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25 Best Chili Recipes

Simmering chili in Instant Pots, stovetops, and slow cookers ushers in the cooler weather, and I’ve gathered some of the BEST CHILI RECIPES. It features hearty chili recipes with meat, chili with beans, no bean-chili, and vegetarian recipes. When you crave a cozy bowl of chili with all the toppings, you will FALL hard for the 25 best chili recipes!

A cover image for 25 best chili recipes.

What’s the Scoop on Chili?

As soon as the first leaf changes color (usually September 1st), my mind shifts to fall comfort food regardless of the weather. There is something soothing about a piping hot bowl of homemade chili, and it’s the perfect meal for potlucks, get-togethers, game nights, and cook-offs.

The 25 Best Chili Recipes

Chili is a hearty one-pot meal that’s easy to make and sure to feed a crowd. How to prepare the chili and what you include differs regionally, but we have a ton of variations to choose from.

1. Chili Con Carne with Beans

Chili in a small bowl.

Warm up with a heaping bowl of savory, southwest-style chili. Authentic chili con carne with beans features hearty beef chuck, black beans (gasp! I know), and a satisfying combination of chiles.

2. Chocolate Lamb Chili

A Dutch oven of chocolate lamb chili.

Chocolate lamb chili combines lamb stew meat, mixed beans, and smoky, rustic spices for a decadent meal you’ll love.

Photo Credit: Running to the Kitchen

Try karahi gosht, boneless leg of lamb roast, or lamb shoulder chops for more lamb recipes!

3. Dutch Oven Chili

Dutch oven chili with a spoon.

Easy dutch oven chili is a hearty and delicious dump and go recipe that’s perfect for gatherings, potlucks, or a comforting meal at home – you can also pack up the ingredients to make campfire chili for a cozy outdoor adventure.

4. Beef Chili

Chili in a bowl with toppings.

Make the best (award-winning) beef chili by combining simple ingredients like crispy bacon and ground beef. Like savory baked beans with hamburger, the chili simmers on the stovetop for 30 minutes.

Photo Credit: Sugar Spun Run

5. Sweet and Spicy Chili

Bowls of sweet and spicy chili.

Sweet and spicy chili is loaded with delicious beef and a perfect blend of warm spices to deliver an award-winning chili recipe to impress your family and friends!

Photo Credit: Salt and Baker

6. Turkey Chili

A Dutch oven with turkey chili.

Flavorful ground turkey chili satisfies even the heartiest of appetites. It’s packed with lean ground turkey, three kinds of beans, and a warm combination of spices.

Photo Credit: From Valerie’s Kitchen

7. Chili with Beans and Millet

Vegan chili in a bowl.

Make the best vegan chili with beans and millet! It’s a hearty and satisfying vegan chili – loaded with vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

Photo Credit: My Pure Plants

8. Butternut Squash Chickpea Chili

Butternut squash and chickpea chili in a bowl.

Prepare the butternut squash and chickpea chili recipe in your slow cooker or stovetop. The chili is brimming with fresh vegetables and plant-based protein.

Photo Credit: The Almond Eater

9. Spicy Chickpea Chili

Spicy chickpea chili in a bowl.

Spicy chickpea chili comes together in 10 minutes for a healthy, vegan, and gluten-free meal.

Photo Credit: I Heart Vegetables

10. White Chicken Chili

Instant pot white chicken chili in a small bowl.

This Instant Pot white chicken chili features layers of shredded chicken, creamy white beans, corn, and a well-spiced broth for a filling chili ready in less than an hour. 

11. Chili Verde

A cup of chili verde.

Make Instant Pot chili verde – juicy, tender chicken pieces pressure-cook in a tangy, savory homemade roasted green chili sauce.

Photo Credit: Pressure Cook Recipes

12. Pozole Rojo

A bowl of pozole rojo.

Instant Pot pozole rojo is a hearty chili made with tender pork and filling hominy, simmered in a flavorful dried-chile flavored broth, and garnished with fresh toppings. Serve the chili with warm corn tortillas or crispy tostadas

13. No Bean Turkey Chili

A bowl of turkey chili.

Hearty and healthy no-bean turkey chili is an easy meal prep recipe that simmers in the Instant Pot. Plus, the chili is gluten-freepaleo, and Whole30-approved.

Photo Credit: Clean Eating Kitchen

14. Vegetable Chili with Quinoa

Vegetarian chili in a Dutch oven.

Instant Pot vegetable chili with quinoa is an easy, comforting quick weeknight meal with black beans, quinoa, and veggies.

Photo Credit: Piping Pot Curry

15. Paleo Chili

Paleo chili in a Dutch oven.

Paleo chili recipe is right up there with traditional chili. It is filling and full of delicious flavor from the veggies and meat.

Photo Credit: Laura Fuentes

16. Low-Carb Keto Chili

Keto chili in a bowl.

Make no bean, keto chili in the Crock Pot, Instant Pot, or pressure cooker using simple ingredients.

Photo Credit: Wholesome Yum

17. Chicken Chili

A bowl of chicken chili.

Slow Cooker chicken chili is filled with zesty flavor and tender shredded chicken. It is a simple and healthy recipe the whole family will love!

Photo Credit: A Simple Palate

18. Beef Chili

Slow cooker chili in a bowl.

Slow Cooker beef chili is a crowd-pleaser that pairs perfectly with a buttery hunk of cornbread or Dutch oven sourdough bread.

Photo Credit: Belle of the Kitchen

19. Cincinnati Chili Copycat

A bowl of Cincinnati chili.

If you don’t have skyline chili near you and find yourself craving the comfort of an authentic Cincinnati chili, this is the recipe for you. Eat the chili as is, or serve it over spaghetti noodles.

Photo Credit: An Affair from the Heart

20. Bacon Cheeseburger Chili

A Dutch oven with cheeseburger chili.

Bacon cheeseburger chili combines two classic comfort foods into one tasty dish. The hearty chili recipe will be an instant favorite for all the burgers and chili lovers in your life. 

Photo Credit: 4 Sons R’ Us

21. Elk Chili

A bowl of elk chili.

Warm up with a bowl of homemade chili with ground elk. This chili is a healthy, easy, one-pot meal to serve alongside cornbread and all your favorite fixings.  

22. Fall Pumpkin Chili

Turkey pumpkin soup in a bowl.

Fall pumpkin chili is sure to help you through the cooler months. Prepare the chili with roasted and pureed pumpkin, or use prepared, canned pumpkin if you are in a pinch. For more pumpkin flavor, try carrot pumpkin soup – it’s delicious!

Photo Credit: Salt and Lavender

23. Five Bean Chili

A bowl of five bean chili.

This five-bean chili recipe is a perfect pantry clean-out meal and great when you need to feed a crowd. 

Photo Credit: Fuss Free Flavours

24. One Pot Chili Mac

Chili mac in a Dutch oven.

Healthy vegetarian chili mac is brimming with tangy beer, beans, pasta, olives, spices, and cheese for a one-pot meal that’s ready in 30 minutes.

Photo Credit: iFood Real

25. Turkey Pumpkin Chili

A heaping scoop of pumpkin chili.

Ground turkey pumpkin chili is quick, healthy, and easy to make. A generous bowl of this chili will warm you up this fall.

Photo Credit: Masala Herb

Tools You Need to Make Chili

  • Dutch Oven: One of the best investments a home cook can make is purchasing a quality Dutch oven. I use a Lodge Dutch oven, but many prefer Le Creuset.
  • Slow Cooker: There is something nice and homey about dumping all your ingredients into a Crockpot and leaving it to simmer for hours as the smell circulates through the house.
  • Instant Pot: An Instant Pot is one of the most used kitchen gadgets because it helps me prepare quick and easy meals. 

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Garnish Chili

  • Dairy: Sour Cream, Greek Yogurt, Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • Herbs: Chives, Scallions
  • Vegetables: Avocado, Jalapeños, Radishes, Lime Wedges, Cabbage, Onions, Pickled Onions, Sumac Onions

What to do with the Leftovers

The best chili recipes also make for delicious leftovers. And chili almost always tastes better the next day (but that’s just my opinion).

  • Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days, depending on the ingredients.
  • Freeze:Transfer the chili to a freezer-safe container or bag. Chili freezes for 2-3 months.
  • Thaw: Defrost the leftovers in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Reheat: Warm the chili on the stovetop or microwave, and enjoy!
  • Repurpose: Make walking nachos, chili and rice casserole, chili cheese fries, chili spaghetti squash casserole, chili dogs, chili and tater tot casserole, Frito chili pie, and chili cornbread casserole.

Frequently Asked Questions

What gives chili the best flavor?

The answer varies depending on who you ask, but follow my suggestions for what to add to make great-tasting chili.

Heat: Including fresh or dried chiles, hot sauce, chili paste, and spices like red pepper flakes, ancho chili powder, and chipotle powder is a great way to add flavor.

Acid: Add a fresh pop of acidity, such as white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice brighten savory chili recipes.

Fat: Saute meat and vegetables in oil and butter or stir in shredded cheese and cream cheese. Fatty cuts of meat like chuck roast and pork shoulder can lend additional flavor. 

Alcohol: Deepen the flavor of chili with a splash of wine, beer, cider, and whiskey. 

Sweetener: A little brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or chocolate is an excellent way to balance the natural acidity of tomato-based chili.

Secret Ingredients: Recipe developers and home cooks swear by secret ingredients to take the flavor of chili to the next level. A few of my favorites are coffee, chocolate, fish sauce, marmite, or Worcestershire sauce. You can also include warm spices like ground cinnamon, garam masala, taco seasoning, Slap Ya Mama seasoning, or ground nutmeg. 

What’s the best protein for chili?

The possibilities are endless when it comes to the best protein for chili. Use traditional ground beef or try ground turkey, deer, elk, or chicken for a low-calorie option. If you crave something more hearty, include a chuck roastbrisket, short rib, or lamb.

Shredded meat like chickenturkey, and pork are a great addition to chili recipes. Use lentils or beans for plant-based protein or to make chili more filling. And I get it – whether to include beans (or not) is a hot topic, but they have their place. Here are some of the best beans for chili!

More Soup, Stew, and Chili Recipes:

Did you try this recipe?
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Bianca

Saturday 17th of September 2022

I have already tried 3 of these recipes and they're all amazing! Can't wait to try even more from the list!

Tressa Jamil

Saturday 17th of September 2022

Three, oh man! You are quite the achiever. I am glad this list of recipes was helpful to you.

Giangi

Saturday 17th of September 2022

I shared this post with my husband, who is the Chili lover in the family and loves to cook. The only food he will cook is chili. He made Instant Pot Chili Verde, and he was happy to have found a great recipe; we all love it. Thank you for all the suggestions. Each recipe looks amazing.

Tressa Jamil

Saturday 17th of September 2022

I haven't tried that one yet, but it looks so good! Thanks for checking out the post and sharing it with your husband. I hope it passes the chili-lover's test.

fede

Tuesday 13th of September 2022

Your chili con carne was amazing. Can't wait to try more of these recipes you mentioned.

Tressa Jamil

Saturday 17th of September 2022

Chili con carne is one of my most treasured recipes; I am happy you enjoyed it.

Lynne

Monday 12th of September 2022

The chili mac and cheese is my kiddos favorite! I will be referencing this round up all football season!

Tressa Jamil

Saturday 17th of September 2022

Yes, we come back to it almost every Sunday!