Our Favorite Chili Recipes for Cold-Weather Days (2024)

There are a few components to great chili. The first is a hearty base—whether you go with classic ground beef, lean ground turkey, or vegetarian beans, this is key to creating the ultimate comfort food. Next are lots of spices and aromatics. Expect to see a combination of cumin, coriander, and chili powder, tomato paste, chile peppers such as poblanos or jalapeños, and perhaps cocoa powder for extra depth. There will, of course, be onions, garlic, and diced tomatoes, too.

Is this your first foray into homemade chili? Start with our Easy Beef Chili recipe, then build your skills and flavor from there. Once you get comfortable with that dish, you can try making Chili-Stuffed Peppers, which feel a little more unexpected but are just as delicious. The chili is mixed with steamed white rice and an egg, which binds the mixture together. The result is a super satisfying main meal. Another riff is Chili with Polenta and Vegetables, which makes chili even more comforting; it's ladled it over creamy, quick-cooking polenta. You can even make chili in a flash using the pressure cooker or multicooker. Our Pressure-Cooker Chile Verde, pictured here, couldn't be easier or more delicious.

A recipe that is sure to make the game day crowd go crazy is our Skillet Chili Nachos. Instead of just topping tortilla chips with cheese, ground beef, jalapeños—the works—we whipped up a quick chili to go over each and every crispy chip, along with beans and salsa.

We also have a couple of fabulous vegetarian chili recipes that use a combination of beans and tofu—no one will miss the meat. Our Vegetarian White Chili is made with cannellini beans and spinach, a Parmesan rind gives it extra umami flavor. Looking for something with more of a kick? Our Spicy Vegetarian Chili is made with black beans and red kidney beans, plus chipotle-chile powder for serious heat.

From classic recipes to totally new and inspired iterations, these chili recipes will keep you cozy while the weather is cold.