The 64 Best Chili Recipes for Game Day

Whether your favorite is con carne, verde, white chicken, no beans, extra beans, piled on top of spaghetti, or so hot that you need a glass of milk on the side, we've got the steaming bowls of chili that you're looking for.

January 24, 2023

By: Food Network Kitchen

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Something for Everyone

If you ask us, there’s no wrong way to make chili. Sure, purists would say that there’s only one true recipe (which relies on a handful of very specific ingredients) but we’ve eaten enough bowls to confidently say that some of the best chilis feature unexpected ingredients — or aren’t even made with beef! It should come as no surprise then, that chili is the perfect crowd-pleaser when it comes to game-day entertaining. It’s a breeze to make (especially when you use your slow-cooker) and there are enough variations on the classic that you’re sure to find one your guests will be a fan of. Need a recipe to get you started? We’ve rounded up all our best ones, starting with Ree’s fan-favorite take.You can’t go wrong with a simple, perfect chili that fans call “delicious” and “EXACTLY what I needed”.

Get the Recipe: Simple, Perfect Chili

BBQ Beef Chili

You can wrap yourself up in a cozy blanket and melt away the stress of the day with a warm bowl of this bold-flavored chili, an indulgence that you can feel good about eating!

Get the Recipe: BBQ Beef Chili

30-Minute Turkey Chili

This is the quickest chili ever, with all ingredients thrown into a skillet and simmered away.

Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Turkey Chili

Instant Pot Chili

A touch of coffee adds depth to this simple but nuanced under-an-hour chili.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chili

Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili

The best chilis are the ones that are cooked slowly, over low heat. That's why we love Ree's recipe for White Chicken Chili. It spends seven and a half hours in the slow-cooker, which gives the flavors time to develop and the chicken time to become nice and tender.

Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili

Keto Chili

This slow simmered beef chili is packed with flavor, thanks to a quick homemade chile puree and butternut squash that soaks up the meaty goodness.

Get the Recipe: Healthy Beef Chili with Butternut Squash

Venison Chili with Jalapeno Cornbread

For an alternative to the typical beef, chicken or turkey, try Tyler’s recipe. It calls for ground venison, along with a sweet-and-spicy jalapeno cornbread for serving.

Get the Recipe: Venison Chili with Jalapeno Cornbread

Chili con Carne

Beef chuck and pork shoulder simmer until tender in a stock seasoned with garlic and chili powder. The chili tastes best if made a day ahead, refrigerated, then reheated.

Get the Recipe: Chili con Carne

Cornbread Chili Poke Bake

Deep red chili fills holes that have been poked in cornbread to create meaty and sweet layers. Topped with the classic accompaniments of cheese, sour cream, jalapenos and scallions, and you've got an easy way to feed a crowd.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread Chili Poke Bake

Tyler's Beef Chili

Tyler's ultimate chili recipe uses large chunks of beef shoulder cooked to tender perfection with a ton of flavorful spices.

Get the Recipe: Beef Chili

Butternut Squash Chili

Melissa D'Arabian says, "In the wintertime, I crave stick-to-your-ribs food. This chili is comforting and full of nutrients."

Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Chili

Roasted Vegetable Chili with Cornbread Biscuits

Since it’s baked on a sheet pan, this easy chili is made in just a fraction of the time. Plus, who doesn’t love fresh-baked biscuits?

Get the Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Chili with Cornbread Biscuits

Pat's Famous Beef and Pork Chili

The Neelys make a beef-filled hearty chili that's the perfect centerpiece for a serve-yourself chili bar. Set out garnishes like lime wedges, sour cream, shredded cheese and scallions.

Get the Recipe: Pat's Famous Beef and Pork Chili

Instant Pot Keto Chili

Now you can have a meaty and well-rounded chili with a slow-simmer taste cooked in less than half the time in your Instant Pot®.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Keto Chili

Beanless Beef Chili

Sandra uses chili seasoning, red pepper flakes and cinnamon to pack a flavor punch in this meaty chili. Top it off with her spiced sour cream.

Get the Recipe: Beanless Beef Chili

Curry Chicken Chili with Sriracha

This spicy chili is a great change from your everyday chili. Ground chicken and smashed chickpeas are loaded with jalapeno, spices and a hefty kick of sriracha. The cool creamy yogurt and zesty lime are the perfect complement to its hearty heat.

Get the Recipe: Curry Chicken Chili with Sriracha

White Chicken Chili

A great alternative to tomato-based soups and stews, the Neelys' White Chicken Chili emphasizes Latin flavors using jalapenos, poblanos and chili powder. Top off your bowl with a dollop of sour cream, crushed tortilla chips and a lime wedge for a cool, bright finish.

Get the Recipe: White Chicken Chili

Guy's Texas Chili

You can always count on Guy for big and bold flavors. Case in point? His fiery Texas chili, complete with five different chile peppers and a bottle of Mexican beer.

Get the Recipe: Guy's Texas Chili

Four-Alarm Rib-eye Chili

Rib-eye, a marbled cut of beef, has more fat than ground beef or turkey, which creates a tender bite and deeper flavor. To really make the most of her rib-eye, Valerie sautés her peppers in the juices rendered from cooking the beef.

Get the Recipe: Four-Alarm Rib-eye Chili

Pork and Tomatillo Chili

Make this chili in advance and you'll have dinner in the freezer for up to 3 weeks. To reheat, transfer to a pot and add a splash of water then thaw over medium heat.

Get the Recipe: Pork and Tomatillo Chili

Red Beef Chili

Bobby brings his signature heat to this chili with layers of rich, spicy flavors. The onions and chiles are sauteed in reduced beer and chocolate, and maple syrup is stirred in at the end for sweetness. A dollop of toasted cumin crema on top adds a cool, creamy finish to this red-hot dish.

Get the Recipe: Red Beef Chili

Steak Fajita Chili

Aaron sears flavor into his short ribs and then braises them until they’re tender. Bell peppers, onions, beans and a smart set of spices complete the dish. Garnish the chili with guacamole, sour cream, cheese and fried tortilla strips for a little something extra.

Get the Recipe: Aaron McCargo, Jr.'s Steak Fajita Chili

Chili Con Carne

This meaty chili, made with ground beef and bacon, gets a flavor boost from a bottle of amber beer.

Get the Recipe: Chili Con Carne

Spicy Vegetarian Chili

Most vegetarian chilis are bulked up with beans, but this one has a head of cauliflower thrown in for a unique twist.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Vegetarian Chili

Tyler's Texas Chili

Tyler's Texas Chili is loaded with aromatic flavors, which he achieves by combining browned beef with garlic, chipotles, jalapenos, tomatoes, sugar, a cinnamon stick and Mexican chocolate. Spoon yourself a hearty bowlful topped with queso fresco, cilantro and lime.

Get the Recipe: Tyler's Texas Chili

Black Bean, Lentil and Eggplant Chili

This hearty vegetarian chili gets great heat from pasilla, chipotle, poblano and cascabel chile peppers.

Get the Recipe: Black Bean, Lentil and Eggplant Chili

Texas Bowl of Red

In Texas, chili is practically a religion, with one important tenet: Keep it simple. That means no beans, and often no tomatoes — just beef and spices. "Texas Red," as the locals call it, gets its distinctive dark red color from chili powder (a mix of spices that usually includes paprika, cumin and cayenne). Texans cook it low and slow, just like their barbecue, until the chili gets thick and the meat is super tender.

Get the Recipe: Texas Bowl of Red

Fast White Chicken Chili

Ree's secret to a super speedy bowl of chili? The pressure cooker!

Get the Recipe: Fast White Chicken Chili

Cincinnati Chili

Chili in Cincinnati doesn't look like any other kind — it's served over spaghetti. The Greek restaurateurs who invented the dish in the 1920s seasoned it with the same spices they put in moussaka. No one knows how the chili ended up over pasta, but everyone in town knows how to order it: "two-way" (chili and spaghetti), "three-way" (plus cheese), "four-way" (plus chopped onion) or "five-way" (plus beans).

Get the Recipe: Cincinnati Chili

Indian Summer Turkey Chili

Large bell peppers will brighten up this chili and balance out the spicy flavors. Rachael Ray stirs in a bit of barbecue sauce to take the mixture to another level.

Get the Recipe: Indian Summer Turkey Chili

Green Chile Stew

New Mexico's signature chili is known as green chile stew, a slightly spicy soup made of pork and green chile peppers. The peppers are the local secret: Green chile stew purists insist on using Hatch chiles, grown in Hatch, N.M., which are known for their distinctive flavor and moderate heat.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Pork Chile Stew

Pork-Bean Chili With Corn Dumplings

Masa harina (instant corn flour), salt and butter are all you need to make the plump dumplings that make this an extra-hearty dinner.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Corn Dumplings

Bean-and-Beef Chili

Brewed espresso is the secret ingredient to this beef chili. Top your finished bowl with sour cream and diced avocado.

Get the Recipe: Bean-and-Beef Chili

Mexican Chorizo & Turkey Chili

If you're looking for alternatives to chicken or beef chili, try Rachael's recipe. It calls for turkey as well as Mexican chorizo — a savory, piquant sausage made of ground pork and chile peppers.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Chorizo and Turkey Chili

Chicken-Corn Chili

Opt for green chiles and pinto beans to make this hearty chicken chili.

Get the Recipe: Chicken-Corn Chili

Spaghetti Squash Cincinnati Chili

This is a twist on Cincinnati "five-way" chili: spaghetti and chili plus cheddar cheese, onion and kidney beans.

Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Cincinnati Chili

Spicy Beef Chili

This recipe from Food Network Kitchen is light on the liquid ingredients, making every bowlful extra meaty. Perfect for parties and get-togethers, you can make this chili up to two days in advance.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Beef Chili

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Cocoa powder may seem a bit out of place in chili, but it has two jobs in this mole-inspired version: It adds depth of flavor and helps thicken the sauce. We suggest serving the chili with tortilla chips, but it would also be great with cornbread.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Four-Bean Chili

Why have one variety of beans when you have can have four? Combine black beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans and pinto beans to make this seriously hearty chili.

Get the Recipe: Four-Bean Chili

Cornbread Topped Cast-Iron Skillet Chili

Cook chili, bake cornbread and serve dinner in a single skillet. The steam from this chunky, spicy, deep-red chili gives the cornbread topping an extra-fluffy texture.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread Topped Cast-Iron Skillet Chili

White Chili With Quick-Roasted Garlic

Twelve cloves of garlic may seem like a lot, but roasting makes them tender and sweet and is the perfect base for Melissa’s white chili; navy beans, spinach and shredded chicken are flavorful and filling.

Get the Recipe: Melissa d'Arabian's White Chili with Quick-Roasted Garlic

Quick Spicy Chili

This beefy beer- and chipotle-infused chili is ready in just 40 minutes — even though it tastes like it’s been simmering away all day long.

Get the Recipe: Quick Spicy Chili

Three Bean and Beef Chili

Ellie’s budget-friendly chili is low on cost but big on flavor.

Get the Recipe: Three Bean and Beef Chili

Pressure-Cooker Chili

Make Alton's chili in under an hour with the help of a pressure cooker. Corn chips help thicken the chili, while beer and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce give it a smoky, slow-cooked flavor.

Get the Recipe: Pressure Cooker Chili

Beef and Black Bean Chili with Toasted Cumin Crema and Avocado Relish

Pack intense flavor into one spoonful with a variety of peppers. Bobby's stick-to-your-ribs chili is chock-full of spicy beef chunks and canned tomatoes (they're the most consistent to work with). Cool off your mouth with a scoop of Mexican crema and avocado topping.

Get the Recipe: Beef and Black Bean Chili with Toasted Cumin Crema and Avocado Relish

Devon's Award-Winning Chili

Ina makes an award-winning chili with her friend Devon that starts with big chunks of brisket. When you brown the meat, it's important for the pieces not to crowd since they'll just steam. Get each side brown, as it's important to the flavor of the overall dish.

Get the Recipe: Devon's Award-Winning Chili

Chili Mac

You want to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible during the game. Rachael's meaty chili with macaroni noodles and a heap of smoky vegetables seasoned with an original blend of spices is ready with just 15 minutes' prep time.

Get the Recipe: Chili Mac

Game-Day Chili

Sauteing tomato paste in both the oil and the fat of the pork and beef as you cook the meat will create a caramelization and really make your chili flavors shine. Geoffrey Zakarian adds dark beer for an additional layer of complexity.

Get the Recipe: Game Day Chili

Rachael's Meaty, Meat-Less Chili

Vegetarians, rejoice! Rachael's recipe is a veggie-friendly chili that is hearty enough to satisfy meat eaters too.

Get the Recipe: Meaty, Meat-less Chili

Sunny's Game-Day Chili

In a large stock pot, Sunny uses a potato masher to break down smoky Mexican chorizo, the star ingredient in her game-day chili.

Get the Recipe: Sunny's Game Day Chili

Two Meat Chili with Scallion Cornbread

Browning spices like chili powder and ground cumin will open up the aroma and bring out the flavor of all of the ingredients. Nancy adds homemade fire-roasted tomatoes, made right in her oven, but you can also purchase store-bought tomatoes.

Get the Recipe: Two Meat Chili with Scallion Cornbread

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Chili with Corn Chips

This set-it-and-forget-it chili is so key for busy weeknights. The sweet barbecue flavor is mild enough for kids to devour — and they’ll love the corn chips that go on top!

Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Barbecue Chili with Corn Chips

Three Bean Turkey Chili

If you're looking for a quick and easy chili recipe that delivers big flavor, this is your new go-to. It only takes about one hour to make and perfectly balances the flavors of aromtaic garlic and onion with spicy green chiles and savory ground turkey.

Get the Recipe: Three Bean Turkey Chili

Beefy Butternut Squash Chili

The secret to Sunny's chili is actually a mainstay in your fall baking repertoire: pumpkin pie spice! It adds deep, rich, autumnal flavors that pair perfectly with butternut squash.

Get the Recipe: Beefy Butternut Squash Chili

Dragon's Breath Chili

You can't beat the complex flavor of Guy's Southwestern-inspired chili that's filled with spices.

Get the Recipe: Dragon's Breath Chili

Pork-and-Pumpkin Chili

Break your ordinary chili routine with a few new flavors: pumpkin, pork and a splash of beer.

Get the Recipe: Pork-and-Pumpkin Chili

Chicken Chili

Ina's 5-star chili is chock-full of chunky chicken, peppers, tomatoes and basil.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Chili

Spicy Three-Bean Pantry Chili

This vegetarian chili gets its rich flavor from caramelizing tomato paste and warming herbs, rather than long hours of cooking. You can amp up the heat by using a spicy salsa or some of the adobo paste (though the chile itself is pretty hot). Add corn for some sweetness, or canned hominy for a chunkier and funkier chili.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Three-Bean Pantry Chili

Green Pork Chili

This chili is packed with bold, meaty flavors from braised pork shoulder, jalapenos and red onions, but the whole dish is brightened up by tart tomatillos.

Get the Recipe: Green Pork Chili

Ranch-Style Turkey Chili

Poblanos are spicy but not too hot, making them the perfect kick for crowd-pleasing chili. Rachael tops this tailgate favorite with shredded cheddar, crispy bacon and crumbled corn muffins.

Get the Recipe: Ranch-Style Turkey Chili

Vegan Lentil Chili

This vegan chili is every bit as comforting as the meat-filled counterpart, thanks to hearty lentils, beans and vegetables.

Get the Recipe: Vegan Lentil Chili

Beef and Bean Chili

A simple chili with a whole lot of flavor! The secret is to cook the chili low and slow (at a simmer for more than an hour) so that the flavors marry, and the beef becomes extra tender.

Get the Recipe: Beef and Bean Chili

Beef-and-Pork Chili

Don’t throw away the seeds from the chile peppers when making this recipe — they add a nice heat to the meaty chili.

Get the Recipe: Beef-and-Pork Chili

Pressure Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili

A multi-cooker gives this hearty chili that cooked-all-day flavor and texture in a fraction of the time. A generous amount of spices and a dab of canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce deliver a balanced, smoky kick. Serve the chili with all the usual toppings--a squeeze of lime juice, fresh cilantro, avocado, Cheddar and sour cream.

Get the Recipe: Pressure Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili

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