20 Best Chili Recipes to Keep You Cozy and Full

A big bowl of chili is the best choice when you need something really hearty and satisfying to eat. These top chili recipes offer so many different kinds for you to try. You can find everything from classic meaty ones to versions full of healthy vegetables, and they are all simple to prepare. The flavor actually gets better after sitting for a day. Whether you enjoy a spicy, smoky, or slightly sweet taste, there is a perfect chili here for family meals or feeding a group of friends.

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Best Texas Chili from Scratch

A bowl of spicy chili topped with shredded cheese, sliced jalapeños, chopped green onions, and diced onions. A spoon is resting in the bowl, and a green chili pepper is placed nearby on a wooden board. A checkered cloth is in the background. — Best Texas Chili from Scratch. Photo credit: Cooking with Wine Blog.

Chunks of beef become incredibly tender in this authentic Best Texas Chili from Scratch, which simmers for a long time to develop a deep, spicy flavor. It is a must-try for anyone who loves a classic, no-beans chili and can be topped with fresh jalapeños for an extra kick of heat.
Get the Recipe: Best Texas Chili from Scratch

Pumpkin Vegan Chili

A bowl of spicy pumpkin soup garnished with chopped onions and green jalapeño slices. The soup is placed on a rustic wooden table adorned with small pumpkins, autumn leaves, and sprigs of fresh cilantro, evoking a warm fall ambiance. — Pumpkin Vegan Chili. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

This meat-free Pumpkin Vegan Chili gets a naturally creamy texture from the pumpkin that is mixed with beans and warm spices. It is a healthy and filling meal that has a unique, comforting taste which everyone can enjoy, making it a great choice even for those who are not vegan.
Get Recipe: Pumpkin Vegan Chili

Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili

A bowl of chili topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, and chopped green onions, resting on a patterned cloth. A wooden spoon and scattered green onions are in the background. — Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili. Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

You can let your slow cooker do all the work for this Smoky Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili, where the chipotle peppers create a deep flavor that improves the longer it cooks. It is the perfect easy meal for a busy day since you just need to add the ingredients and come back later to a ready dinner.
Get Recipe: Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili

Slow Cooker Bison Chili

A black bowl filled with chili, topped with grated cheese, sour cream, and a sliced jalapeño. Fresh herbs are sprinkled on top. Another bowl of chili and a small plate with cheese are partially visible. — Slow Cooker Bison Chili. Photo credit: In The Kitch.

The bison meat in this Slow Cooker Bison Chili has a unique and slightly sweet flavor that is leaner than beef but still very tasty. Cooking it slowly in the crockpot makes the meat so tender it melts in your mouth, and it is especially good when served with a side of warm cornbread.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Bison Chili

Dutch Oven Chili with Ground Beef and Sweet Potato

A pot of chili with sweet potatoes, beans, and ground meat is garnished with chopped green onions. A wooden spoon is stirring the mixture. A striped cloth is partially visible beneath the pot. — Dutch Oven Chili with Ground Beef and Sweet Potato. Photo credit: Sugar & Snap Peas.

Sweet potatoes add a touch of natural sweetness to the spiced ground beef in this Dutch Oven Chili, creating a great balance of flavors. Cooking everything in the dutch oven helps make the beef extra tender and is perfect for melting a layer of cheese on top of each serving.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Chili with Ground Beef and Sweet Potato

Crockpot Chili

A bowl of chili with kidney beans, corn, minced meat, and diced tomatoes garnished with cilantro. Red chili peppers are scattered nearby, and a bottle of olive oil and fresh herbs are in the background. — Crockpot Chili. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

This simple Crockpot Chili is the easiest dinner because you just put all the ingredients into the slow cooker and let it cook for hours. The long, slow cooking time makes the flavors rich and deep, resulting in a thick and hearty chili that is ready for you when you get home.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chili

Chocolate Chili

A bowl of chili filled with ground meat, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, sweet potatoes, and herbs. Topped with pumpkin seeds and fresh cilantro, showcasing a mix of vibrant colors. The bowl sits on a light pink surface. — Chocolate Chili. Photo credit: Food Proof Living.

A small amount of dark chocolate adds a rich and interesting depth to this unique Chocolate Chili, which might sound unusual but creates a amazing and complex taste. The chocolate does not make the chili sweet but instead makes it a special and memorable dish that is different from the rest.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chili

Texas Roadhouse Chili

A person reaches for a bowl of chili topped with cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and corn chips. A slice of lime and cornbread are nearby. Two more bowls of chili with similar toppings are partially visible. — Texas Roadhouse Chili. Photo credit: Confetti & Bliss.

You can make this smoky and spicy Texas Roadhouse Chili at home, which tastes just like the restaurant version with its classic ground beef and chili peppers. If the heat is too strong, a spoonful of cool sour cream on top is the perfect way to balance out the spiciness for your taste.
Get the Recipe: Texas Roadhouse Chili

Beer Chili

A large pot of chili with beans, tomatoes, onion, and peppers in a rich, reddish-brown sauce sits on a stove with a ladle nearby. The pot is blue and rests on a black trivet, with a light blue cloth beside it. — Beer Chili. Photo credit: Champagne Tastes.

Using your favorite beer in this Beer Chili adds a deep and rich flavor that makes the whole dish taste more complex, as the alcohol cooks away during simmering. Top it with a generous amount of shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream to make it even more satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Beer Chili

Turkey Chili

A bowl of chili filled with black beans, tomatoes, green peppers, and ground meat. A spoon rests in the bowl. Tortilla chips are scattered around on the wooden table surface. — Turkey Chili. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

Lean ground turkey makes this Turkey Chili a lighter meal that is still very filling and packed with plenty of flavor from all the spices. It is a healthy choice that does not feel heavy, and serving it with a piece of cornbread on the side makes for a complete and comforting dinner.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Chili

Vegan Pumpkin Chili [Crockpot + Stove]

A bowl of hearty vegetable chili with chickpeas, tomatoes, and beans, garnished with fresh parsley. A spoon rests inside the bowl, which is placed on a light-colored surface near a white napkin. — Vegan Pumpkin Chili [Crockpot + Stove]. Photo credit: Plant-Based on a Budget.

The pumpkin in this Vegan Pumpkin Chili creates a creamy and slightly sweet base that is completely free of any meat or dairy products. You can let your crockpot do all the work, and topping each bowl with a few pumpkin seeds adds a nice crunchy texture to the finished dish.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Pumpkin Chili [Crockpot + Stove]

Pork Chili (or Spicy Pork Stew?)

A bowl of chili with black beans, sausage, cheese, avocado, a dollop of sour cream, and cilantro, garnished with a lime wedge. Beside it, a slice of buttered bread and a glass of iced tea. An orange pepper and cherry tomato are nearby. — Pork Chili (or Spicy Pork Stew?). Photo credit: Art of Natural Living.

Tender pieces of pork are used in this Pork Chili, which soak up all the spicy and savory flavors as it cooks for a hearty and different kind of chili. For those who prefer a milder taste, adding a spoonful of cool sour cream on top is a great way to tone down the heat.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chili (or Spicy Pork Stew?)

The Best Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

Two bowls of chili topped with avocado slices, sour cream, jalapeño slices, lime wedges, and tortilla chips—an effortless dump-and-cook dinner. A spoon rests on a plaid napkin beside the bowls, surrounded by scattered chips and fresh ingredients. — The Best Slow Cooker Vegan Chili. Photo credit: Happy Kitchen.

Even people who usually eat meat will enjoy this plant-based version called The Best Slow Cooker Vegan Chili, where the slow cooker makes the beans perfectly tender. Adding some creamy avocado on top of each bowl right before serving makes it even more delicious and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: The Best Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

Vegan Chili

A bowl of chili topped with sour cream, sliced green onions, and a lime wedge. Garnished with cilantro leaves. There's a spoon on the side, surrounded by cilantro and a green chili pepper on a dark surface. — Vegan Chili. Photo credit: Green Heart Love.

This Vegan Chili is packed full of beans and vegetables, proving that you do not need meat to make a flavorful and hearty meal. The blend of spices gives it a rich taste while keeping it healthy, and it is so good that even meat-eaters will often want a second helping.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Chili

Chili with Kidney Beans

A bowl of hearty chili topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped green onions. A hand is holding the bowl. Fresh green onions and a knife are next to a cutting board in the background. — Chili with Kidney Beans. Photo credit: Cooking with Wine Blog.

This classic Chili with Kidney Beans is a simple and always satisfying dish, with meaty beans in every single bite. A spoonful of cool sour cream stirred into the bowl is the perfect way to balance out the spicy heat and add a creamy touch to the finished chili.
Get the Recipe: Chili with Kidney Beans

Instant Pot Turkey Quinoa Chili

A bowl of chili topped with diced avocado, chopped green onions, and shredded cheese. A spoon is resting in the bowl, and a piece of bread is placed on the rim. The background is a light blue surface. — Instant Pot Turkey Quinoa Chili. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

The combination of lean turkey and healthy quinoa makes this Instant Pot Turkey Quinoa Chili a nutritious meal that is still very satisfying and filling. Using an Instant Pot means it cooks very quickly on a busy night but still has a deep flavor like it simmered for hours.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Turkey Quinoa Chili

Ground Chicken Chili

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese, sliced jalapeños, avocado slices, and a dollop of sour cream. Nearby are bowls of extra shredded cheese and sour cream on a light gray surface. — Ground Chicken Chili. Photo credit: Flavor The Moments.

This Ground Chicken Chili is a lighter option that is just as flavorful as beef chili, making it a great choice for a weeknight meal. The lean ground chicken absorbs all the spices perfectly, and it is delicious when topped with creamy avocado slices for a cool and fresh contrast.
Get the Recipe: Ground Chicken Chili

Venison Chili with Beer

Two bowls of chili topped with shredded cheese and sliced jalapeños are on a dark surface. Fresh jalapeños and sliced pieces are scattered around. Two silver spoons lie nearby. — Venison Chili with Beer. Photo credit: Champagne Tastes.

This wild game Venison Chili with Beer gets a deep and rich flavor from the dark beer that the venison soaks up as it cooks. It is a rustic and very filling dish that is especially ideal for a comforting meal after you have spent a long day outside.
Get the Recipe: Venison Chili with Beer

Campfire Chili

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. The chili contains chunks of tomato, kidney beans, and minced meat, all in a thick, hearty sauce. A spoon rests in the bowl. — Campfire Chili. Photo credit: Quiche My Grits.

You can make this Campfire Chili outdoors over a fire or easily prepare it on your kitchen stove, and either way it turns out great. The cooking method gives it a special smoky taste that makes it unique, and it is perfect for dipping a piece of bread directly into the bowl.
Get the Recipe: Campfire Chili

Colorado Pork Green Chili Recipe (+ Instant Pot & Crockpot Directions)

A bowl of chili with chunks of meat and red beans, topped with shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, lime wedges, chopped green onions, and fresh cilantro on a white marble surface. — Colorado Pork Green Chili Recipe (+ Instant Pot & Crockpot Directions). Photo credit: Mae’s Menu.

Green chilies give this Colorado Pork Green Chili a tangy and spicy heat that pairs perfectly with the tender pieces of pork. You can choose to make it quickly using an Instant Pot or let it simmer slowly all day in a crockpot, and it is best served with warm tortillas on the side.
Get the Recipe: Colorado Pork Green Chili Recipe (+ Instant Pot & Crockpot Directions)