When You Don’t Have Time to Cook, Reach for This Chili Recipe

Cream cheese adds richness and a hint of sweet tang to this dish. Jennifer Causey/TNS

This rich and creamy chili comes together in a flash thanks to quick-cooking chicken thighs and canned white beans. Mashing some of the beans acts as a fast thickener when your soups don’t have a long time to simmer. Cream cheese adds the final bit of richness and a hint of sweet tang.

Creamy White Chili With Cream Cheese

Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes

Serves 6

• 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 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
• 3/4 cup chopped celery (2 medium stalks)
• 5 cloves garlic, chopped (2 tablespoons)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups unsalted chicken stock
• 1 4-ounce can chopped green chiles
• 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
• 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves

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