What kind of chili are you making?
Start with the bowl you want to eat, rather than a claim that one recipe is best for everyone. Meat, beans, peppers, and the character of the sauce vary by style.
Traditional red
A meat-and-red-chile approach associated with competition chili and Texas-style bowls. ICS Traditional Red competition rules exclude beans.
Homestyle
A flexible home-cooking category. Under ICS competition definitions, beans are required; recipes and household preferences vary beyond the contest.
Chili verde
A green-chile direction, with meat and seasoning determined by the recipe. A competition definition may differ from your family’s version.
Meat-free chili
Beans, vegetables, or suitable meat alternatives can provide the substance. Check stocks, sauces, and toppings if you’re cooking for a particular diet.
Competition definitions: International Chili Society cooking categories. These are contest definitions, not rules imposed on home cooks.
Ingredients: build layers, then adjust
Peppers and seasoning. Fresh chiles, dried chiles, and spice blends bring different kinds of flavor. A product called “chili powder” may be a blend, so read the label rather than assuming it contains only ground chile.
The main ingredients. Ground or cubed meat, beans, vegetables, and their combinations affect both texture and cooking method. Choose a complete recipe for the ingredients and equipment you plan to use.
The sauce. Tomatoes, stock, water, and other liquids vary by recipe. The amount of liquid and the cooking time work together; substituting freely can change the final consistency.
The finish. Keep optional toppings separate. Chopped onion, herbs, cheese, sour cream, or a squeeze of citrus can let each person finish their bowl differently.
Recipe sources to explore
We link to the original recipe publisher for ingredient quantities and cooking instructions. We do not label these recipes as tested in our own kitchen.
- Competition-winning recipes
The International Chili Society publishes winning recipes across several styles. Read the individual recipe and its category before choosing.
Browse the ICS recipe collection ↗ - A historical presidential recipe
The National Archives preserves Pedernales River Chili as a historical document. It is especially useful for the connection between food and presidential history.
Read the archived recipe ↗ - Home-cook variations
The original version of this site linked to Food.com’s community recipes. These links remain a route into different home-cooking approaches.
Chili con carne with beans
Slow-cooker vegetarian chili
Firehouse chili
Make the table welcoming
Tell guests what’s in each pot and keep toppings clearly labelled. A smaller tasting portion lets people try different styles without turning the meal into a contest over the hottest bowl.
For a celebration, consider offering one familiar recipe and one different approach. If you’re entering a sanctioned cook-off, follow its current ingredient, preparation, and serving requirements instead.
Food image note: the lead image on this site is an AI-generated food illustration. It does not depict a specific linked recipe, a contest entry, or an actual event. See editorial notes.