional; seeds removed and finely chopped)
• 2 ribs celery (chopped)
• 1 onion (diced)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chicken stock

1 hour before serving

• 4 cups cauliflower (cut into 1 inch florets)

Just before serving

• 1/4 cup cream cheese (cut into small cubes)
• 1 lime (juiced; 2 tablespoons)

Toppings

• Greek yogurt
• Avocado
• Tortilla chips
• Cilantro

Instructions

• Place all 'slow cooker' ingredients in the base of a large slow cooker. Stir and cook on low for 5 hours.
• One hour before serving, add the cauliflower. Continue cooking for 1 hour or until cauliflower is soft and chicken is cooked through.
• Remove chicken from the slow cooker and transfer to a bowl. Shred with two forks or using a hand mixer. Keep chicken in the bowl while you complete step 4.
• Remove 3-4 cups of the chili (excluding chicken) and transfer to a blender. Add the cream cheese, then blend until smooth and no bits of cream cheese remain.
• Transfer the blender contents and shredded chicken back to the slow cooker along with the lime juice. Stir to combine.
• Serve with suggested toppings.

Storage

• Store cooked chili in the fridge for up to 4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.

Freezer Crockpot Directions

• Assemble all 'slow cooker' ingredients in a sturdy freezer bag, reusable silicone bag, or large meal prep container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
• Thaw completely before cooking as directed above.

Notes

* If you are swapping chicken breast for chicken thighs, reduce the total cook time to 4 hours max (so add the cauliflower at hour 3)

 

Recipe can be halved and prepared in a 2.5 quart crock pot with the same cook times.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of batch | Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 600mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 312IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg

Products used in this recipe: