17 First-String Chili Recipes, Ready to Suit Up for the Big Game

The best chili recipes have a signature ingredient. This recipe offers your pick! It features spicy sausage, chocolate, bacon, and hickory BBQ sauce, and Italian seasonings. "This is the best chili ever!" raves smcary. "I have never been a big chili fan, but I love this chili! Always a hit around here and everyone asks for the recipe!"

This kidney bean, beef, and bacon chili features a white wine, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, and steak sauce base. "This recipe was a big hit," says MEREDITHANN. "I think the bacon was key, and using the most lean ground beef kept the fat down. There was plenty for leftovers (it did taste even better the day after). I've been requested to bring a huge pot to the Super Bowl party on Sunday."

"Chunky zucchini, fresh green onion, sour cream, and -- what the heck -- shredded Cheddar cheese, are sure to make this your favorite chili recipe," says big surprise. "If you like beans in your chili, garbanzos right out of the can are great in this. Using some fresh and some canned ingredients, this chili is a snap to throw together and will keep you craving it for days."

"This is a hearty and relatively low-fat chili recipe that is guaranteed to satisfy even the most sadistic spicy food lover, " says JIMBOLYA. "For those with wimpier taste buds, omit the Habanero pepper. Try melting a tablespoon of whipped cream cheese into each dish. Hoo boy! Also, drink beer with lime. The acidity seems to help calm the assault on your taste buds when it gets to be too much."

"Every year when football season rolls around and the weather begins to cool, my husband requests I make this hearty, beanless chili," says Jenn Polk. "It receives rave reviews from everyone."

This chili is packed with fire in the form of jalapenos, habaneros, and other hot delights, including ground beef, ground pork, and bacon."A tasty chili whose name says it all!" says EDD RYAN. "Note: Whole Anaheim peppers are not widely available; this ingredient is optional, and you can use hot pepper sauce instead."

Here's a chicken chili that doesn't shy away from the heat! It's ready in about 30 minutes and features cooked chicken breasts, white beans, and Monterey Jack cheese. Enjoy with a mellowing dollop of sour cream on top.

Here's a chili recipe for the Instant Pot, with lean ground sirloin, diced green chiles, chile-garlic sauce, and beans! "These chili beans are delicious and so easy to make -- dinner is ready in 45 minutes or less!" says bd.weld. "If your chili doesn't have beans it's not outlaw chili. Garnish with lime, cilantro, diced onions, Cheddar cheese, and diced avocado."

Rich and hearty, this chunky pork stew sizzles with chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder. To intensify flavors, simmer on the stovetop for a couple hours. "This is a rich, mild chili and pork stew," says Ron Shepherd. "It is one of my favorite things, which I like to eat from a bowl with plenty of saltine crackers and a salad on the side. It's also good served over rice or chili beans."

Prepared salsa, two cans of kidney beans, and a chili seasoning mix make prep work a snap.  For an extra thwack of spicy heat, add jalapeno or other chile peppers. Reviewer 3CT18 rates this chili 5 stars: "We love this recipe. We make this all the time and we even made a big pot of it for our Super Bowl party. Serve it with an assortment of toppings: dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions. An easy chili recipe."

Red kidney beans, green chile peppers, and ground beef feature in this chili recipe for the slow cooker. "I was looking for a healthy chili," says CoachJen. "I used extra lean beef and mixed beans and an extra tbsp of chili powder and a tsp of cayenne to spice it up a bit. It's a great slow cook meal that tastes better the longer it goes. Loved it the next day too!"

This fiery turkey chili features four types of beans with red pepper flakes, lots of cumin, chili powder, and salsa.

Roasted Hatch green chiles simmer in the slow cooker with pork roast, onions, and tomatoes. "I was so excited to find this recipe! I grew up eating this chili and have been making it myself for decades!" says ChrisJon42. "I often spike it with some diced jalapeños to bring up the heat a touch. Use it as a sauce over burritos and you'll never eat them any other way again!"

"This is a big pot of beefy, no-bean chili, not too spicy for my young kids but flavorful enough to please the adults," says Tori. "Great for when you have company; or you can freeze half and serve it again on a cold night when you don't feel like cooking." 

Seasoned ground turkey, fire-roasted tomatoes, and Spanish-seasoned rice feature in this crowd-pleasing chili. "Take your chili to the next level with this quick-to-make savory turkey chili," says thedailygourmet. "You can top the chili with sour cream or grated cheese if you like."

"Green chili is a Colorado favorite, it's always a crowd pleaser when we have out-of-state visitors," says chefclaudiesel. "Roasting your veggies first gives this recipe a deeper level of flavor. Serve over rice as a main course, stuffed in enchiladas, or over potatoes and eggs."

"The first time I tried this chili I was floored!" says Beer and Food Guy. "It has wonderful flavors, and is very spicy and very addictive. If you don't like heat, adjust the ingredients. It's perfect at a football tailgate party or picnic. If you like a roasted flavor, bake the garlic before pressing it. For the beer, a hoppy pale ale works well, as does a dark stout. I've also experimented with adding a cup of coffee to the mix to give it a roasted coffee flavor. It also freezes well."