Description
Cajun White Chicken Chili takes everything bold and comforting about classic white chicken chili and turns up the flavor with andouille sausage, plump shrimp, the Cajun holy trinity of vegetables, and a punchy blend of Cajun spices.
Ingredients
FOR THE CHILI
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
12 oz andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
12 oz medium raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cans (15 oz each) white beans (Great Northern or cannellini), drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen or canned corn, drained
1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
2 tablespoons olive oil
THE CAJUN TRINITY AND AROMATICS
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
CAJUN SPICE BLEND
1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt, black pepper, and cayenne to taste
FOR SERVING
Sour cream, shredded cheese, sliced green onions
Cornbread or crusty bread
Hot sauce on the side
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the sliced andouille sausage and cook 3 to 4 minutes without stirring until the cut sides develop a deep golden-brown crust. Remove the browned sausage to a plate, leaving all the rendered fat in the pot.
2. Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and celery to the pot with the sausage drippings. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes until softened and fragrant. Add the minced garlic and stir constantly for 1 more minute.
3. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces along with the Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, cumin, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Stir well so the spices coat the chicken and vegetables evenly. Cook 3 to 4 minutes until the chicken is lightly golden on the outside.
4. Pour in the chicken broth. Stir in the drained white beans, corn, diced green chiles, and browned andouille sausage. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a steady simmer. Use the back of a large spoon to mash about one-quarter of the beans against the side of the pot — this thickens the broth naturally.
5. Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chili thickens to your preferred consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning — this chili should be bold and punchy.
6. Stir in the raw shrimp and cook 2 to 3 minutes just until they curl into a C-shape and turn pink and opaque. The moment all the shrimp are pink, ladle the chili into bowls immediately. Garnish with sour cream, green onions, and shredded cheese. Serve with cornbread and hot sauce on the side.
Notes
Add shrimp last and watch them closely — they go from plump and sweet to rubbery and tight in under a minute. Pull the pot off heat the moment every shrimp turns pink and curls into a C-shape.
Mash at least 1/4 of the white beans against the pot during simmering — this natural starch thickens the broth into a creamy, restaurant-quality consistency without any cornstarch or flour.
Add 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar right before serving — this brightens all the smoky, spiced flavors and makes the whole bowl taste more vivid and alive.
Brown the andouille deeply in step 1 — that golden crust builds the flavor foundation the entire chili is built on.
Make the chili a day ahead without the shrimp — the Cajun spices deepen and meld overnight into something noticeably more complex and delicious.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Soup, Chili
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun, Southern American