13 Chili Recipes That Bring Spice and Comfort to Dinner

Tis the season to cozy up with a bowl of chili.

30 minute chili
Credit:

Jake Sternquist

There’s nothing like a bowl of chili on a winter day. The spicy stew generally contains meat, beans, and chile powder or different chiles, from ancho to chipotles and poblanos. And, as this collection of our favorite chili recipes proves, ground beef might be the best-known version, but it’s certainly not the only one. We’re big fans of white chili with chicken or turkey. Some versions skip the beans entirely, and other vegetarian or vegan versions put the beans front and center.

If you think there is only one way to make chili, these chili recipes will help widen your culinary horizons.

01 of 13

White Bean Chicken Chili

vertical format of a bowl of chicken chili with spoon and tortilla chips
Credit:

Rachel Marek

Chicken thighs, your choice of white beans, poblano peppers, canned green chiles, and plenty of spices make this a filling, comforting meal that’s ready in just over an hour.

02 of 13

No-Bean Chili

easy beef chili with sour cream in bowl

This versatile meaty recipe calls for ground beef, but you can swap in ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork instead. Whichever protein you choose, it’s a cozy, filling dish sans beans. Fire-roasted tomatoes, jalapeños, chili powder, and cocoa powder bring deep flavor in 50 minutes.

03 of 13

Vegetarian Chili With Avocado Cream

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Credit: Marcus Nilsson

Three different legumes—canned black beans, black-eyed peas, and lentils—make this a hearty dish. Ancho chiles, chipotles in adobo, and cumin bring the warm and spicy chili flavor, and sweet potatoes round out the dish.

04 of 13

Turkey and White Bean Chili

colorful bowl of turkey chili with condiments

Ground turkey, cannellini beans, jalapeño, ground cumin, and tomato paste make this a tasty white meat chili. It’s a lower-fat option compared to beefy versions but still full of flavor. 

05 of 13

Skillet Chili Nachos

skillet chili nachos
Credit: Justin Walker

Use our easy beef chili or a vegetarian version for these irresistible nachos. Once the chili is ready, it only takes 20 minutes to layer the chili, tortilla chips, cheese, and canned beans and bake them. 

06 of 13

Vegan Sweet Potato Chili

vegan sweet potato chili
Credit: Bryan Gardner

Toasted ancho chiles create a smoky, earthy flavor in our vegan chili. Protein-packed black beans are paired with vitamin-rich sweet potatoes, and sliced avocado and crushed corn chips are the perfect toppings.

07 of 13

30-Minute Chili

30 minute chili
Credit:

Jake Sternquist

When you need chili, and you need it fast, turn to this recipe that comes together in 30 minutes and is packed with beefy flavor. Along with the ground meat, it uses traditional kidney beans and canned tomatoes, but ups the ante with pantry power players like canned chipotles in adobo and ground cinnamon, plus a bottle of beer for added depth and flavor.

08 of 13

Picadillo Chili

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Credit: Yuki Sugiura

A very different but equally delicious take on chili, picadillo is a Spanish-style beef chili. It's not spicy but is spiced with cumin, cinnamon, and poblanos. It's also light on tomatoes and served with decidedly different toppings—almonds, olives, and currants.

09 of 13

Smoky Tofu Chili

Smoky Tofu Chili
Credit: Con Poulos

Black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, and canned chipotles in adobo star in this vegan chili. Extra-firm tofu holds its shape in cooking and soaks up all the big chili flavor.

10 of 13

Jimmy Fallon’s Crock Pot Chili

jimmy fallon crock pot chilli

The popular late-night host shared his go-to recipe with Martha, and it's a winner. We love a set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker dish, and this one is packed with ground beef and kidney beans spiced with chili powder and habanero. Fallon has a secret ingredient, amber beer!

11 of 13

Chicken Chili With Hominy

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A white chili made with chicken thighs, poblanos, and canned white hominy. We particularly love this version when it’s made a day ahead and reheated.

12 of 13

Vegetarian Black Bean Chili

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Chili powder and cumin bring on classic chili flavor in this veggie take. It packs in zucchini, corn, and carrots, as well as crushed canned tomatoes and canned black beans, making it a great way to up your produce intake and/or encourage others to eat more vegetables. 

13 of 13

Cincinnati Chili Dogs

Cincinnati Chili Dog
Credit: Photo Courtesy of Armando Rafael

There's more to chili than a bowl! It's also the ultimate way to top a dog, as this recipe proves. We make a quick beef chili that's amped up with Worcestershire sauce and goes atop all-beef franks, along with mustard and plenty of sharp cheddar.

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