White Chicken Chili Mac and Cheese Recipe
When you can't decide between a cozy bowl of white chicken chili or a creamy pot of mac and cheese… why not have both? This White Chicken Chili Mac and Cheese brings together the best of comfort food: tender chicken, mild green chiles, warm spices, and ultra-creamy cheese sauce, all wrapped around perfectly cooked pasta. It's hearty, family-friendly, and exactly the kind of dish you want bubbling on the stove when the weather cools down. One bite and you will see why this mash-up deserves a spot in your weeknight dinner rotation.
What I love most about this recipe is how flexible it is. You can use rotisserie chicken to make it extra quick, swap in your favorite cheeses, or add a little heat with diced jalapeños if your crew likes things spicy. It's also a great way to stretch simple pantry staples into a meal that feels special without extra effort. Whether you're feeding hungry kids after a busy day or looking for a cozy dish to share with friends, this recipe always delivers big flavor with minimal fuss.
This recipe does have dairy and gluten, but you can easily swap the ingredients to make sure they are safe for everyone in the family. Use gluten free noodles, dairy free cheese, and make sure to swap the flour for the roux to a gluten free variety, if needed.
You can adjust the spices and chilies to make it palatable for everyone. Feel free to add in any other things that you like, such as black beans, roasted corn, etc.
This meal will be on repeat all winter long!
Serve these snickers chocolate oatmeal cookies or chocolate covered strawberry lush for dessert!
However you customize it, this White Chicken Chili Mac and Cheese is the kind of comforting, crowd-pleasing dish you will find yourself making again and again.
Serve it with a sprinkle of cilantro, a squeeze of lime, or just a big spoon. There's no wrong way to enjoy this creamy, cozy classic.
White Chicken Chili Mac and Cheese
White Chicken Chili Mac and Cheese is the perfect cozy mash up of two comfort food favorites. Tender shredded chicken, creamy cheese sauce, pasta, and warm chili spices come together to create a rich, silky bowl of pure fall worthy goodness. The green chiles add a mild kick while the beans give it heartiness, making every bite creamy, cheesy, and satisfying. It’s the ideal weeknight dinner, meal prep lunch, or crowd pleasing game day dish. Serve it in a bowl, top it with sour cream, jalapeños, and crushed tortilla chips, and watch it disappear fast!
Ingredients
- 12 oz medium pasta shells
- 2 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 4 oz can of green chilies
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon of garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoon of cumin
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 6 tablespoon of butter
- ¼ cup of flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups of chicken broth
- 2 7 oz bags of Monterey Jack shredded cheese
- 16 oz of cooked shredded chicken
- 1 cup of sweet corn
- 1 15 oz can of great northern beans, drained
- cilantro, optional
Instructions
1. Begin boiling the water in a large pot and cook the noodles until al dente, following the instructions on the box.
2. While cooking the noodles add the green chilies and onions to a large skillet over a medium to high heat, cook for 2-4 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 375°.
4. Add the garlic and seasonings and stir for 30 seconds. 
5. Add the butter and let it melt completely.
6. Add the flour and whisk together for about 1 minute.
7. Add the heavy cream and broth and stir until everything’s combined and no lumps remain. 
8. Bring the heat to a low heat and add in one 7 oz bag of cheese and stir. 
9. Add half of the remaining bag of cheese into the pot and stir once more, saving the rest of the cheese for later.
10. Add in the chicken, corn, beans and pasta and carefully stir until everything is coated in the cheese sauce.
11. Pour the mac and cheese into a 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining bag of cheese and sprinkle some extra corn on top. (optional)
12. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the top gets golden brown and bubbly. Top with cilantro (optional) and enjoy!!
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- If everything is dry after adding the pasta, add more chicken broth and stir.
- I think chopped scallions on top would be delicious.
- Grab a rotisserie chicken for this recipe for an even easier recipe!
