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9 Amazing Recipes to Spice Up Your Next Chili Cook Off

Are you ready to fire up your taste buds? These recipes are sure to satisfy for dinner or whip one up to enter into a chili cook off!

Have you ever gone to a chili cook off?

Our town hosts a big one and while it’s fun, I’ve always felt kind of intimidated about entering it!

I mean, what if no one likes my recipe?!

This people-pleasing but also competitive person would be a little crushed.

Although, my latest chili recipe might just be a winner…

Table set for dinner with black plates, woven jute placemats, and crocks for a chili cook off.

If you don’t have a big chili cook off anywhere around you, or if you’re a little intimidated to enter one like me, why not get together with a bunch of friends and host a smaller scale chili cook off?

AnnMarie shared some amazing tips for how to host this kind of party with friends.

all the printables laying on wood table for chili cook off before cutting and assembling

We’ve even got a whole bundle of free printables to make it so easy to put a chili cookoff together!

If you’re not sure you have a winning chili recipe, we’ve got you covered.

Wait until you see all these delicious recipes for chili!

Welcome to our Virtual Dinner Club

We joined up with four of our blogging friends to create a virtual “dinner club” back at the beginning of 2021.

Every month we come up with a new theme.

We also invite a new guest host to join in our fun each month.

This month, Regina from the blog Saved from Salvage is joining us.

Regina is a talented DIYer who creates all kinds of unique crafts and furniture flips, with some tasty recipes thrown in for good measure.

We all share ideas for creating a tablescape for that theme. Did you see the simple centerpiece and table settings she put together for this month?

Then, we each share a recipe for the theme to create an entire menu.

Think of it as a virtual progressive dinner.

Typically, we include recipes for a signature cocktail, appetizer, main dish, side dishes, and dessert.

Be sure to check out all of our virtual dinner club tablescapes and menus

But this month we’re changing things up…

This Month We’re All Sharing Our Best Chili Recipe!

Collage of six different chili recipes to make for a chili cook-off party.

Each recipe is unique and they all sound so good!

Some Like it Hot: Nashville Hot Chicken Chili | Simply2Moms

Bowl of Nashville Hot Chicken Chili garnished with sour cream and hot sauce on a plate with dill pickles and rolls.

Want to take your chili to a whole new level?

Check out this recipe inspired by Nashville-style hot chicken!

Shredded chicken is seasoned with spicy Nashville hot chicken spices and combined with tomatoes and white beans for a unique twist on classic chili.

Serve it up with sliced dill pickles, buttery rolls, and some sour cream to tame the heat.

Healthy White Chicken Chili

Crock of low fat white chicken chili garnished with fresh cilantro, cheese, green onions on a plate with blue tortilla chips.

Remember when I said I love white chicken chili?

Well this is my version of that style of chili and it’s got some secret ingredients that really amp up the nutrition!

It’s thick and rich and a regular on my meal rotation.

Keto-friendly All Meat Chili

Bowl of all meat low carb chili garnished with shredded cheese

Do you believe that beans have no place in chili?

Then this All Meat Chili with five different kinds of meat is the recipe for you!

If you’re trying to watch your carbs, a bean-free chili is definitely the way to go.

I also love this Instant Pot version of an all meat chili.

Easy Healthy Pumpkin Chili | Simply2Moms

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Pumpkin chili served in mini pumpkin bowls topped with shredded cheese and green onions.

Ready to try something new with your chili?

Try adding some pumpkin!

It adds a smooth texture and a hint of sweetness to your chili that’s going to have you wanting to make this recipe again and again.

With just 3 grams of fat per serving and 26 net carbs, this recipe is part of a healthy lifestyle too.

Serve it up in mini pumpkin bowls for a fun presentation!

Easy Crockpot Chili | The Ponds Farmhouse

Overhead view of a bowl of crockpot chili on a charger with handles from The Ponds Farmhouse.

Our friend Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse is sharing her classic Crockpot Chili Recipe.

Featuring ingredients that are easy to keep on hand in your pantry, Rachel’s recipe is the perfect chili to whip up on a snowy day!

Pop the ingredients in your slow cooker in the morning and enjoy the smell of dinner cooking all day long.

Easy & Healthy Turkey Chili | Stacy Ling of Bricks’n’Blooms

Stoneware crock of turkey chili surrounded by bowls of toppings from Stacy Ling Blog.

Are you looking for a lighter chili that’s still packed with flavor?

Then you’re going to love Stacy’s Healthy Turkey Chili recipe!

It’s still super easy to make, and she’s packed it with flavor using fresh ingredients like corn and green chiles.

Want to take a break from tomatoes in your chili? Check out these recipes for white chicken chili!

Easy White Bean Chicken Chili Crockpot Recipe | Vintage Home Designs

Overhead view of small cast iron bowl of white chicken chili with corn muffins from Vintage Home Designs.

I can still remember the first time I tried a white chicken chili, hold the tomatoes.

It was truly love at first bite!

Our friend Michele has an authentic Tex-Mex White Chicken Chili recipe straight from the heart of Texas.

Best part? You can whip it up in your crockpot to get it on the table easier.

White Chicken Chili on the Grill | Saved from Salvage

Cast iron pot of white chicken chili from Saved From Salvage.

Our friend Regina from Saved from Salvage is in it to win it with this white chicken chili recipe that’s made on the grill.

This tasty chili gets extra smokey flavor from the grill and I am here for it!

Regina always has delicious recipes and this is one I’m adding to my menu for next week.

Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Chili | Midwest Life and Style

Overhead view of bowl of shredded beef chili from Midwest Life and Style blog.

Want to make your beef chili extra special?

Try making it with shredded beef instead of ground beef!

Our friend Jen is serving up a hardy chili recipe packed with extra veggies and fire roasted tomatoes.

This one is sure to become a family favorite!

Which recipe do you think you’ll make first?

Do you have an award-worthy chili recipe you’d like to share? Send us the link and we’ll feature you ion our social media accounts.

If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me or leave a comment.

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