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Best Ever Chili Recipes

Kristen Stevens
By: Kristen Stevens
Updated: 05/03/2026
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The best ever chili recipes – If you’re after a simmering pot of warm and cozy chili, we’ve got the best chili recipes right here! You’ll find chili recipes made on the stovetop and in the slow cooker. We have hearty meat chili, chicken chili, and even some vegetarian chili recipes. Which one will you make first?

two bowls of chili with the words 25 Best Chili Recipes written on top.

Once the weather turns cooler, we start craving chili. And with so many great chili recipes, it can be hard to know which one to make. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best chili recipes for you. Whether you want a cozy weeknight meal or a Sunday night chili feast, we have a recipe you’ll love. And don’t forget, chili makes a great addition to a potluck, game night, or any fall or winter get-together!

Recipe substitutions

Chili recipes are always really flexible so if you want to make a substitution, go for it!

Ground meat – Switch up the protein by using ground beef, ground pork, ground chicken, ground turkey, or even vegetarian ground round.

Beans – Use your favorite beans, or whatever you have in your pantry.

Vegetables – Onions, garlic, and peppers are common in chili, but you can add more or less to your taste. Celery, carrots, and corn are also nice additions to chili!

Best chili recipes with meat

Steak chili in a white bowl topped with corn chips, onion, and cilantro.
Steak Chili Recipe
This steak chili is the best beef chili recipe ever. That's a big statement, but it's true. It has a rich flavor and the tender chunks of slow-cooked chuck steak are dreamy. We go easy on the beans, but you can either omit them or add extra as you like. You'll want to keep this steak chili recipe in your back pocket so you can pull it out every weekend.
4.69 stars (258 ratings)
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A close-up of a pot filled with sausage chili—meatballs, kidney beans, chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, and a rich red tomato-based sauce—with a serving spoon inside.
Mushroom Sausage Chili Recipe
This sausage chili is loaded with chunks of Italian sausage, ground beef, and sauteed mushrooms. It's a hearty and meaty chili recipe that is sure to please. We usually make this a beanless chili, but you can put some in if your family loves them. It's great both ways.
4.88 stars (8 ratings)
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Paleo Chili being made in a pot
Paleo Chili Recipe
A delicious and comforting bowl of chili is always satisfying to dig into, and this bean-free paleo chili hits all the right spots. It perfectly balances saucy, meaty richness, and warming spices with loads of veggies. With just 10 minutes of prep time, this one-pot dinner is as effortless as it is delicious!
4.96 stars (45 ratings)
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Looking down on a bowl of Guinness Chili and a beer on the side
Guinness Irish Chili Recipe
Nothing says comfort like hearty a bowl of Guinness chili. This rich and flavorful Irish-style chili is perfect for a casual dinner or a game-day snack. It's simple to make in one pot, and it's ready in under an hour!
4.85 stars (53 ratings)
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Pulled pork chili in a white bowl
Pulled Pork Chili (made in your slow cooker)
Pulled Pork Chili is super easy to make in your crockpot and absolutely delicious. Put everything but the beans and corn into your slow cooker and let it simmer away for hours until the pork is fall off the bone tender. Then shred the meat, add the beans and corn, and dinner is ready. It's a slightly sweet BBQ chili recipe that everyone loves!
5 stars (46 ratings)
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Best chili recipes with chicken and turkey

Buffalo chicken chili in a bowl close up
Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
This Buffalo Chicken Chili is a spicy and rich white bean chili made with ground chicken, fire-roasted tomatoes, and buffalo sauce. Made under 30 minutes, it is a great weeknight chili recipes that also stores and freezes well.
4.82 stars (16 ratings)
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Easy Turkey Chili in a bowl with sour cream on top
Turkey Chili Recipe
This easy turkey chili is hearty and delicious! My recipe uses lean ground turkey and beans, perfectly seasoned for a delicious and easy weeknight meal. I almost always make this chili recipe on my stovetop, but it's super easy to make in your slow cooker, too.
4.98 stars (37 ratings)
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A spoon in a white bowl filled with crockpot chicken chili.
BBQ Chicken Chili Recipe
Slow cooked chicken is fall-apart tender, infused with the melding flavors of BBQ sauce and bourbon, with beans and veggies in the mix! It's a smoky, rich, sweet, and savory one pot dinner that is so easy to make – just throw it all in the slow cooker and come back to a warming and flavor-packed BBQ chicken chili dinner!
4.79 stars (32 ratings)
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Best vegetarian chili recipes

A bowl of vegetarian chili with some chips on top.
Vegetarian Chili Recipe (easy to make with lots of veggies)
This easy vegetarian chili recipe is our family's go-to, one-pot dinner. It's full of vegetables, made with pantry staple ingredients, and is so easy to make. It's a delicious vegan chili that everyone raves about!
4.86 stars (124 ratings)
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A bowl of sweet potato chili with a spoon in it.
Sweet Potato Chili Recipe
This sweet potato chili is a vegan chili recipe that's loaded with tender sweet potatoes and hardy chickpeas. We love this delicious chili recipe as it's easy to make and is always a hit at the dinner table.
4.93 stars (26 ratings)
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black bean corn chili in a bowl topped with avocado salsa
Black Bean and Corn Chili Recipe
This black bean and corn chili is hearty, flavorful, and easy to make vegetarian. You'll want to soak up every ounce of the rich tomato broth that's made by using salsa in place of some of the tomatoes. It really is the ultimate one-pot meal, and it's ready in just 30 minutes!
4.92 stars (50 ratings)
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A bowl of Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili Recipe
This slow cooker vegetarian chili is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it dinner. Throw some pantry staples into your crockpot, walk away, and come back to a delicious, rich, and flavor-packed dinner full of perfectly seasoned vegetables and beans. It's minimal effort for maximum flavor.
4.95 stars (55 ratings)
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chocolate quinoa chili in a bowl with a spoon
Vegetarian Chocolate Quinoa Chili Recipe
This vegetarian quinoa chili is full of flavor and feel-good ingredients. Made with beans, quinoa, cocoa powder, chocolate, and molasses, it has a unique rich taste and wonderful depth. It's an easy-to-make and hearty meal that even meat lovers will enjoy.
5 stars (35 ratings)
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A bow of hearty pumpkin chili
Pumpkin Chili Recipe
This pumpkin chili is the ultimate cold-weather comfort food. It's warm, loaded with good-for-you ingredients, and full of flavor. Plus, it's an easy-to-make recipe that all goes into one pot, and it's ready in an hour!
4.86 stars (27 ratings)
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Recipes using chili

Two chili dogs on a plate with chips.
Deliciously Easy Chili Cheese Dogs
There are few things more indulgent than biting into a chili dog. With a soft bun, all-beef hot dog, warm ground beef chili, and melted cheddar cheese, this easy recipe is the best way to eat a hot dog. 
4.77 stars (30 ratings)
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Chili Stuffed Peppers in a baking dish
Chili Stuffed Peppers Recipe
If you're looking for a way to use up leftover chili, or just want a downright delicious dinner, try these chili stuffed peppers. Roasted bell peppers are filled with a hearty, flavorful chili and then topped with bubbling, melted cheese to seal the deal. It's a super easy and delicious way to mix things up!
4.90 stars (49 ratings)
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Chili toppings

A bowl of hot chili is wonderful on its own, but even better with some toppings. Here are a few of our favorite chili toppings:

  • Grated cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Sliced green onions
  • Cilantro
  • Corn chips
  • Diced avocado
Chili makes the best leftovers!

How to store leftover chili

Chili really does make the best leftovers. In fact, chili tastes even better the next day! If you’re lucky enough to have chili leftover, this is how to store and reheat it:

  • In the fridge – Store your leftover chili in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • In the freezer – Leftover chili can be frozen in a freezer proof container. If properly stored, it will keep well for up to 6 months.
  • Reheating chili – The best way to reheat chili is in a pot on the stove. Add a splash of water if it gets too thick. You can also reheat the chili in a microwave.

Kristen Stevens

Kristen Stevens

Hi, I'm Kristen! I LOVE everything to do with food: making it, taking pictures of it, and (the best part) eating it. ♡♡♡

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Posted: 01/31/2016 Updated: 05/03/2026
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Kristen Stevens

Oh heck ya I’d love to learn your recipe. Heading over now. 🙂

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Kristen Stevens

Thanks, Kevin!!

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Vanessa

What a wonderful list of chili recipes 🙂 Sharing 🙂

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Kristen Stevens

Thank you!!

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Kristen Stevens

Your short rib chili sounds sooooo good!!!

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