When the weather outside is frightful, there’s nothing more comforting than digging into a giant bowl of chili. There’s only one problem: We’ve been cooking our old standby since forever, and we hate to say it, but we’ve grown immune to its charms. Grab a spoon and amp up your weeknight repertoire with these 16 chili recipes that are begging for a spot on your game day menu.
16 Chili Recipes to Eat During the Super Bowl (or on Any Old Weeknight)
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Published Jan 4, 2023
1. White Turkey Chili with Avocado
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pot
This twist on the classic uses ground turkey instead of ground beef and white beans in place of kidney beans. It would be even tastier with a generous glug of hot sauce, if you ask us.
2. Cheddar Biscuit Chili Pot Pies
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Don't let the homemade biscuits deter you: Much like the chili, they're made almost entirely from pantry staples that are likely already in your kitchen.
3. Spicy Slow Cooker Green Chicken Chili
- Time Commitment: 6 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pot, slow cooker recipe
Bust out the Crockpot for a game day meal all your guests will rave about. Not only will you only need to commit to 15 minutes of prep, but the leftovers will also last up to three months in the fridge.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, one pot
Just because it's meatless doesn't mean it isn't satisfying. Sweet potatoes, chickpeas, black beans, avocado and sour cream make the chili heartier than you'd expect.
5. Sweet Potato Chili with Turkey and Black Beans
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pot
Warm spices play up the rich, autumnal flavor of the sweet potatoes. We're talking cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, cumin and chili powder. Finish your bowl with all the scallions and cheddar cheese your heart desires.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, one pot, beginner-friendly
If you think it's drool-worthy fresh out of the Dutch oven, wait until you try the leftovers. The longer the cauliflower sits in the chili, the more flavorful it will be.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
It's not chili in the traditional sense, but we're definitely making room for it (and tons of tortilla chips) in our Super Bowl spread. Cashews, almond milk and potatoes make the dairy-free cheese sauce possible.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, beginner-friendly
If you're a fan of the O.G. (as in ground beef, kidney beans and canned tomatoes), look no further than this recipe. A balance of fresh produce and canned ingredients makes it a breeze to pull off yet decidedly delicious.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Chopped jalapeño peppers and canned green chiles infuse this chicken-based chili with the optimal dose of heat. Might we suggest serving it chilaquiles-style over tortilla chips?
10. Spicy Buffalo White Chicken Chili
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
It sure beats frying a million chicken wings before the big game, no? Save yourself even more time and effort by using a store-bought rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own.
12. Fajita Chili
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, beginner-friendly
Sliced bell peppers, chicken breast and fajita seasoning are sure to spruce up your usual chili recipe. Go the extra mile by serving it in a deep sizzling skillet with soft tortillas.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
In our opinion, this pick is all about the finishing touches. Fresh cilantro and sherry vinegar are stirred in at the very end before the chili is served. Then, it's topped with everything from sliced avocado to shredded cheddar cheese.
14. Black Bean Chili with Chocolate & Coconut
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, one pot
A little bit sweet, slightly rich and shockingly tasty. The magic ingredient is canned chipotle chiles in adobo, which offer heat and smokiness to counter the cocoa and chocolate chips.
15. Chicken Chili con Carne-Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins
- Time Commitment: 4 hours
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly, high protein
Two game day icons, one drool-worthy mashup. And in case chili-topped potato skins aren't football-inspired enough for you, know that the chicken and veggies are cooked in beer for good measure.
16. Championship Award-Winning Texas-Style Chili
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein
A generous flurry of spices makes this masterpiece what it is. Think beef and chicken bouillon, chili powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, brown sugar and cumin. Bonus points for serving the chili in a hulled-out loaf of bread.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
