29 of the Best Cozy Chili Recipes to Keep You Warm All Season Long (2024)

Looking for a new favorite chili recipe? Or maybe you need a new chili recipe for a game day party. We've got delicious homemade chili recipes ready for you to try! Ideas for spicy chili recipes, vegetarian chili recipes, and creamy chicken chili recipes will inspire your next meal. With these takes on chili, you'll have plenty of options to keep you warm and cozy throughout the cool fall and winter months.

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Copycat Turkey Chili

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29 of the Best Cozy Chili Recipes to Keep You Warm All Season Long (1)

Our Test Kitchen's turkey chili recipe is inspired by the famous Panera version you love ordering. With mostly cans involved in the long ingredient list, this (almost) dump dinner comes together in less than an hour, so it's perfect for busy weeknights. As one BHG reviewer raves, "This is one of the chili recipes we make on repeat come fall and winter because everyone loves it."

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Classic Chili

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Rich, chunky, and filled with flavor, this traditional beef chili recipe is a classic for a reason. In fact, it's been a Better Homes & Gardens fan-favorite for decades. Add an extra sprinkle of cheese and a dollop of sour cream for a creamy finish.

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Spicy White Chili

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A pinch of cayenne delivers mild heat, while shredded Monterey Jack cheese and sour cream enrich the white-bean broth. To make this soup budget-friendly and hearty, make it a turkey chili recipe by using up your leftover Thanksgiving bird. Or if you've got a rotisserie chicken on hand, use that for easy prep.

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Texas Chuck Roast Chili

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29 of the Best Cozy Chili Recipes to Keep You Warm All Season Long (4)

This Texas chili recipe gets tons of meaty flavor from a boneless beef chuck roast. Though if you'd prefer ground beef, there's info on how to substitute it. To achieve the thick texture, we've added some Masa Harina (corn flour) to the base. Use the instructions for the slow cooker version or the pressure cooker version to best suit your schedule.

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Jalapeño Popper Chili

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29 of the Best Cozy Chili Recipes to Keep You Warm All Season Long (5)

If you love ordering jalapeño poppers, this creamy chili recipe is perfect for you. Adding fresh jalapeños, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese to the chili echoes the flavors of the game-day favorite. Top each bowl with a piece of crispy bacon for extra texture and flavor.

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Chili-Pasta Skillet

Chili-Pasta Skillet

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For a chili recipe that's extra hearty, add just a little bit of pasta. Two ounces is all that's called for here so the recipe is still a chili recipe at its core, but with a flourish of a macaroni for a family-friendly change-up.

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Beef and Bean Chili

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A generous handful of corn chips is the crunchy accent on this easy chili recipe. It takes only 10 minutes to simmer and blend flavors of beef, onions, tomato, jalapeño chile peppers, and beans. Oh, and this one's got a special ingredient (chocolate!) to give it a rich, deep flavor.

Pork Rib Chili with Corn Bread

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This is one of our more unusual chili recipes but it looks and tastes familiar, so it's a low-risk new recipe to add to your repertoire. What makes it unusual? For starters pork ribs are the meat used instead of ground meat. Then we also add fresh poblano peppers and a bit of brewed coffee (yes, coffee) for deep flavor. Everything comes together in your slow cooker—even the corn bread, which you add for the last hour.

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Two-Tomato Stew Chili

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29 of the Best Cozy Chili Recipes to Keep You Warm All Season Long (9)

This beef chili packs a two-tomato wallop with both dried and canned tomatoes. We've also thrown in some extra veggies (carrots, green chiles, and onions) for good measure. Crushed red pepper adds bite, balanced by mild and sweet red and green chiles.

Test Kitchen Tip: No chili seasoning on hand? Raid your spice cabinet and make your own with our homemade chili seasoning recipe.

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Veggie Chili Verde with Seitan Crumbles and Lager

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29 of the Best Cozy Chili Recipes to Keep You Warm All Season Long (10)

Ground seitan (wheat gluten) gives this vegan chili recipe a "meaty" texture even carnivores can enjoy. Give your chili bowl an extra punch of flavor by topping with fresh cilantro, green onion, and cherry tomatoes. Since this is a beer chili, you should probably serve it with some cold brews.

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In-Your-Sleep Chili

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29 of the Best Cozy Chili Recipes to Keep You Warm All Season Long (11)

This simple chili recipe is true to its name: anyone can make it. Grab your five ingredients and throw them in the slow cooker for a meal so easy, you could practically make this one in your sleep. All you'll need is your favorite toppings and you're ready to dig in.

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Southwestern Meatball Chili

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Bookmark this quick weeknight meal. Refrigerated meatballs, frozen mixed veggies, quick-chopped tomatoes, and spices are all you need for a family-pleasing chili dinner in less than 30 minutes.

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Winter Woods Chili

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For a chili that's sure to satisfy the meat-lovers in your family, try this recipe: It combines beef and bacon. Mix the classic cheddar topper with fresh oregano for a new twist. If you wind up with leftovers, try freezing it for another chilly night in the future.

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Pork and Poblano Green Chili

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To keep this green chili recipe extra green, use poblano peppers and a green bell pepper in addition to the salsa verde (that's green salsa). Then top with fresh cilantro for a bright green garnish, if you like.

Chunky Vegetable Chili

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No need to worry about a veggie side dish when you make this produce-filled meatless chili recipe. Zucchini, bell pepper, onion, celery, tomatoes, and corn are all included in the hearty mix. Add your favorite toppers to complete each bowl.

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Game Day Chili

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There are few dishes that scream football season as chili does. Get your home tailgate party going with this delicious slow cooker chili recipe. The beef chili is accompanied by some sweet and smoky spices. Bittersweet chocolate and dried plums sweeten and thicken the mix while balancing the spiciness in this all-time favorite game day recipe.

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Harvest Chili

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With harvest in the name, this is obviously one seasonal recipe you don't want to skip. Cayenne and chili powder add heat to the mix of chicken-apple sausage, butternut squash, and Granny Smith apples. Ladle it onto a bed of polenta for a satisfying one-dish dinner.

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Mexican-Inspired Chili

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Add bigger flavor to your chili by using Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, diced green chiles, and plenty of chili powder and cumin. We love letting the flavors come together for hours in the slow cooker, but you could also cook this recipe on the stovetop, if you prefer.

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Vegetarian Green Chili

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Cilantro, spinach, edamame, and green onions send a healthy message in this vegetarian chili recipe. Oh, and it's also got some rice and creamy avocado to make it extra filling. A jar of salsa verde is a time-saving ingredient that makes this chili unique.

Healthy Soups, Stews, and Chilis to Warm You from the Inside Out

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New World Chili

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For a pleasing twist on slow cooker chili, try this pumpkin-packed turkey chili recipe that also stars dried cranberries and jalapeño peppers. It's a fall recipe you'll definitely make every year (if not more!).

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Pineapple Pork Chili

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Pineapple in chili may sound like one of the more unique chili recipes out there, but the balance of slightly sweet with the spice and succulence of chili is a flavor combo you'll want to try. The pineapple garnish is optional, so the only "special" ingredient you need is pineapple salsa. By the way, the entire recipe requires only 5 ingredients!

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Kickin' Chicken Chili

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Try something new with chicken breasts. Here they contribute to a terrific chili recipe, especially when mixed with green salsa, bell peppers, onion, beans, and diced tomatoes. Make this one on a Sunday and enjoy the leftovers for easy lunches the next few days.

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Slow Cooker Cheesy Chili Mac

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Two childhood classics (macaroni and chili) combine in this easy one-pot dinner. And with the help of your Instant Pot or slow cooker, this recipe couldn't get much easier! Just remember to cook the pasta separately and save it for serving time so it doesn't get mushy. Top with corn chips for some crunch.

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Pulled Pork Skillet Chili

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Chili can be made on a skillet, too. Hearty and flavorful, this chili will warm you on even the most blustery of winter evenings. What really sets this dish apart, however, is the brilliant addition of cornbread dumplings right on top of your dish.

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Wasatch Mountain Chili

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Hominy, chicken, and Great Northern beans create a tantalizing trio for your tastebuds in this jazzed up white chili recipe. For even more flavor, dress up each serving with green salsa, tortilla chips, and fresh cilantro. Bonus: this quick-cooking chili only takes 15 minutes to prepare.

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Southwestern White Chili

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You can have this easy chili recipe on the table in just 30 minutes. The weeknight meal is filled with chili-staples like beans, chiles, and chicken. Top each bowl with shredded Monterey jack cheese.

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Summer Chili

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This quick chili recipe is a pantry favorite. In just 20 minutes, you'll have a comforting bowl filled with ingredients you likely already have on hand. Toss canned beans, frozen corn, and canned tomatoes into the pot to create a new take on classic chili.

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All-American Chili

All-American Chili

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Beef, beans, tomato things, and spices—this is the classic chili recipe so many crave. Of course you can make it your own by adding your favorite toppings, but you can't go wrong with a quick-to-make boxed corn bread mix.

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Beefy No-Bean Chili

Beefy No-Bean Chili

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Whether you try to eat Paleo or just don't like beans in your chili, this no-bean chili recipe is one to try. Beef and beef broth add the savory elements while a full cup of shredded cabbage per serving adds freshness.

29 of the Best Cozy Chili Recipes to Keep You Warm All Season Long (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What does coffee do for chili? ›

Though it may be an unusual choice, coffee adds an earthy richness to the existing flavors and plays well with spices like cumin and cayenne pepper. Plus, it's a flexible ingredient – while we typically reach for instant espresso powder, you can also add in brewed coffee, making this dish the perfect use for leftovers.

What is the best meat for chili? ›

Ground beef is an immensely versatile, excellent addition to any chili and happens to be one of the quickest to cook and least expensive options of them all. That means you could cook a large amount of chili to feed your entire family for less.

What makes chili even better? ›

Cinnamon, strong coffee, and dark chocolate all boost them meaty flavor in a good chili. Pick any of the following: 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 whole cinnamon stick, a shot of espresso, a small cup of strong coffee, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, or a few squares of good-quality dark chocolate.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What does adding milk to chili do? ›

Cool and creamy dairy works wonders to balance out the heat. Sour cream, Greek yogurt, and even cheese help.

What does milk do to chili? ›

Milk contains a protein called casein, which can break down capsaicin — much in the same way that dish soap can cut through grease. Doctors had previously assumed that whole milk would be more effective against spicy foods than skim milk due to the former's fat content, but they both performed the same.

Which onion is best for chili? ›

Sweet onions are great for caramelizing due to their higher sugar content. You can cook them into your chili, serve them raw over top, or even elevate your chili with a sophisticated caramelized onion topping! Some of my favorite sweet onions are Walla, Walla, Maui, and Vidalia Onions.

What kind of beans are best for chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

What state is famous for chili? ›

Since that time, chili has become a popular dish all over the United States. Its association with Texas, however, remains quite strong. In fact, the Texas legislature named chili the official state dish in 1977.

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

What does cinnamon do for chili? ›

Cinnamon adds a different spice profile than chili powder or red or cayenne pepper would. It is a common savory spice in Indian food and I believe it's also used in savory dishes in Chinese cooking. It's a very versatile spice :).

What liquid to add to chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Why is my chili not flavorful? ›

Change up the beans. Use black beans, pintos, or a combination of beans to give more flavor. Cook the chili! If you don't cook it long enough (or put in a pressure cooker to speed up the process), it won't taste quite right.

Why would you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

Is chili better the longer it cooks? ›

A low and slow cook time—at least an hour total—is key for drawing out the most flavor in a pot of chili. Yes, a quick chili is most welcome on weeknights, but it won't have quite the same results. A slow cooker works wonders, but if you're short on time, try a pressure cooker.

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