Chili's Not Just About Beans & Beef, & These 40 Recipes Are Proof
As soon as the weather even thinks about turning colder, we start craving warm, comforting meals to warm us up when the weather turns cold. Step aside salads—we're turning to warming winter dinners like casseroles, soups, stews, and of course, chilis! Hearty and versatile, we love switching up this staple dish depending on what we're craving and what we have on hand. Feeling chilly? From classic recipes to creative variations, our 40 best chili recipes will have you cozying up to this hearty dish all winter long.
At its most basic, chili is a type of stew usually made out of beans, ground meat, spices, and tomatoes, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for creativity. Our beef chili is our most classic, but you can always change things up. You can make it with other ground meat, like in our white bean chicken chili or our turkey chili. Alternatively, skip the meat and bulk it out with extra beans or veggies, like in our vegan white bean chili, vegetarian, or pumpkin chilis. Not so into beans? Try our Texas chili, our Outback Steakhouse Tasmanian chili, or our chili con carne instead. Though chili is often made on the stove, it can be a long process—make it easier on yourself by making it in your slow-cooker or Instant Pot. Our recipes will make it taste like it’s been cooking for hours, but only take about 40 minutes.
Now you’ve got your chili recipes down, it’s time to mix them up with other comfort food classics. Macaroni & cheese is a perfect match, so we’ve included a number of variations on it here, like our one-pot vegetarian chili mac, our chili mac, and our mac & chili stew. Chili dogs are another fantastic option—check out our chili cheese dog casserole, our vegan chili dogs, our chili cheese dog sliders, or our chili cheese dog bread for variations on the theme.
Want more fall and winter recipes? Check out our top fall dinners, our best slow-cooker recipes, and our favorite Dutch oven recipes too.
White Chicken Chili
The white beans make it heartier than your average chicken noodle soup, the green chiles and jalapeño add just the right amount of spice, and a dollop of sour cream adds a tangy creaminess that keeps you coming back for more. Considering the whole thing comes together in less than an hour, it's a total weeknight dinner winner.
Get the White Chicken Chili recipe.
Chorizo Breakfast Chili
Are you looking to shake up your current breakfast repertoire? Tired of the same old eggs and toast? Give your mornings a spicy twist with chorizo breakfast chili. It’s a delicious way to turn the classic comfort food into a satisfying breakfast packed with flavor.
Get the Chorizo Breakfast Chili recipe.
Spicy Turkey Sausage & Kale Chili
This Italian-inspired stew is packed with spicy turkey sausage and leafy kale for a lighter take on chili. Go lighter on the chili powder and cayenne if you're not a huge fan of spice.
Get the Spicy Turkey Sausage & Kale Chili recipe.
Classic Chili
If you’re looking for the most classic chili to come home to after a long day, then this is the recipe for you. While many chili recipes call for simmering for at least an hour (sometimes even more), our best-ever beef chili can be made in just 40 minutes.
Get the Classic Chili recipe.
Chili-Stuffed Cornbread
Cheesy chili-stuffed cornbread is what happens when cornbread gets tired of being a sidekick and decides to break into a leading role. It’s hearty, a little messy, and unapologetically extra, the kind of dish that makes you wonder why you ever settled for plain in the first place.
Get the Chili-Stuffed Cornbread recipe.
One-Pot Greek Chicken Chili
Featuring tender pieces of dark meat chicken, creamy white beans, and tender veggies, this cozy Greek-inspired chili is the perfect filling-but-not-too-heavy dinner for those extra-chilly nights. Flavored with a bouquet of hearty herbs, this stew is easy to throw together in one pot for minimal mess and maximum flavor.
Get the One-Pot Greek Chicken Chili recipe.
Cincinnati Chili
From the classic Texas red to the New Mexican chile verde, there are nearly infinite varieties of classic American chili, but few are as unique as Cincinnati chili. If you’ve never heard of this classic variation, then get ready: With a tweaked sauce, spaghetti, and beans (on TOP of the chili), this recipe is anything but boring.
Get the Cincinnati Chili recipe.
Chili Cheese Dip
With just a little more cooking time than the average recipe, our version of chili cheese dip uses the added flavors of caramelized onion and jalapeño to spice up the classic creamy queso.
Get the Chili Cheese Dip recipe.
Vegan White Bean Chili
Whether you’re full-time vegan or just love a plant-based moment, vegan chili is where it’s at. This flavor-packed vegan spin on our white chicken chili has so much goodness going on and all of the fresh, crunchy toppings too
Get the Vegan White Bean Chili recipe.
Outback Steakhouse Tasmanian Chili
While we have tons of great chili recipes—white chicken, vegetarian, Instant Pot—this copycat Outback Steakhouse Tasmanian Chili stands out as one of the best. This Texas-style chili is loaded with tender pieces of steak, plenty of spices, and a thick tomato-chili base.
Get the Outback Steakhouse Tasmanian Chili recipe.
Turkey Chili
Wintertime means chili-time, and there is absolutely no reason why a turkey chili needs to be second to a more classic beef chili. This easy chili is full of warm spices and double the amount of beans for a thick, meaty chili that’s every bit as filling. Plus it’s more heart healthy!
Get the Turkey Chili recipe.
Copycat Wendy's Chili
Fun fact: Chili was one of the few original menu items that stood loud and proud when Wendy's first opened in 1969. Having it on the menu along with burgers, fries, and milkshakes allowed them to stand out from other fast food spots and helped them to eliminate food waste by using the leftover burger patties. Smart!
Get the Copycat Wendy's Chili recipe.
Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Casserole
If you think every bowl of chili should be hidden under mounds of melty cheese and a big dollop of sour cream, this is the casserole for you. With roasted sweet potatoes and black bean chili layered together under a gooey blanket of cheese, this easy vegetarian weeknight dinner is both incredibly comforting and surprisingly hearty.
Get the Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.
Slow-Cooker Quinoa Chili
Chili is a hearty, flavorful, and easy-to-make meal. This version will fit any vegan and gluten-free lifestyle while also having meat-eaters coming back for seconds. It’s perfect for using up leftover veggies from your fridge too, making it a great fridge cleanout meal.
Get the Slow-Cooker Quinoa Chili recipe.
Skillet Chili & Meatballs
Rather than crumbling the ground meat as in classic chili, you'll form those same elements into perfect meatballs. Bathed in a tasty chili sauce, the dish becomes a dip and an app all in one! Thanks to two cans of beans—one black and one kidney—this filling, hearty meal is perfect for a laid-back dinner too.
Get the Skillet Chili & Meatballs recipe.
Chili Cheese Dog Sliders
Pull-apart sliders are the best way to feed a hungry crowd, especially these inspired by chili dogs! We particularly love this recipe because you don't need to cook anything beforehand, and the whole process takes less than a half hour.
Get the Chili Cheese Dog Sliders recipe.
Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili
Having a big bowl of chili ready at the end of the day is what a perfect winter dinner is all about. This slow-cooker recipe makes serving up dinner as easy as possible, so you can have a warm and cozy bowl with very minimal effort (and dishes).
Get the Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.
Instant Pot Chili
Resist the temptation for a quick release once your Instant Pot timer goes off. Why? Chemical reactions take place while foods cook AND while they cool down. A longer cooling time means more time for those reactions to take place, augmenting flavor for best results.
Get the Instant Pot Chili recipe.
Instant Pot Chili
No more sweating over a hot stove, forever standing and stirring and standing and stirring…. okay, one thing you definitely want to do is to first sauté the veggies; that is a crucial step. After that, though, it's all set-it-and-forget-it ease.
Get the Instant Pot Chili recipe.
Vegan Chili
Sweet potato, black beans, pinto beans, and a whole bottle of beer (like Modelo) come together to make a super-hearty meatless chili.
Get the Vegan Chili recipe.
Walt Disney's Chili
Yep, this was Walt Disney’s favorite chili recipe, and it’s about to become yours too. It’s gotten a little spicier over the years, but it’s every bit as hearty as Walt’s original.
Get the Walt Disney's Chili recipe.
Chili Cheese Dog Casserole
Canned chili and crescent roll dough makes this recipe ridiculously easy. It can be served as a main course or as a fun addition to any game day party spread. If you've got a little more time on your hands, try it with homemade chili instead.
Get the Chili Cheese Dog Casserole recipe.
Slow-Cooker Beef Chili
Chili is already one of our favorite make-ahead, big-batch dinners, but it becomes a true hero of any meal plan when made in a slow cooker. This hearty chili, made with flavorful ground beef, a rich blend of spices, aromatics, and tomatoes, is exactly what we want when the weather cools.
Get the Slow-Cooker Beef Chili recipe.
Creamy Gochujang White Chicken Chili
This creamy, red-tinted spin on white chicken chili incorporates gochujang for a unique spin on a classic winter dinner. Gochujang, an umami-packed, sweet-savory Korean red chili paste, gives lots of chili flavor without adding a ton of heat, meaning this can be enjoyed by everyone in the family (even the spice-averse).
Get the Creamy Gochujang White Chicken Chili recipe.
Vegan Chili Dog
We have to be honest, these meatless chili dogs might be better than the meat-full version. Sure it's hard to replicate the snap of a true hot dog with plant-based ingredients, but this complex chili is truly world-changing. We see chili mac, tamale pie, and plenty of chili fries in your future.
Get the Vegan Chili Dog recipe.
Chili Con Carne
Looking for the best chili of your life? This chili is hefty with a sauce so good you'll want to lick every last drop. The secret is to cut the beef small and to get it nice and crispy before adding it to the chili. The sugar and vinegar will help offset the heat and make it truly irresistible.
Get the Chili Con Carne recipe.
One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac
Looking for a hearty weeknight dinner this fall? Our smoky vegetarian chili mac is here to save the day! It all comes together in one pot, and it's SUPER-versatile. Throw in your favorite bean and pasta shape, melt in your favorite cheese, and top with whatever you like, as long as it's crunchy.
Get the One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac recipe.
Crockpot White Chicken Chili
Our slow-cooker white chicken chili couldn't be easier, and we love the texture it takes on once the beans are partially mashed. It might feel weird to use a potato masher in your slow-cooker, but trust us, it's worth it! This hearty chili will keep you full all winter long.
Get the Crockpot White Chicken Chili recipe.
Vegetarian Chili
This vegetarian chili is every bit as warm, comforting, and filling as a classic beef chili. Three types of beans do the heavy lifting in this chili, helping to "beef" it up. It's filled with warm spices and as well as some jalapeño for a little extra heat, making it perfectly warm and cozy.
Get the Vegetarian Chili recipe.
Pumpkin Chili
This "pumpkin"chili recipe actually uses *plot twist* kabocha squash. It eats like a cross between butternut squash and a starchy sweet potato, complex with floral aromas and earthy chestnut notes that makes this chili something extra special.
Get the Pumpkin Chili recipe.
Keto Chili
Most Texans will tell you that beans do NOT belong in chili, so we felt just fine leaving both out of this keto version. Topped with fresh green onions, crispy bacon, and creamy avocado, this hearty stew is sure to please any crowd, keto or not.
Get the Keto Chili recipe.
Paleo Chili
Since fruits are tricky ingredients to navigate on a paleo diet, it might come as a surprise that you can eat tomatoes. They're relatively low on the glycemic index, so as long as you don't go overboard, you're good. Fire-roasted tomatoes + lots of chili powder, cumin, and oregano = big chili flavor.
Get the Paleo Chili recipe.
Sweet Potato Chili
Loaded with Italian sausage, sweet potatoes, and spices, this is a chili that will definitely warm you up without weighing you down. It might just become your new winter favorite.
Get the Sweet Potato Chili recipe.
Mac & Chili Stew
This is less a traditional stew and more of an amazing beef chili mixed with some macaroni and (lots) of cheese. It's hearty comfort food at its finest and would make an excellent addition to any tailgating session.
Get the Mac & Chili Stew recipe.
Chili Mac & Cheese
Mac & cheese remains one of our favorite meals no matter how old we get. This chili mac changes things up a bit and makes this a heftier meal that's very shareable. Make it in the dead of winter to warm your bones.
Get the Chili Mac & Cheese recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Chili
A good chicken chili is hard to beat. This version is BUFFALO-flavored, making it the best chili...ever? Make it for game day and watch your friends devour it.
Get the Buffalo Chicken Chili recipe.
Pulled Pork Chili
Pulled pork is one of our absolute favorite game-day foods. This chili brings all our favorite BBQ flavors to the front for a comforting meal that will please even the most rowdy of crowds.
Get the Pulled Pork Chili recipe.
Texas Chili
If you're not into beans in your chili, this recipe is for you. Serve with a hunk of Texas-sized cornbread for dipping!
Get the Texas Chili recipe.
Baked Chili and Biscuits
Want a hearty dinner but don't want to spend all night in the kitchen? Check out this recipe for chili skillet with a CHEDDAR. BISCUIT. TOP. Bonus: They're made easy peasy from refrigerated biscuit dough.
Get the Baked Chili & Biscuits recipe.
How do we make a chili dog as party friendly as pigs in a blanket? Well, the answer requires an unexpected ingredient: a baguette! Swapping the hot dog buns for a shareable, sliceable baguette ensures this classic street fair food is fit for a crowd.
Get the Chili Cheese Dog Bread recipe.
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