Chili is one of those dinners that gets requested by name once the temperature actually drops. These are the versions that hold up.
Most go in the slow cooker or come together in about 30 minutes, so pick whichever fits the night.
Chili is a slow simmered stew of meat or beans with tomatoes, chili powder and cumin, cooked long enough for the spices to mellow and the liquid to thicken. Below are my own chicken and vegetarian versions, plus the beef chilis I go to on other blogs.
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Chicken Chili
Lighter than beef, still hearty.
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Chicken Chili With White Beans
Viral Crock Pot White Chicken Chili With Cream Cheese
Vegetarian Chili
No meat, no shortage of flavor.
Pumpkin Chili (30-Minutes!)
30 Minute Vegetarian Chili (With Secret Ingredient!)
Beef Chili
I do not have a classic beef chili of my own yet, so these are the three I actually cook from, all credited to the blogs they came from.
Chili Cheese Dog Casserole, Oven or Grill
Hot Dog Chili Sauce
Classic Beef Chili
Stovetop Classic Beef Chili
Slow Cooker Beef Chili
How To Make Any Chili Taste Better
- Brown the meat or build fond in the dry pot first, then deglaze. That browned layer is most of the flavour.
- Add the chili powder and cumin to the hot fat for thirty seconds before any liquid goes in, so the spices bloom.
- Simmer uncovered for at least twenty minutes longer than you think you need, until it thickens and stops tasting raw.
- Season at the end with salt and a splash of acid, lime or vinegar, which sharpens everything up.
My Best Tips for Better Chili
A few things make chili taste like it simmered all day, even when it did not.
- Brown or sear before the liquid goes in. Browning chicken or building fond in the pot first adds real depth that a straight dump-and-simmer chili misses.
- Let it simmer longer than you think it needs. Even 15 extra minutes helps the spices bloom and the flavors come together, chili almost always tastes better the longer it sits.
- Layer in the spices, do not dump them all at once. Adding chili powder and cumin early, then adjusting with a bit more near the end, builds a rounder flavor than one big dump.
- Set out toppings and let everyone build their own bowl. Sour cream, shredded cheese, and green onion turn a pot of chili into a whole meal people can customize.
What is the best chili for a crowd?
A slow cooker chicken chili is easiest for a crowd, it holds on warm for hours without drying out.
Can chili be made vegetarian without losing flavor?
Yes, beans and a good spice base carry a lot of the work, pumpkin or extra vegetables add body in place of meat.
How long should chili simmer?
At least 20 to 30 minutes on the stove, or several hours in a slow cooker, longer simmering deepens the flavor noticeably.
What do you serve with chili?
Cornbread, a baked potato or a simple slaw all work. I have a whole list of ideas in what to serve with chili.
More Cozy Dinners
Before You Go
For more see Fall Slow Cooker Recipes and Cozy Soup Recipes for Sweater Weather.
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