Easy White Bean Chicken Soup
I’m obsessed with soups lately, and this Easy White Bean Chicken Soup checks all the boxes. It’s a healthy comforting soup made with chicken, creamy Great Northern beans, green chiles, and tons of savory flavor simmered together in one pot.
That means less cleanup and an easy dinner that’s ready to go whenever you need it. I also love making a big batch because it’s high in protein, full of fiber, and perfect for meal prep or make-ahead lunches throughout the week.
And if you’re a fan of hearty soups like this, be sure to check out my Easy Cajun Chicken and Rice Soup, my ultra creamy Cajun Chicken Chowder, and my favorite Instant Pot White Beans and Sausage.
Low carb and high fiber soups like this one are really helping me lose a few pounds too! They are a great way to have comfort food without all the calories!
Recommended for this recipe:
6 Qt Dutch Oven
A dutch oven is one of my favorite kitchen items. It’s great for soups, one pot dishes, browning, and sauteing. It goes easily from stove top to oven.
How to Make White Bean Chicken Soup – TWO WAYS
This recipe is super easy made on the stove top, but lately I often throw it in the Instant Pot. What I love about this method is that I can use FROZEN chicken breasts! It can be 5:00 on a weekday, and we can have this hearty soup ready super quickly.
I will show you both methods for making this White Bean Chicken Soup. You choose the easiest method depending on the time you have. Either way, I serve mine with a few tortilla chips, a squeeze of lime, and a little shredded cheese. You can even top with a little sour cream too.
White Bean Chicken Soup Tips:
- This recipe can totally be made even easier in an Instant Pot!! I don’t use the olive oil or saute the veggies when I do this. It saves on calories too! Just put it all in the instant pot, stir, and cook for 15 minutes!
- You can even use frozen chicken breasts in your instant pot. Just cook for 20 minutes.
- This recipe is only 2 freestyle points. If you omit the cheese and chips, it’s only 1 point!
- It’s the perfect meal-prep recipe for your lunches and it freezes great! I freeze it in individual plastic containers and take the to work.
- Sometimes, I add three cans of beans rather than 2 if I have them on hand. It just makes it a little heartier and thicker.
- A rotisserie chicken really works well with this recipe!
White Bean Chicken Soup
White Bean Chicken Soup Recipe Type : Main Dish Author: Jaren Cook time: 45 mins Total time: 45 mins Serves: 5 to 6 servings
Ingredients
STOVE TOP METHOD:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 3/4 tsp creole seasoning, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 4 oz. can diced green chiles
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 32 oz. low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 15 oz. cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed*
- 3 boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- juice of 1/2 lime
- Optional for serving: tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream
- *You can add 3 cans of beans instead of 2 for a little thicker soup.
INSTANT POT METHOD:
- Use all the same ingredients above except OMIT the oil.
Instructions
- STOVE TOP METHOD: In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion. Season with 3/4 tsp creole seasoning. Cook for about 7 minutes.
- Add garlic and green chiles and cook another 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add cumin, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Add chicken broth and beans. Bring to a boil.
- Season chicken with 1 tsp creole seasoning and add it to pot. Once soup comes back to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for about 30 minutes covered.
- Remove chicken from soup to a plate. Let cool a few minutes and then shred with two forks.
- Using a masher, mash beans in pot a few times just to help thicken soup a little.
- Return shredded chicken back to pot and stir.
- Add cilantro and lime juice and stir.
- Serve warm with optional toppings.
INSTANT POT METHOD:
Add all ingredients to the instant pot and omit the oil. Stir to combine. Cook on manual high pressure for 15 minutes. If using frozen chicken breasts, cook for 20 minutes.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 450Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 1208mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 13gSugar: 11gProtein: 38g
I can’t wait to try making this!
Hi Carolyn! It’s so good! Thanks for visiting!
Chicken Soup is my favorite anytime and this looks yum!
This soup is delicious and easy a win-win situation. The only thing I would say is I only use one chicken breast because with all the beans and only 4 cups of broth that’s all it needs and sometimes when I’m in a hurry I just chop up the chicken and sauté it with the onions and seasonings much quicker but delicious soup recipe. Thank you.
This chicken soup looks amazing! I need a bowl of this like yesterday!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Yum! White beans are the best, and they have so many good health benefits!
I’m interested in trying this but I don’t have creole seasoning. What do you recommend as a substitute?
Creole seasoning is basically my salt and pepper. You can just use that and add a little red pepper and garlic powder if you have it. Enjoy! Love this soup. In fact, I made it today!
I noticed that several of your soup recipes call for creole seasoning. Do you have a favorite?
Hi Rose! We use Tony Chacere’s. You can find it on Amazon here.
Hi! Do you happen to have the nutrition information for this? I hate to be that annoying person but I’m looking for the grams of carbs, fats and protein in this as well as the total calories per serving. Thanks
Hi Penelope! I put the nutrition information on the recipe. Making it in an instant pot cuts down a little on calories because I omit the oil. I also find the My Fitness Pal app to helpful. You can import recipes you find on blogs like mine and it will calculate nutrition information for you. I use it all the time. Thanks for visiting!
Can you cook make it in a crockpot?
Hi Sharon! Sorry for the delay in getting back to you with your question! Yes, you can make this in a crockpot. I would add all ingredients and cook on low for 6 hours.
Do you cook the chicken ahead of time or put it in raw? Thank you!
Hi Jessie! You use raw chicken. I do like to use a rotisserie chicken every now and then as well. This is one of my favorites!
This maybe a silly question but do you cook chicken first? Thank you! cant wait to try this soup!!
Hi Michelle! Nope, you just cook it in the broth. You can also use a deboned rotisserie chicken too!
Made this several times. It is perfect!
Thanks Jennifer! It really is a favorite around here too!