My Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili with Brie is so simple but sacrifices nothing in terms of elevated elegance. A swirl of creamy brie at the end of cooking keeps this chili full of body and a bit unexpected in the best possible way! Add your favorite toppings and let your guests customize to their hearts content.
I think when people think about hosting a dinner party, they can immediately get stressed. I’ve been there too. It’s that last minute rush, where people are showing up and things haven’t gone as expected in the kitchen. You’re running around trying to bring together something impressive and complicated while everyone else is out there enjoying themselves.
But hosting a dinner party doesn’t have to equate to stress. It can actually be totally casual and fun while still delivering something impressive and elegant. Enter my Casual Dinner Party Menu for 6, which features this delicious and totally stress free Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili with Brie. You will be sacrificing nothing on the elegance scale here while you let the slow cooker do all the hard work. In fact, you’ll probably deliver an even more elegant evening because you’ll have time to think about other details like your latest look. Everybody wins!
The idea of chili is already a perfect entree for a dinner party. It’s a people pleaser, and the fact that everyone can dress it up the way they like makes it extra fun. Making a White Chicken Chili is already a bit unexpected on its own when it comes to chili. But then adding that cheesy swirl of Brie? Impressive and delicious.
The slow cooker in this case is doing all the heavy lifting, gently simmering chicken, green chilis, white beans, and aromatics into something rich and cozy. Just before serving, cubes of brie are stirred in, melting into the chili and giving it a soft, luxurious finish that feels a little unexpected — and a little elegant — for such a comforting dish. The flavor of brie isn’t overpowering here, but does give the chili a bit of silkiness.
I adore this recipe for making hosting feel easy, which will put your guests at ease too.
Why This Chili is Perfect for Entertaining
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili with Brie is perfect for entertaining but it is of course delicious just for a weeknight. It’s the kind of slow cooker meal you can get going in the morning before work then add the brie before serving and Wednesday night is extra easy. As a main dish for entertaining, it’s doing all the heavy lifting for you.
- Make-ahead friendly: Everything cooks in the slow cooker hours before guests arrive leaving you time to focus on other non-food related things.
- Hands-off: No last-minute stovetop juggling. Whew!
- Feels special: Brie adds richness and depth without making the chili heavy. There’s an elegance here that I think will be really impressive to your guests.
- Great for a crowd: Easy to scale and serve family-style. Serve it with a toppings bar so everyone can make it exactly to their liking. This would be perfect for a big game meal as well.
This is the kind of meal that lets you greet people with a glass of wine instead of an apron.
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili with Brie
Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes4
hoursMy Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili with Brie is so simple but sacrificing nothing in terms of elevated elegance. A swirl of creamy brie at the end of cooking keeps this chili full of body and a bit unexpected in the best possible way! Add your favorite toppings and let your guests customize to their hearts content.
Ingredients
1 large onion, diced
1lb chicken breasts
3 cloves garlic, minced
1tsp cumin
1/2tsp oregano
1tsp smoked paprika
1/2tsp chipotle powder
1tsp kosher salt
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 4oz can diced mild green chilis
4 cups chicken broth
2 15oz cans cannellini beans, drained
1 cup fire roasted corn, frozen
1 lime, juiced
5oz brie, rind removed and cubed
Directions
- Placed diced onions in the bottom of a slow cooker. Add the chicken on top.
- On top of the chicken, add the garlic, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, and salt. Then add the peppers (poblano, jalapeño, diced green chilis). Pour in the chicken broth. Add the beans and corn. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
- Once the chicken is cooked, take it out and shred it. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Add in the juice of one lime. Then add in the brie cheese and let it melt.
- Serve over bowls of rice with shredded cheese, diced jalapeños, sour cream, and corn chips as toppings.
Make Ahead and Hosting Notes
The chili can be cooked entirely in advance and kept warm on the slow cooker’s “warm” setting for up to 2 hours.
Add the brie right before serving for the best texture.
If reheating, warm gently and stir in the brie once hot.
Serve with bowls and toppings set out so guests can help themselves and customize. I like chili with rice, so a big bowl of white rice is always welcome.
Other topping ideas for the chili: avocado, corn chips, tortilla chips, hot sauce, shredded cheese, sliced jalapeños, green onions, fried onions or jalapeños, sour cream, pico de gallo
Why Brie Works So Well Here
Brie melts seamlessly into the chili, adding richness without overpowering the other flavors. It softens the spices, rounds everything out, and gives the chili a creamy, elegant finish that feels special enough for a dinner party, even though the recipe itself is incredibly simple.
It’s a small detail that makes a big difference. My kind of ingredient!
Hosting a Casual Dinner Party?
You’ve come to the right place! Check out my easy and laid back Casual Dinner Party Menu for 6 which features this chili, a simple arugula salad, and a fuss free classic–strawberry swirled brownies. I have lots of ideas for romantic entertaining, so check out my other recipes here. And come back for more hosting ideas, tips, and recipes in the coming weeks!
