21 Best Chili Recipes You Need in Your Life (2024)

Nutritious and Delicious Chili Recipes.

21 Best Chili Recipes You Need in Your Life (1)

Chili is a classic American comfort food. It’s warm, inviting, and can be easily modified to suit any diet. You can find vegan, low carb, and even Paleo chili recipes. Whichever you decide to make, chili is the ultimate crowdpleaser.

The sheer number of possibilities can be overwhelming. To make your life easier, we’ve compiled a list of chilis that are both delicious and nutritious. Check out the 21 Best Chili Recipes to Have in Your Life.

Beef

1.Spicy Chili with Fire Roasted Tomatoes
The fire roasted tomatoes and red pepper flakes give this chili a zesty kick, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor to eat healthy. Use the leanest meat you can find to add protein without packing in fats and calories.

2.Chocolate Chili
Although chocolate and meat are an unconventional pair, this recipe combines them with great success. The resulting flavor is reminiscent of traditional Mexican mole: rich and deep with a perfect hint of spiciness.

3.Paleo Chili
This recipe replaces beans with loads of veggies. The flavorful mix contains carrots, celery, zucchini, onion, and tomatoes. Try making this recipe with lean beef. It will result in a lower calorie and lower fat meal.

4.Healthy Beef Chili
Hungry Girl brings you this lightversion of traditional chili. This recipe uses extra-lean meat and avoids ingredients that add too much sugar and unhealthy fats.

Turkey

5.Taco Chili
For a low-calorie meal, try this taco chili. With only 155 calories per cup, it’s one of our lowest calorie recipes.

6.Turkey and Bean Chili
Turkey is a leaner option than the beef traditionally used in chili. It’s a great way to add protein without unnecessary fats and calories. This simple turkey and bean chili is a good starter recipeif you’re interested in trying lean turkey chilis.

7.Green Turkey Chili Soup
This Green Turkey Chili Soup is a healthy, high-protein dish that your entire family can enjoy. It delivers 21 grams of protein from lean turkey, as well as 7 grams of healthy fats.

8.The Best Turkey Chili You’ll Ever Taste
Kelly from Eat Yourself Skinny calls this the best turkey chili you’ll ever taste. It’s low in carbs but packs a whooping 40 grams of lean protein. It’s sure to keep you satisfied without the weight of processed ingredients.

9.Chipotle Turkey Quinoa Chili
Between the turkey and the quinoa, this chili packs over 30 grams of protein per serving. The chipotle flavor is a savory treat for the whole family.

Chicken

10.Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Soup
For a slight variation on our slow cooker chicken chili, try this fiesta chicken soup. It combines chicken with two kinds of beans, corn tomatoes, and an aromatic mix of seasonings. The result is a great Mexican flavor sure to satisfy any crowd.

11.Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
This chicken chili recipe almost cooks itself! It only asks that you leave it in the crockpot for 8 hours. While the chili bubbles away, you can go to work or sleep. You’ll have a tasty meal waiting when you’re done.

12.Slow Cooker Chili Verde
This chicken chili gets its delicious flavor from salsa verde. Salsa verde is made with tomatillos (or Mexican green tomatoes) which have an incomparable tangy flavor. If you can find tomatillos in your produce aisle, you can try making the salsa at home. However, jarred salsa works just as well.

13.White Bean Chili
Our white bean chili recipe a great low-carb option. Each serving is only 142 calories with 9 grams of carbohydrates and a surprising 12 grams of protein. The protein comes from lean chicken breast and beans. The beans also provide some fiber to keep you satisfied longer.

14.Quick Chicken Chili
This recipe stays close to traditional chili, with the healthy substitution of chicken for beef.

15.Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
A must-try for all buffalo chicken fans, this recipe manages to keep things healthy by limiting processed ingredients. The deep flavor in this chili comes from vegetables like fire roasted tomatoes and celery.

Vegetarian

16.Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
This tasty yet simple vegetarian chili is a basic recipe that should be added to everyone’s arsenal. Diced carrots and sliced zucchini are a hearty substitute for meat. The vegetables simmer with two different kinds of beans to give this recipe its rich flavor.

17.Spicy Eggplant Chili
This vegetarian chili replaces meat with cubed eggplant. It’s a must-try for all vegetarian chili lovers.

18.The Best Vegetarian Chili Ever
This recipe from Anjali Shah has been called the best vegetarian chili out there. It combines three kinds of beans, a cornucopia of vegetables, and some unusual ingredients (who would have thought to put cocoa powder in chili!). The complementary ingredients make this a must-try recipe.

19.
With just over 170 calories in a 1 3/4 cups serving, this is our lowest calorie vegetarian chili. It contains healthy, slow-digesting carbs from sweet potatoes and black beans. These keep you full for hours after eating. This chili is also a breeze to prepare. Just throw all the ingredients in the crockpot and allow it to cook while you go about your day.

20.Quinoa and Roasted Pepper Chili
This vegetarian chili combines zucchini, fire-roasted tomatoes, pinto beans, and peppy spices. To avoid added preservatives, you can try soaking and boiling the beans yourself. This will help you avoid BPAs found in canned goods. When you’re done, you’ll have a fresh, healthy chili everyone will fall in love with.

21.Moroccan Chickpea Chili
For a less traditional take on chili, try this Moroccan Chickpea Chili recipe. Chickpeas are a great source of manganese and folate, two nutrients necessary for your health. They are also high in fiber and protein, which play an important role in keeping you full and satisfied.

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21 Best Chili Recipes You Need in Your Life (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 makes chili taste better? ›

"Adding fresh ingredients — like diced onions, cilantro, and jalapenos — will take any canned chili to another level," Dunleavy said. "The fresh burst of flavor will brighten and elevate the chili while also adding great texture and crunch."

What does cinnamon do for chili? ›

Cinnamon. The beauty of ground cinnamon is that it brings a warmth to your chili, without being spicy. It works well with other flavors commonly found in chili (like tomato, cumin and chile powder) so you only need a little bit to achieve the desired balance.

What makes the best chili meat? ›

When making chili, former Southern Living Test Kitchen Director, Robby Melvin, recommends using a mix of ground chuck and ground sirloin. "It's the best of both worlds," he says. "You get a balanced lean-to-fat ratio from the chuck and the hearty, beefy leanness from the sirloin."

What adds the most flavor to chili? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

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.

Does chili get better the longer you simmer it? ›

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.

What is my chili missing? ›

Sometimes after a long simmer, your chili will taste wonderful be maybe missing one little thing you can't figure out. Try a tad bit of vinegar or a squeeze of lime! The acidity in vinegar & limes bring a good roundness to the pot and binds all the flavors together.

What liquid to add to chili? ›

I like to use ale, but beef broth is popular. The truth is, there's so much going on in a typical chili, the liquid plays (or should play) a minor role in flavor. Major flavor players are the meat, cumin, dried chiles, hot chiles, onions, garlic, salt, oregano and sometimes cocoa. Water is fine.

How do you make chili more interesting? ›

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.

Why do people put baking soda in chili? ›

According to the magazine's food experimenters, the baking soda treatment will definitely keep the meat tender and juicy when cooked.

Should you put sugar in chili? ›

The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy. It's all about balance between spicy, smoky, and sweet.

Which onion is best for chili? ›

Yellow Onions: These are the most versatile and widely available type of onion, and are a good choice for chili con carne. They have a slightly sweet, sharp, and tangy flavor that adds depth and complexity to the dish.

What are the best beans 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.

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.

Does sugar make chili taste better? ›

Now for the piece de resistance: 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar. The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy.

How do you make chili taste more meaty? ›

In a pot of chili, just a few strips of bacon add a smoky, meaty depth. And it's not just the bacon itself that adds flavor, it's the bacon fat, too. Before you start your recipe, cook 3 to 4 strips of thick-cut bacon until they're as crispy as you like.

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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