23 of the Best Cozy Chili Recipes to Keep You Warm All Season Long (2024)

FAQs

What spices are good in chili for heat? ›

If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika. Always add a little at a time and remember, those flavors will develop in the cooking process.

Add a hit of soy sauce, Worcestershire, or tamari. These salty, savory powerhouses won't dominate or change the flavor of your chili so much as amplify what's there. Start with one tablespoon, stir, and taste before you add another. Add tomato paste.

A low and slow cook time—at least an hour total—is key for drawing out the most flavor in a pot of chili. Yes, a quick chili is most welcome on weeknights, but it won't have quite the same results. A slow cooker works wonders, but if you're short on time, try a pressure cooker.

The best kind of broth can vary: For a traditional chili recipe, beef broth is best, but white chili is better with chicken broth. And of course, if you're making a vegetarian chili, stick with vegetable broth instead. If you don't have any broth on hand, you could also add beer or wine to the pot.

Just a few tablespoons of cocoa powder (or even a few squares of a dark chocolate bar) can give your pot of chili that extra level of depth you've been searching for. Cocoa has a rich and creamy mouthfeel and can give your chili a nutty, floral, and even raisin-like flavor.

What are the Best Seasonings for Chili? Other than chili powder, the top herbs and spices to add to chili are cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

Start Small with the Spice

Other recipes might call for a variety of spicy ingredients – like cayenne pepper and jalapenos – if you're not sure about your spice tolerance, just stick with one and then try both ingredients another time.

Cinnamon. The beauty of ground cinnamon is that it brings a warmth to your chili, without being spicy. It works well with other flavors commonly found in chili (like tomato, cumin and chile powder) so you only need a little bit to achieve the desired balance.

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

Coffee or Espresso: A cup of coffee can add a rich, earthy depth to your chili. The subtle bitterness of coffee perfectly complements the savory elements of the dish, creating a complex flavor profile.

Chili is perhaps the ideal slow-cooker dish because its flavor improves with a long, slow simmer. This makes a big batch, perfect for a cold-weather get-together, but if you're making it for a smaller group, the leftovers freeze well.

Make sure to give your chili some heat by including jalapeños. Add in beef broth or beer (or both). Make sure to season with chili powder*, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Maybe a little touch of smoked paprika if you want to introduce some smokiness to the dish.

Chili must: LOOK GOOD, SMELL GOOD and TASTE GOOD. If in a competition, it must do so lukewarm in a styrofoam cup. It also must look good on as small plastic teaspoon used for judging and tasting. Chili that doesn't win violates one or more of the three basics.

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.