This post may contain paid and/or affiliate links. I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our Privacy Policy.
November is chili month, and we will not be taking questions. The days are shorter, the air has that real bite to it, and there’s football on every weekend, which basically means a big pot of chili should be simmering on the stove at all times.
Chili is also secretly one of the best meal-prep recipes out there. It’s cheap to make, it feeds a crowd, it freezes beautifully, and it genuinely tastes better on day two. Make one pot on Sunday and you’ve got cozy work-from-home lunches ready to reheat all week, with enough left over to stash in the freezer for a busy week in December.
We rounded up 10 of our favorite chili recipes from some of our go-to food bloggers. There’s a classic beef chili, a bean-free Texas chili, a creamy white chicken chili, a couple of lighter turkey versions, two fall-inspired chilis made with pumpkin and butternut squash, a set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker chili, and a chili cornbread casserole that might just steal the show.
Cozy Chili Recipes for Fall
This article is all about cozy chili recipes to make this November.
1. Classic Chili
Every chili roundup needs a dependable, no-frills classic, and this is ours. It’s built almost entirely from pantry staples like canned beans, tomatoes, and a good spice blend, it comes together in one pot, and it’s easy to double if you’re feeding a crowd on game day. Set out cheese, sour cream, green onions, and tortilla chips and let everyone build their own bowl.
2. Texas Chili
If you like your chili big and beefy, this is the one. Texas-style chili skips the beans entirely and uses tender chunks of chuck roast instead of ground beef, simmered low and slow with smoky spices until the meat practically falls apart. It takes a little longer than a weeknight chili, but almost all of that time is hands-off, which makes it a perfect lazy Sunday project.
3. White Chicken Chili
Not a red chili person? This one might convert you anyway. Shredded chicken, white beans, and green chiles simmer in a savory broth, and blending a portion of the beans right into the pot makes it thick and creamy without any heavy cream. It’s cozy rather than fiery, and it holds up really well in the fridge, so it’s one of our favorites for meal-prepped lunches.
4. Easy Pumpkin Chili
Here’s the perfect way to use up that extra can of pumpkin puree before Thanksgiving. Ground beef, kidney beans, black beans, and tomatoes simmer with pumpkin and warm spices for a chili that’s slightly sweet, extra thick, and very fall. It’s ready in about 30 minutes, so it works just as well on a Tuesday night as it does on a Sunday afternoon. Top it with pepitas for a little crunch.
5. Three Sisters Butternut Squash Chili
Named for the classic trio of corn, beans, and squash, this chili is packed with kidney beans, sweet corn, poblano peppers, and cubes of butternut squash in a smoky fire-roasted tomato broth. The squash breaks down just enough to thicken the pot while still leaving tender bites throughout. It’s a hearty, veggie-loaded option that feels like harvest season in a bowl.
6. Easy Healthy Turkey Chili
This lighter turkey chili keeps things budget-friendly without skimping on flavor. Ground turkey simmers with beans, corn, poblano peppers, and fire-roasted tomatoes until it’s thick and hearty enough to eat on its own. Portion it into containers with a scoop of rice and you’ve got a week of grab-and-go lunches, and it freezes wonderfully if you want to double the batch.
7. White Bean Turkey Chili
Lean ground turkey, creamy cannellini beans, and green chiles make this a lighter chili that still feels properly hearty. Blending part of the pot gives it a thick, satisfying texture without adding any cream, and the flavor only gets better as it sits. Top your bowl with a little shredded cheese and sliced jalapeños and it’s basically a treat.
8. No Bean Turkey Chili
Cutting carbs or just not a fan of beans? This bean-free turkey chili is thick, smoky, and hearty, with ground turkey, diced tomatoes, and green chiles simmered with chili powder and cumin. It comes together in about 30 minutes and freezes well, so it’s worth making a double batch to keep on hand for busy weeks.
9. Slow Cooker Chili
For the busiest days, let the slow cooker do all the work. Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and spices go into the crockpot in the morning, and by dinnertime you’ve got a rich, hearty pot of chili waiting for you. It’s the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it meal for game days, cold weeknights, or any time you want the whole house to smell amazing.
10. Chili Cornbread Casserole
Why serve cornbread on the side when you can bake it right on top? This casserole layers a hearty chili underneath a golden cornbread topping, so every scoop gets a little of both. It’s a total crowd-pleaser for potlucks and game-day spreads, and leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day.
Tips for the Best Chili Night
- Set up a toppings bar. Shredded cheddar, sour cream, green onions, sliced jalapeños, avocado, crushed tortilla chips, and pepitas let everyone make their bowl their own.
- Make it a day ahead. Almost every chili tastes better the next day once the spices have had time to settle in, which makes it perfect for hosting.
- Freeze in single portions. Let the chili cool completely, then portion it into freezer-safe containers so you can pull out one lunch at a time.
- Don’t forget the sides. Cornbread, baked potatoes, rice, or a simple green salad all turn a bowl of chili into a full meal.
Whether you’re feeding a crowd on game day, prepping lunches for the week, or just craving something warm on a chilly November night, there’s a chili on this list for you. Save this post for chili season, pick one or two to make this weekend, and let us know which one becomes your new favorite!
Leave a Reply