Sauté: Bring a large dutch oven (5.5 quarts) to a medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons butter to melt. Add the Anaheim pepper, red onion, and 1 tablespoon minced garlic. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until slightly softened.
Flour + Broth: Add a 1/4 cup flour and stir to coat the veggies and make a bit of a paste. Slowly pour in the chicken broth, about a 1/2 cup at a time, mixing continuously. Keep pouring the broth until it is all added.
Cook Chicken: Bring the pot to a simmer and add the chicken thighs. Let simmer until fully cooked; about 15 minutes (or until their internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F - use a meat thermometer).
Make Mexican Street Corn: While the chicken cooks, put all of the ingredients for the Mexican Street Corn in a large bowl. Mix to fully combine.
Combine: Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the pot and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot along with the cannellini beans, green chiles, 1/3 cup creamer, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Mix to combine.
Cream Cheese: Cut the softened block of cream cheese into large cubes and add them to the pot. Mix and let it simmer until it is fully melted.
Add Street Corn: Reserve about a 1/4 of this mixture for serving. Carefully add the rest to the pot of chili. Mix again to combine. Taste, adjust any seasonings as desired.
Serve: Enjoy with your desired toppings and some of the reserved street corn!
Video
Notes
Dairy Free: use plant-based butter and dairy free alternatives for the cream cheese & feta cheese.
Gluten-Free: use a 1-to1 gluten free flour.
Chicken Thighs: option to use chicken breasts, but they may need to simmer a bit longer to be fully cooked.
Beans: feel free to use 2 cans of beans if you want!
Cream Cheese: I have found through testing that using a high-quality cream cheese really does result in a better soup - it just melts better and is less ... chunky!
Storage: leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Slow Cooker Version (see blog post for full notes): Complete Step 1 and Step 2 (use 1/3 cup flour instead of 1/4) in a Dutch oven and then transfer to a large slow cooker (this makes a lot!). Add remaining White Chicken Chili ingredients to slow cooker. Cook on LOW 6 hours. Meanwhile make the Mexican Street Corn, refrigerate until later. Uncover slow cooker and shred chicken, return to slow cooker along with 3/4 of the Mexican Street Corn (reserve 1/4 for serving) and the cream cheese. Stir and then cover and let sit approx. 30 minutes or until cream cheese has melted. Uncover, stir and then serve!
Slow Cooker Prep Note: I tested putting the Mexican Street Corn in the slow cooker right away and it did turn out just fine, I just think adding it towards the end of the cook time will result in a fresher-tasting dish - but if you need to add it at the beginning, go for it - it will be fine. I just wouldn't recommend cooking it on HIGH.