64 Best Chili Recipes

Whether you love chili con carne, verde, white with chicken, without beans, with a variety of beans, over spaghetti, or so hot you need milk to wash it down, you'll find the dish you're looking for here.

A chili dish for everyone

We believe there's no wrong way to make chili. Sure, purists would say there's only one right way (with a handful of very specific ingredients), but we've tried enough variations to confidently say that some of the best chilis have included some pretty unexpected ingredients. It's no wonder chili is perfect when you need something special. feed a crowd of guests, who came to watch a sports match. It's easy to prepare (especially if you have a slow cooker), and there are so many variations of this Tex-Mex classic, you're sure to find one your guests will love. Start with Ree Drummond's most popular recipe. This simple, delicious chili is a sure-fire winner!

Recipe: Simple but perfect chili

BBQ Beef Chili

Wrap yourself in a cozy blanket and melt away the day's stress with a hot bowl of spicy chili. It's a treat you can't deny yourself!

Recipe: Chili with ground beef and barbecue sauce

30-Minute Turkey Chili

This is the quickest chili: all the ingredients are added to the pan and simmered.

Recipe: 30-Minute Turkey Chili

Chili in a slow cooker

A touch of coffee adds depth of flavor to this simple yet original chili that takes less than an hour to prepare.

Recipe: Chili with ground beef in a slow cooker

White Chili with Chicken in a Slow Cooker

The best chilis are those simmered for a long time over low heat. That's why we love this recipe from Ree. It's slow-cooked for 7.5 hours, giving the flavors time to develop and the chicken to perfection.

Recipe: White Chili with Chicken in a Slow Cooker

Keto Chili

This beef chili stew is incredibly flavorful thanks to homemade chili pepper puree and butternut squash that infuses the meaty flavor.

Recipe: Healthy Chili with Beef and Pumpkin

Venison Chili with Cornbread

Try Tyler's recipe as an alternative to beef, chicken, or turkey chili. It uses venison and sweet-and-spicy jalapeño cornbread for serving.

Recipe: Venison Chili and Jalapeño Cornbread

Chili con carne in a cauldron

Beef and pork shoulder are simmered until tender in a broth seasoned with garlic and chili powder. This dish will be even more delicious if prepared a day in advance, refrigerated, and then reheated.

Recipe: Chili con carne cooked in a cauldron

Chili Cornbread Casserole

Cornbread is pierced and then filled with rich red chili, creating layers of meat and sweetness. Topped with a classic combination of cheese, sour cream, jalapeño, and green onions, it's an easy treat for a crowd.

Recipe: Cornbread with chili topping

Beef Shoulder Chili

Tyler's recipe uses large pieces of beef, which he cooks until tender with lots of aromatic spices.

Recipe: Beef Shoulder Chili

Chili with Butternut Squash

Melissa De Arabian says, "Winter calls for something hearty. This chili is incredibly filling and comforting."

Recipe: Butternut Squash Chili

Oven-Baked Vegetable Chili with Cornbread

Since this chili is baked on a baking sheet, it takes very little time. Plus, who doesn't love freshly baked bread?

Recipe: Oven-baked chili with vegetables and corn buns

Chili with beef and pork

The Neelys make a hearty beef chili that makes a great centerpiece for a buffet. Serve with garnishes like lime wedges, sour cream, grated cheese, and green onions.

Recipe: Chili with beef and pork

Bean-Free Chili in a Slow Cooker

Now you can cook meat chili with a harmonious, rich flavor in half the time in a slow cooker.

Recipe: Keto chili in a slow cooker

Bean-Free Beef Chili in a Slow Cooker

Sandra uses chili powder, red pepper flakes, and cinnamon to add a vibrant flavor. Serve with spicy sour cream.

Recipe: Bean-Free Beef Shoulder Chili in a Slow Cooker

Spicy Chili Chicken Curry

This spicy dish is a great change from your usual chili. Ground chicken and crushed chickpeas are seasoned with spices, jalapeños, and Sriracha sauce. Cooling yogurt and tart lime perfectly complement the fiery chili.

Recipe: Chili with chicken curry and sriracha sauce

White chili with chicken

The Neelys' White Chicken Chili is a great alternative to tomato-based soups and stews. Jalapeños, poblano peppers, and chili powder add a Latin American flavor. For a vibrant finishing touch, add sour cream, crushed corn chips, and a wedge of lime.

Recipe: White Chili with Grilled Chicken

Texas chili

Guy masterfully prepares dishes with rich, bold flavors. In this case, it's a fiery Texas chili with five types of peppers and a bottle of Mexican beer.

Recipe: Texas Chili "Male"

Chili with ribeye steak

Ribeye, a marbled cut of beef, contains more fat than ground beef or turkey, resulting in a very tender, deep-flavored steak. To maximize the steak's flavor, Valerie roasts peppers in the juices left over from cooking.

Recipe: Chili with beef and beans

Chili with pork and Mexican tomatoes

Make this chili ahead of time and you'll have lunch in the freezer for the next three weeks. To reheat, transfer to a saucepan, add a little water, and defrost over medium heat.

Recipe: Tomatillo Chili (no beans)

Red chili with beef

Bobby uses his signature techniques to create this chili full of rich, savory flavors. Onions and chili peppers are sautéed in reduced beer and chocolate, and maple syrup is added for a touch of sweetness at the end. A dollop of sour cream with toasted cumin makes a delicate, refreshing complement to the spicy dish.

Recipe: Red chili with beef

Chili with beef ribs and tortillas

Aaron sears boneless ribs, then braises them until tender. Bell peppers, onions, beans, and carefully selected spices complete the dish. Garnish with sour cream, guacamole, cheese, and toasted tortilla strips.

Recipe: Chili Beef Fajitas Soup

Chili con carne

The flavor of this meaty chili with ground beef and bacon is enhanced by amber beer.

Recipe: Chili con carne with beer

Spicy Vegetarian Chili

Most vegetarian chili is made with beans, but this unusual recipe uses cauliflower.

Recipe: Spicy Vegetarian Chili

Texas-Style Chili

Tyler's Texas chili is incredibly flavorful: seared beef combines with garlic, chipotle and jalapeño peppers, tomatoes, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and Mexican chocolate. Top this hearty dish with queso fresco, cilantro, and lime.

Recipe: Texas chili

Chili with black beans, lentils and eggplant

A mix of pasilla, chipotle, poblano, and cascabel peppers adds a fiery kick to this hearty vegetarian chili.

Recipe: Chili with black beans, lentils and eggplant

Red Texas Chili

Chili in Texas is practically a religion, with one key principle: the simpler, the better. That means no beans and often no tomatoes—just beef and spices. "Texas Red," as the locals call it, gets its distinctive deep red color from chili powder (a spice blend typically including paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper). Texans cook chili long and at a low temperature, much like barbecue, until the dish thickens and the meat is tender.

Recipe: Texas Red Chili

Quick White Chili with Chicken

Ree's secret to quick chili is a pressure cooker!

Recipe: Quick White Chili with Chicken

Cincinnati-Style Chili

Chili in Cincinnati is unlike any other: it's served on spaghetti. Greek restaurateurs, who invented the dish in the 1920s, added the same spices as moussaka. It's unclear why chili began to be served with pasta, but everyone in the city knows how to order it: "double" (chili and spaghetti), "triple" (plus cheese), "quad" (plus chopped onion), or "five" (plus beans).

Recipe: Cincinnati Chili with Pasta

Turkey and Bell Pepper Chili

A large bell pepper will add a bright pop of color to the chili and soften the heat. Rachael Ray also adds a little barbecue sauce to the dish.

Recipe: Autumn Turkey Chili Sauce

New Mexico-Style Green Chili Soup

A signature New Mexico chili is known as green chili stew: it's a mildly spicy soup made with pork and green chilies. Traditionalists insist it should be made with Hatch chilies (grown in the village of the same name in New Mexico), known for their distinctive flavor and medium heat.

Recipe: Green chili pepper stew with pork

Chili with pork and corn dumplings

To make the dumplings for this hearty dish, all you need is masa harina, salt, and butter.

Recipe: Chili with pork and corn dumplings

Chili with beef and beans

The secret ingredient in this beef chili is espresso shot. Garnish the finished dish with sour cream and diced avocado.

Recipe: Chili con carne with beans

Chili with Mexican chorizo and turkey

If you're looking for an alternative to chicken and beef chili, try Rachel's recipe. It calls for turkey and Mexican chorizo—a savory sausage made from ground pork and flavored with chili peppers.

Recipe: Mexican Chili with Chorizo and Turkey

Chili with chicken and corn

For a hearty chicken dish, use green chilies and pinto beans.

Recipe: Braised Chili Chicken with Beans and Corn

Cincinnati-Style Chili with Spaghetti Squash

This is a new take on Cincinnati chili: spaghetti squash with chili, plus cheddar cheese, onions, and beans.

Recipe: Cincinnati Chili with Spaghetti Squash

Spicy chili with beef

The recipe uses few liquid ingredients, so each serving is rich and meaty. This chili can be prepared up to two days in advance—perfect for parties and get-togethers with friends.

Recipe: Spicy chili with beef

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Cocoa powder and chili might seem like a mismatch, but in this mole-inspired version, the cocoa adds depth of flavor and helps thicken the sauce. We suggest serving the chili with tortilla chips, but cornbread would also work well.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Four Bean Chili

Why use just one legume when you can have four? Combine black beans, red beans, chickpeas, and pinto beans for this hearty chili.

Recipe: Four Bean Chili

Skillet Chili with Cornbread

Make chili, bake cornbread, and serve dinner all in one skillet. The steam rising from the hot, deep red chili gives the cornbread topping an airy texture.

Recipe: Skillet Chili with Cornbread

White chili with roasted garlic

12 cloves of garlic may seem like a lot, but roasted garlic becomes soft and sweet, making it the perfect base for Melissa's white chili. Add flavorful and hearty ingredients like white beans, spinach, and chicken.

Recipe: White Chili with Roasted Garlic

Quick Hot Chili

This beefy chili, infused with beer and chipotle peppers, takes just 40 minutes to cook, yet tastes like it's been simmering all day.

Recipe: Quick Hot Chili

Chili with beef and three types of beans

This chili from Ellie is inexpensive, but very tasty.

Recipe: Chili with ground beef and three types of beans

Pressure Cooker Chili

Using a pressure cooker, you can make Alton's chili in less than an hour. Corn chips help thicken the dish, while beer and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce add a smoky flavor.

Recipe: Pressure Cooker Chili Without Beans

Chili with Beef, Black Beans, and Avocado Relish

Every spoonful of this dish is packed with flavor thanks to the variety of peppers. Bobby's hearty chili features spicy beef and canned tomatoes (they have the perfect texture). To cut the heat, serve with Mexican sour cream and avocado.

Recipe: Beef and Black Bean Chili with Creamy Vegetable Sauce

Chili with beef brisket

Ina and her friend Devon make a delicious beef brisket chili. When frying the meat, don't add too many pieces to the pan, otherwise they'll start to brown. Brown each side: this is crucial to the flavor of the final dish.

Recipe: A Win-Win Chili Beef Goulash for Football Fans

Chili with pasta

When watching a game, you don't want to spend too much time in the kitchen. This meat chili with pasta and vegetables from Rachel, seasoned with a unique spice blend, takes just 15 minutes to prepare.

Recipe: Chili pasta

Chili con carne with dark beer

When cooking meat, sauté tomato paste in the oil and fat from the pork and beef; it caramelizes, enhancing the flavor. Geoffrey Zakarian adds another layer of flavor by adding dark beer.

Recipe: Chile for fans

Vegetarian chili with mushrooms

A feast for vegetarians! Rachel offers a hearty vegetable chili recipe that even meat eaters will love.

Recipe: Vegetarian chili with mushrooms

Chili with chorizo sausage

The key ingredient in this sports fan dish is smoked Mexican chorizo. Sunny mashes it into pieces in a large pot using a potato masher.

Recipe: Chili snack for sports fans

Beef and Pork Chili with Cornbread

Toasting spices like chili powder and cumin releases their flavors, enhancing the flavors of all the ingredients. Nancy adds oven-roasted tomatoes, but you can use store-bought ones, too.

Recipe: Chili and Homemade Cornbread

Slow Cooker Chili with Corn Chips

This chili practically cooks itself and is a lifesaver on a workday. The sweet barbecue sauce is mild enough to please kids, and they'll love the corn chips!

Recipe: Chili in a slow cooker

Turkey and Three Bean Chili

If you're looking for a quick and easy chili recipe with a rich flavor, try this version. It takes about an hour to cook and offers the perfect combination of flavors: aromatic onions and garlic, spicy green chilies, and savory ground turkey.

Recipe: Turkey Chili

Chili with beef and pumpkin

The secret to Sunny's chili is a common ingredient in fall baking: pumpkin pie spice! It imparts a deep, rich, seasonal flavor that pairs perfectly with butternut squash.

Recipe: Beef and Butternut Squash Chili

Chili "Dragon's Breath"

Guy's Southwestern-style chili is loaded with spices and has a unique, multi-faceted flavor.

Recipe: Chili "Dragon's Breath"

Chili with pork and pumpkin

Transform your usual chili with new flavors: pumpkin, pork and beer.

Recipe: Chili with pork and pumpkin

Chili with chicken

Aina's wonderful chili contains chicken pieces, peppers, tomatoes and basil.

Recipe: Chili with chicken

Spicy Chili with Three Beans

This vegetarian chili gets its rich flavor not from a long simmer on the stovetop, but from caramelized tomato paste and warming herbs. The heat can be enhanced with hot salsa or adobo paste (though the chili itself is quite spicy). Add corn for a subtle sweetness, or canned hominy corn for a unique, chunky chili.

Recipe: Spicy vegetable chili with beans

Green chili with pork

Braised pork shoulder, jalapeño, and red onion infuse this dish with a bold, meaty flavor that's enlivened by tart Mexican tomatoes.

Recipe: Green chili with pork

Turkey and Hot Pepper Chili

Poblano peppers are spicy but not overly hot, making them perfect for a chili for a crowd. Rachel tops the dish with grated cheddar, crispy bacon, and crumbled corn muffins.

Recipe: White Turkey Chili

Vegan Lentil Chili

With hearty lentils, beans, and vegetables, this vegan chili is just as comforting as the meaty version.

Recipe: Vegan Lentil Chili

Chili with beef and beans

A simple chili with a rich flavor! The secret is in the long simmer over low heat (over an hour, at a gentle simmer): the flavors meld, and the beef becomes incredibly tender.

Recipe: Beef with red beans

Chili with beef and pork

Don't discard the chili pepper seeds when making this recipe; they add a nice kick to the meat chili.

Recipe: Chili with beef and pork

Slow Cooker Chicken and Bean Chili

A slow cooker allows you to quickly achieve the characteristic texture and flavor of dishes simmered on the stovetop. A generous dose of spices and canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce provide a balanced flavor with a smoky note. Serve the chili with familiar toppings: lime juice, fresh cilantro, avocado, cheddar, and sour cream.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and White Bean Chili