Its pretty much the perfect antidote to short, icy, energy-sapping days.

Chili is easy to make, not too high on prep time, and infinitely adaptable.

Thats because the main ingredients used, like beans and meat, come in so many different varieties.

Crockpot turkey chili with chili cheese and cornbread.

Maria Lichty viaTwo Peas and Their Pod

As long as you follow a fairly basic formula, youre free to mix and match at your discretion.

And the rest of the classic chili ingredients are just as varied.

Does your recipe call for ground turkey but all you have on hand is ground beef?

Chili with sweet potato black beans avocado.

No matter how much you experiment, its hard to go wrong with this foolproof dish.

What ingredients do you gotta make chili?

There are vegetarian versions that forgo meat entirely without sacrificing flavor by using multiple types of beans.

Black eyed pea chili with pumpkin Swiss chard.

Whats the secret ingredient to a great chili recipe?

Boyd says that the secret to a great homemade chili is what you use to season the base.

How long does chili take to cook?

Crockpot turkey chili with chili cheese and cornbread.

Similarly, stovetop and Crockpot chili will take a lot longer to prepare thanInstant Potversions.

Or use an Instant Pot to cut down the process to just an hour or less.

What can you pair with chili?

Curry lentil chili with sweet potatoes carrots.

In some places, like Cincinnati, chili is even served over spaghetti, he says.

But dont stop there.

Serve chili over a bed of crispy French fries for a quick, drive-through inspired treat.

Spicy white bean chili with shredded chicken corn.

Or serve it atop a freshly baked potato and smother with toppings like sour cream and jalapenos.

Dont be afraid to get creative.

What are the best chili toppings?

Queso chicken chili with roasted corn and jalapeño.

The toppings it’s possible for you to add to chili are just as varied as the dish itself.

These 17 recipes showcase all that chili has to offer.

Instead of cooking chicken breasts from raw, save yourself a dirty pan and usepre-cooked rotisserie chickeninstead.

Vegan tempeh chili with pepitas and beans.

Shred it up moments before your chili is finished cooking, stir it in, and enjoy.

Pumpkin ChilifromA Cozy Kitchen

Any kind of food can and should be pumpkin-ifiedeven chili.

Slowcooker chipotle chicken chili with cilantro.

Black bean chili with pickled red onions cilantro.

Texas beef chili with onions cilantro peppers.

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Any kind of food can and should be pumpkinified—even chili. This recipe uses canned pumpkin to add a bit of earthy…

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