15 Chili Cook-off Winning Recipes

What should I make for dinner tonight? This might just be the number one question that we ask ourselves almost daily over here.

Then you have come to the right place, we have rounded up 15 chili cook-off winning recipes that we have shared over the years.

Plus, there is such a variety of flavours in these recipes, so you are sure to find something for you. Most of these recipes are quick and easy ones made especially for busy weeknights.

15 Chili Cook-off Winning Recipes

Eddie’s Award Winning Chili

3 hr 45 min

Pinto beans, sweet italian sausage, ground beef, sour cream, kidney beans

4.9170

Panning The Globe

My Triple Cook-Off Winning Chili

1 hr 50 min

V8 juice, red kidney beans, dark brown sugar, stewed tomatoes, good chili powder

5.038

Just A Pinch

The Best Chili Recipe (Award Winning!)

30 min

Ground beef, black beans, sour cream, red kidney beans, brown sugar

5.0448

Sugar Spun Run

Award Winning Chili

2 hr 15 min

Ground turkey, black beans, sour cream, kidney beans, tomato sauce

5.0454

Food.com

Texas Chili – Award Winning Chili Recipe

4 hr 20 min

Beef chuck, hot sauce, tomato paste, ancho chili powder, chili powder

4.730

The Wicked Noodle

Award Winning Chili

1 hr 10 min

Ribeye roast, sour cream, cornbread, dark chocolate bar, avocado

4.73

Flip Flop Foodies

Best Chili Recipe (Award Winning) With Video!

45 min

Pinto beans, ground beef, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, green pepper

5.058

Whisk it Real Gud

16 Genius Chili Hacks From Pro Cook-Off Winners

No reviews

Eat This, Not That

The Best Authentic Texas Chili Recipe

3 hr 35 min

Beef chuck roast, shiner bock, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, cocoa powder

4.524

Our Sweet Adventures

Award Winning Southern Soul Chili

2 hr 45 min

Ground beef, black beans, red kidney beans, bbq sauce, balsamic vinegar

4.99

A Southern Soul

Award Winning Chili

1 hr 30 min

Ground beef, kidney beans, white wine, bacon, stewed tomatoes

4.6513

Allrecipes

Sweet & Spicy Chili with Brown Sugar

1 hr 15 min

Condensed tomato soup, pinto beans, ground beef, kidney beans, brown sugar

4.5190

The Dashley’s Kitchen

The Best Chili Recipe

2 hr 50 min

Tomato sauce, louisiana hot sauce, beef bouillon, cornmeal, chili powder

3.858

Moms Who Think

Crockpot Award Winning Chili | 23 ingredients

6 hr 45 min

Pinto beans, ground beef, ribs, kidney beans, beef broth

5.01

Crockpot Recipes

Award-Winning Sweet and Spicy Chili

2 hr 15 min

Sweet italian sausage, lean ground beef, red kidney beans, bacon, brown sugar

4.84

Jen Woodhouse

12 Related Question Answers About Chili Cook-off Winning Recipes

What is the secret to award winning chili?

Always bloom your spices

It’s not always about what spices you use, but rather how you use them. Adding salt and chili spices at the end won’t infuse the dish with true depth of flavor. Instead, bring out the flavor of the spices by adding them when you brown the meat or soften the onions.

How do you win the chili cook-off contest?

Tips for Making Chili, Plus a Chili Cook-Off Winning Recipe!

1. #1 Brown the Meat. Before adding all of the chili ingredients together, brown the meat to develop a fuller flavor. …
2. #3 Elevate with Extra Flavor. Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. …
3. #5 Opt for Dried Beans.

What makes a good competition chili?

ICS and CASI have different judging philosophies, but most judges evaluate chili essentially on color, aroma, consistency, taste and aftertaste. Chili should not be excessively greasy, and it should have a pleasing color, from red to brown. It should smell good. It shouldn’t be too thick or too thin.

What can I make for a chili cook-off?

Consider decorating with lanterns, painted pumpkins, tea lights, or a campfire. Chili Bar: Don’t forget the chili bar condiments! Some ideas for chili mix-ins include bacon, shredded cheese, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, fresh jalapenos, cornbread, lime wedges, and oyster crackers.

What do judges look for in a chili cook off?

During a chili cook-off, judges look for color, aroma, consistency, taste and aftertaste.

Is chili better the longer it cooks?

Let that chili cooooook. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors will meld together. In fact, chili is just the kind of thing you want to make a day ahead: it gets better with a night in the fridge.

How can I add more depth to my chili?

Is it lacking in savory depth? 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.

Can you use black beans instead of kidney beans in chili?

Kidney Beans are the classic chili bean, but I am not fond of their mealy texture, so I prefer using Black Beans. Northern White or Cannellini Beans go in my white chicken chili. Pinto Beans are another option to consider. A combination of beans also works.

What is the best meat to use for chili?

The Best Beef Cuts for Chili

• Ground beef. This is the quickest and least expensive type of beef to use for chili. …
• Beef chuck. Diced beef chuck, which comes from the shoulder, is tough, but it becomes nicely tender when stewed for at least 90 minutes. …
• Brisket. …
• Short ribs.

Should chili be thick or thin?

Chili should be thick and hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but sometimes there’s just a bit more liquid than you want in the pot.

Are beans allowed in a chili cook off?

Traditional Red Chili is defined by the International Chili Society as any kind of meat or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients, with the exception of BEANS and PASTA which are strictly forbidden. No garnish is allowed.

What is the best bean to use in chili?

There are many types of beans, most of which are great for chili. You might encounter pinto, fava, navy, kidney, and green beans. The best beans for chili, however, are pinto, kidney, and black beans. You can use other types of beans in chili, but think about what you like in yours.