Food and Recipes Party Food and Drink 27 Hearty Chili Recipes That'll Warm You Right Up By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on September 23, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Becky Luigart Stayner When the weather starts to cool down, we're breaking out our slow cookers and Dutch ovens to whip up some stick-to-your-bones soups and stews. These simple dishes will fill you up, and the leftovers will last for days in your fridge (they taste just as good a day later, spooned over a baked potato). Butternut squash and tomato soups are two of our go-to fall classics, but there's no denying that chili is the ultimate cold-weather dish. A classic rendition is loaded with protein from beef or beans, stewed in with tomatoes and topped with a sprinkle of cheese and a dollop of sour cream. While you can't go wrong with the classics, we love chili for its versatility. There are endless ways to put your own spin on a warm bowl—you can go for ground beef or mix it up with shredded chicken or turkey. Chili is a great one-pot way to bring new life to your leftover meat and feed the whole family. From Instant Pot Turkey White Chicken Chili to West Texas Chili, we have options that range from tried and true to innovative and creative. Follow all of our homemade chili advice and you'll be on your way to a hearty weeknight dinner in no time. Curl up with a big bowl of chili for a satisfying meal. Whether you like beef, chicken, turkey, veggie, or just beans, we've got a recipe you'll love. 01 of 27 Hearty Chili Recipes That'll Warm You Right Up 02 of 27 Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Not a fan of tomatoes or beef? Get ready to reimagine chili with this recipe that trades beef for turkey and uses a base of chicken stock. This slow-cooker recipe is as easy as it is delicious. 03 of 27 Beef-and-Bean Chili Hector Sanchez Recipe: Beef-and-Bean Chili This classic red chili has chunks of stewed meat and ground beef along with tomatoes, red beans, and spices. Fire-roasted tomatoes add a note of smokiness to the mix. If you can't find fire-roasted, use plain tomatoes and add a pinch of smoked paprika. 04 of 27 Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake These miniature hash brown bakes make for a lovely breakfast or lunch. No matter the time of day, top your chili with a generous layer of shredded potatoes and bubbling cheddar cheese. 05 of 27 Vegetarian Skillet Chili Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely Recipe: Vegetarian Skillet Chili Vegetarians can finally get in on the fun with this plant-based, veggie-loaded chili recipe. You won't even miss the meat. 06 of 27 Instant Pot Chili Mac Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Instant Pot Chili Mac You might think of using your slow-cooker for chili, but have you ever tried a pressure-cooker? Mac and cheese meets chili for a flavorful and hardy dish that's on the table in just 30 minutes. 07 of 27 West Texas Chili Southern Living Recipe: West Texas Chili Don't mess with Texas. This chili is the star of the show in our Frito Pie, but can also be enjoyed all on its own. 08 of 27 Turkey Pumpkin Chili Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Turkey Pumpkin Chili Chiles add a kick, but the creamy pumpkin balances the heat for the perfect fall-flavored chili. Don't skip out on the fire-roasted crushed tomatoes—they give the dish a decidedly Southern accent. 09 of 27 Chicken-and-Brisket Brunswick Stew Iain Bagwell Recipe: Chicken-and-Brisket Brunswick Stew Can't decide between chicken or beef? Throw them both into this substantial chili-inspired stew. 10 of 27 Pork Chili Verde Hector Sanchez Recipe: Pork Chili Verde This recipe calls for fresh tomatillos, which look like small green tomatoes wrapped in thin papery skin. Remove the skin, and rinse before chopping. If you can't find fresh ones, look for the canned version at the grocery store. 11 of 27 Instant Pot White Chicken Chili Photographer: Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Recipe: Instant Pot White Chicken Chili In a recipe rut? Mix things up with this light and simple take on a traditional white chicken chili. 12 of 27 Beef-and-Black-eyed Pea Chili Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: Beef-and-Black-eyed Pea Chili Pull some cornbread fresh out of the skillet and savor the aroma of our Beef-and-Black-Eyed Pea Chili. You can fill a Dutch oven with chili meat, sweet onion, black-eyed peas, beer, and more, and still sit down for a delicious meal in under an hour. Serve it with jalapeño pepper slices, cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, or enjoy it as is. However you prefer it, you won't go wrong. 13 of 27 Slow-Cooker Brisket Chili Hector M. Sanchez Recipe: Slow-Cooker Brisket Chili This recipe for brisket chili is perfect for a weeknight dinner, game-day feast, or after-church Sunday supper. Chock-full of flavor, thanks to savory spices such as ancho chile powder, cumin, and oregano, the cubed brisket and black beans combine to create a satisfying and filling meal for your hungry family. 14 of 27 Chicken Chili Hector M. Sanchez Recipe: Chicken Chili A lighter take on a classic beef chili, but still full of plenty of spices, peppers, and a generous garnish of cilantro make this chicken chili a new crave-able fall classic. Rotisserie chicken makes it a snap pull together when time is tight, but aromatics like garlic and onion ensure the dish packs lots of flavor. Make an extra big batch; people are sure to want seconds. 15 of 27 Classic Beef Chili Greg DuPree Recipe: Classic Beef Chili This dish comes together in under an hour, but it's just as comforting and delicious as if it had taken all day. Make this hearty meal for weeknights, game days, or weekend lunches —and don't forget to be generous with the toppings. We like limes, jalapeños, radishes, and sour cream, but the sky's the limit. Leftovers? Freeze for later, or make chili dogs for another great weeknight dinner. 16 of 27 Instant Pot Pulled Pork Chili Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Recipe: Instant Pot Pulled Pork Chili You can't go wrong when BBQ and chili come together. This new stick-to-your-ribs chili is a great play on traditional pork chili. Barbecue sauce, slaw mix, and apple cider vinegar add unique flavors to the dish. No one will guess how easy this hearty stew is to whip up. 17 of 27 Beef-and-Butternut Squash Chili Recipe: Beef-and-Butternut Squash Chili This chili is loaded with flavor and nutrition. Paired with warm, crusty bread, it is hearty enough to serve as a main dish. And with a prep time of just 20 minutes, you can spend more time with the family while the chili simmers on the stovetop. 18 of 27 White Lightning Chicken Chili Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Becky Hargett Recipe: White Lightning Chicken Chili This one-pot dish gets its name for coming together in just half an hour—perfect for a hectic weeknight or a hearty to-go lunch. The best part? We stir in cheese at the end, which not only adds texture and thickness, but makes every bite satisfyingly melty and delicious. 19 of 27 Easy Chili Lee Harrelson Recipe: Easy Chili This is the chili recipe for all occasions—load it up on a baked potato, sop it up with cornbread, or enjoy it on its own. 20 of 27 Black Bean Chili Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Black Bean Chili Ready in only 30 minutes, this quick, meatless chili is made with black beans, meatless burger crumbles, and canned tomatoes. If desired, you can substitute ground beef. Top with a dollop of sour cream, corn chips, and chopped fresh cilantro just before serving. 21 of 27 Slow-Cooker Texas Chili Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Slow-Cooker Texas Chili Once the chilly weather sets in, we guarantee you'll be looking forward to a bowl of this Texas-inspired chili after a long day. By cooking the ingredients low and slow, the dried chiles, jalapeños, and chipotle chili powder result in a richly flavored dish. 22 of 27 Slow-Cooker Veggie Chili Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Slow-Cooker Veggie Chili Rather than just one, use a variety of your favorite beans for more depth. And if you want a little heat, add a dash of hot sauce to your bowl. 23 of 27 Chunky Beef Chili Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Chunky Beef Chili This hearty beef chili features boneless chuck roast and a medley of traditional chili seasonings. Serve with homemade cornbread for a complete and irresistible meal. 24 of 27 Game Day Chili Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Game Day Chili Deliciously tailgate-ready for a chilly Saturday, this hearty chili is an easy way to serve large crowds. Spoon it over a bag of corn chips and top with shredded cheese and garnishes for a snack-able dish everyone will love eating right out of a bag. 25 of 27 Red Bean Chili Southern Living Recipe: Red Bean Chili You don't need a long list of ingredients to make a delicious chili. This simple tomato-based recipe uses red kidney beans and lean ground beef for a flavor-packed dish. 26 of 27 Super Quick Chili Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Super Quick Chili This seven-ingredient chili recipe is ready to eat in less than 30 minutes. Make this the ultimate bread bowl dish by slicing the tops from hearty round dinner rolls or larger bread bowls and filling with chili. 27 of 27 Quick Beef Chili Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Quick Beef Chili All it takes is an hour (only 25 minutes hands-on) to whip up this crowd-pleasing chili. Perfect for the last-minute holiday hostess. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit