It's cold outside, but not in your kitchen—at least, not if you're making hearty soup recipes, casseroles, and all the other comfort foods that the colder seasons call for! One cozy dish that stands out as a true crowd-pleaser is chili. If you're looking for satisfying family meals, these best chili recipes are a must-try. Plus, you can make a big ol' pot and it makes incredible leftovers the next day for lunch.
Whether you're preparing for a big Sunday supper or a just a weeknight dinner, a pot of chili is always a great choice. You can opt for recipes with ground turkey, big beef chunks, or leftover rotisserie chicken. There are even plenty of meatless meals spotlighting hearty ingredients like sweet potato and cauliflower that are just as satisfying. Rushing to get dinner on the table fast? Try the instant pot chili—it's ready in under an hour!
So, how do you know which chili recipe to choose? Some people have strong opinions about their chili. (Say, should chili have beans or no beans?) Meanwhile, others will find that they're willing to try all different kinds of chili depending on the night. For instance, you can go with a meaty Texas-style chili, a spicy buffalo chicken chili, or chili-stuffed zucchini. No matter which chili recipe you choose, just be sure to whip up a batch of Ree Drummond's skillet cornbread to serve on the side.
Cauliflower Chili
This chili is just as hearty as you'd expect the dish to be, minus the meat! It's chock-full of black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and mushrooms stewed in tomato sauce and broth for a warming, nutrient-packed meal.
Get Ree's Cauliflower Chili recipe.
Turkey Quinoa Chili
Craving a big 'ol pot of chili but still want to feel pretty good about what’s in it? This turkey quinoa chili is exactly what you need!
Get Ree's Turkey Quinoa Chili recipe.
Summer Beef Chili
Packed with fresh veggies like zucchini, corn, and bell peppers, this chili delivers all the hearty, savory tomato goodness you crave in comfort food but with a summery spin.
Get Ree's Summer Beef Chili recipe.
Creamy Chicken and Corn Chili
Cream cheese is the secret to this creamy pot of chili! This recipe also features white beans and tons of crunchy toppings, like scallions, tortilla chips, and sliced jalapeños.
Get Ree's Creamy Chicken and Corn Chili recipe.
Chili Verde
This tangy take on the hearty soup is made with salsa verde, green enchilada sauce, jalapeños, and green chiles that give it its olive-y hue. Pile it high with sour cream, radishes, cilantro, and hot sauce for extra fresh flavor!
Get Ree's Chili Verde recipe.
Sweet Potato Chili
This meatless chili uses sweet potato in place of the usual protein! The seared sweet potatoes add so much flavor and texture to the medley of beans, tomatoes, peppers, and spiced broth.
Get the Sweet Potato Chili recipe.
Slow Cooker Chipotle Beef Chili
Browned bacon, beef, and an onion mixture are added to the slow cooker and simmered to tender perfection over four hours. Then, masa harina (corn flour) slurry is added to the mix for an infusion of subtle corn flavor that pairs perfectly with the crunchy corn chips on top.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chipotle Beef Chili recipe.
Beef-and-Bean Chili
To make this chili extra hearty, Ree uses ground beef, masa harina, and a combination of kidney and pinto beans. Of course, cheese and bacon on top don't hurt either!
Get Ree's Beef-and-Bean Chili recipe.
White Chicken Chili
This chili is like a mash-up between chicken pot pie and game-day chili. It's creamy, comforting, and great for using up extra rotisserie chicken.
Get the White Chicken Chili recipe.
Slow Cooker Chili
This set-it-and-forget-it chili might sound too good to be true, but it really does deliver all those slow-cooked flavors without having to stand around and stir. It'll make dinnertime easy!
Get the Slow Cooker Chili recipe.
Instant Pot Chili
Making chili in an Instant Pot is a great way to shorten the cook time. To make up for the fact that it's not simmering all day long, this recipe uses flavor-packed ingredients like chipotles in adobo and fire-roasted tomatoes.
Get the Instant Pot Chili recipe.
Pumpkin Chili
Calling all pumpkin lovers! This fall-inspired chili is made with real pumpkin puree so it has a slightly sweet and earthy flavor that pairs so well with roasted pumpkin seeds for garnish.
Get the Pumpkin Chili recipe.
Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili
A turkey chili can be just as flavorful as a beef chili—especially if it has the right mix-ins. This one uses fire-roasted tomatoes, peppers, and corn. Just add avocado and corn chips for topping!
Get the Slow Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.
Black Bean Chili
This recipe comes together in just 45 minutes so it's a no-brainer for weeknight dinners. In fact, this foolproof turkey and bean chili is even easy enough for lunch.
Get the Black Bean Chili recipe.
Texas Chili
In Texas, chili is all about the beef. Which is exactly why this chili is made without any beans. It's just hearty beef chuck roast—and lots of chiles and spices.
Get the Texas Chili recipe.
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