15 Unusual Award Winning Chili 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 unusual award winning chili 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 Unusual Award Winning Chili Recipes

Award Winning Chili With Unusual Twist

2 hr 5 min

Cubed pork butt, pinto beans, ground beef, green bell pepper, red pepper flakes

5.02

Food.com

Award Winning Chili

8 hr 20 min

Pinto beans, ground beef, black beans, sour cream, ground pork

4.811

The Modern Proper

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

Dad’s Award Winning Secret Ingredient Chili

3 hr 15 min

Ground beef, black beans, sweet corn kernels, red kidney beans, coffee grounds

4.1138

4 Sons ‘R’ Us

Stovetop Chili

40 min

Butternut squash, ground beef, black beans, kidney beans, brown sugar

5.037

It Is a Keeper

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

Award Winning Chili

Bulk italian sausage, ground beef, black beans, sour cream, kidney beans

No reviews

A Well-Seasoned Kitchen

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

Contest-Winning Pepperoni Pizza Chili

50 min

Hot italian sausage, ground beef, kidney beans, chili beans, pizza sauce

4.841

Taste of Home

Crock-Pot Crazy Pineapple Chili

4 hr 10 min

Black beans, italian turkey sausage, sour cream, dei fratelli, tomato paste

4.598

Two Healthy Kitchens

Texas Sized Chili Bar

45 min

Ground beef, sour cream, ranch dressing, taco seasoning, tomato sauce

4.919

Modern Honey

Award Winning Chili Recipe

1 hr 10 min

Pinto beans, italian sausage, ground pork, kidney beans, brown sugar

5.02

Cooking On The Ranch

Best Damn Chili Ever for Chili Cook-Off #SundaySupper

8 hr 40 min

Lean ground beef, adzuki beans, red wine, kidney beans, san marzano tomatoes

4.719

Noshing With the Nolands –

Easy Firecracker Cinnamon Chili

6 hr 20 min

Ground beef, sour cream, zucchini, tomato sauce, brown sugar

4.812

The Fresh Cooky

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili

4 hr 20 min

Blue cheese crumbles, cream cheese, ground chicken, ranch dressing mix, white navy beans

4.4462

Slow Cooker Gourmet

12 Related Question Answers About Unusual Award Winning Chili Recipes

What is the secret ingredient to good chili?

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.

What can I add to chili to make it richer?

Cinnamon, strong coffee, and dark chocolate all boost them meaty flavor in a good chili. Pick any of the following: 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 whole cinnamon stick, a shot of espresso, a small cup of strong coffee, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, or a few squares of good-quality dark chocolate.

How do you add richness to chili?

How to Give Chili a Flavor Boost

1. Add something acidic. …
2. Try to identify what about your chili is boring. …
3. Add tomato paste. …
4. Drop in some chocolate. …
5. Embrace pickling liquid. …
6. Stir in some molasses.

What does apple cider vinegar do to chili?

Finish Every Pot of Chili with a Spoonful of Vinegar

Stirred into the pot right before serving, a spoonful of vinegar brightens up the finished product, and gives it that full, rounded taste that was missing. Even if the chili recipe you’re using doesn’t call for vinegar, go ahead and add it anyway.

Should you put sugar in chili?

Why is sugar used in this chili recipe? Sugar is used to cut the acidity of the tomatoes used in my homemade chili recipe. Using a small amount of sugar balances the flavors which in turn creates a smoother and richer taste overall.

How does Wendy’s make their chili?

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.

Should chili be thick or soupy?

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.

What does dark chocolate do to chili?

So what does unsweetened chocolate do for a pot of chili? It adds richness, deeper flavor, and umami. The chocolate makes the ground chiles and other spices perk up and taste more like themselves.

Is cocoa powder good in chili?

You may associate chocolate with dessert, but rest assured, adding cocoa powder won’t make your chili sickeningly sweet. Instead, it’ll contribute a layer of richness and balance out the spiciness. Especially in plant-based chili where the savory quality of meat is absent, cocoa powder adds complexity of flavor.

What does coffee do to chili?

Coffee has notably earthy flavors that can help spices in chili stand out. In addition to bringing out the flavor of the spices, coffee also helps accentuate the aromas in your chili. The coriander, garlic, onion, peppers, anything you put in your chili can be amplified aromatically by adding just a touch of coffee.

Is cinnamon good in chili?

It’s CINNAMON and cloves! Yes, putting cinnamon in your chili enhances it in tremendous ways. Much like adding chili powder and other common chili spices, cinnamon is a super versatile spice that adds warmth without the heat to Firecracker chili.