As the weather cools, use your slow cooker or Dutch oven to whip up some hearty soups and stews. These simple dishes are filling, and leftovers will last for days in the fridge (and are just as good spooned onto a baked potato the next day). Butternut squash and tomato soup are two fall classics, but there’s no denying that chili is the ultimate cold-weather dish. Classic dishes are packed with beef or bean protein, simmered with tomatoes, sprinkled with cheese, and drizzled with sour cream. You can’t go wrong with a classic, but we love chili for its versatility.
There are endless ways to put your own spin on a warm bowl. Use ground beef or mix it with shredded chicken or turkey. Chili is the perfect one-pot meal to breathe new life into leftover meat and feed the whole family. From Instant Pot White Chicken Chili to West Texas Chili with Turkey, options range from tried-and-true to innovative and creative. Follow our homemade chili tips and you’ll have a hearty weeknight dinner ready in no time. Dine on a big bowl of chili and enjoy a satisfying meal. Whether you love beef, chicken, turkey, veggies, or just beans, we’ve got a recipe for you.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Tory Cox
This hearty chili recipe is ready in under an hour, making it perfect for those no-cook, couch-friendly evenings. To save even more time, opt for a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
Southern Living
Don’t mess with Texas: This bean-free chili is the star of Frito pie, but it’s also great on its own.
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Kay Clark
You can’t go wrong with the combination of barbecue and chili. This new, filling chili is a great take on traditional pork chili. Barbecue sauce, coleslaw mix, and apple cider vinegar give the dish a unique flavor. You’d never guess how easy this hearty stew is to make.
Photography and styling: Kaitlyn Bensel
You might think of using a slow cooker for your chili, but have you ever tried a pressure cooker? Macaroni and cheese combined with chili creates a flavorful, hearty dish that can be on the table in just 30 minutes.
Photographer Victor Protacio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Kristin Keeley
Vegetarians can finally have fun with this plant-based, veggie-packed chili recipe, and no meat is a problem.
Jennifer Davis
These mini-sized hash browns make a fun and delicious lunch or dinner any time of day, topped with a generous serving of shredded potatoes and bubbly cheddar cheese over chili.
Hector Sanchez
This recipe uses fresh tomatillos, which look like small green tomatoes wrapped in a thin, papery skin. Peel and wash them before chopping. If you can’t find fresh ones, look for canned ones at the grocery store.
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
The chili adds a tangy kick, but the creamy pumpkin balances the heat for a chili with a fall flavor. Don’t forget to add the fire-roasted crushed tomatoes to give this dish a southern flavor.
Will Dickey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Whip up this hassle-free dish for your next get-together. This family-friendly recipe is packed with all the classic ingredients: beans, beef, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and a variety of spices. Got leftovers? Freeze them for later, or whip up some chili dogs to have one more for a weekday dinner.
Greg Dupree
This dish comes together in under an hour, yet is comforting and delicious as if it took all day to make. Make this hearty dish for a weeknight, game day, or weekend lunch. Be sure to add plenty of toppings; lime, jalapeño, radish, and sour cream are some of our favorites, but the possibilities are endless.
Hector M. Sanchez
This brisket chili recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner, a game day feast, or a Sunday dinner after church. Packed with flavor thanks to spices like ancho chili powder, cumin, and oregano, the combination of cubed brisket and black beans makes a satisfying, hearty meal for a hungry family.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Tori Cox
This chili recipe is perfect for any occasion: serve it on baked potatoes, with cornbread, or just as is. Make a big batch and you’ll be left wanting more.
Becky Luigert-Stayner, Styling: Becky Hargett
This one-pot dish gets its name from the fact that it’s ready in just 30 minutes — perfect for busy weeknights or hearty grab-and-go lunches. The best part? Stir in the cheese at the end, which not only adds texture and thickness, but also makes it satisfyingly melty and delicious with every bite.
Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors-Hall
We decided to use ground turkey instead of beef to make a lighter version of this traditional dish, and the best part is that it only takes 20 minutes to mix the ingredients together and dinner is ready.
Hector Manuel Sanchez
It doesn’t get any easier than White Chicken Chili, which requires just five ingredients (plus a few spices) to make, and you barely have to lift a finger as you cook the chili in your slow cooker on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas
Perfect for a chilly Saturday tailgate party, this hearty chili is easy to serve to a crowd: spooned onto a bag of corn chips and topped with shredded cheese and garnishes, it’s a crowd-pleasing snack straight from the bag.
Photographer: Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Rishon Hannahs, Prop Stylist: Christina Daly
Bored with the same recipe? Try mixing it up with this light and simple take on traditional white chicken chili. Ready in under an hour, this dish is an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
Emily Dorio
This simple recipe has all the common ingredients plus diced jalapeños and hot pepper sauce for a little heat. Adjust the spiciness to your liking by omitting or halving the ingredients called for in the recipe.
