Whether meat-centric, veggie-forward, boldly spiced, or globally driven, these unique chili recipes all have one thing in common: They're all uncommonly good. Once you take in all the different kinds of chilis showcased here, you'll be hard-pressed to settle for the same old bowl again.
19 Slow Cooker Chili Recipes to Make Comfort Food Even Easier
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Mediterranean Chickpea Chili
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When looking for a unique chili recipe, consider what Mediterranean ingredients can bring to the table. Grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and lemon zest give this garbanzo bean chili a fresh Greek twist.
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Mexican Winter Chili
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Sweet and hot peppers plus bold spices give this chili some typical Tex-Mex flavors. So, what makes it merit a spot on our list of unique chili recipes? A can of pumpkin and a touch of cream. The unexpected ingredients add richness and depth of flavor to this cold-weather supper.
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Caribbean Chili with Black Beans
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Add some flavors from the tropics for unique chili recipes that go beyond the usual bowl of red. Here, sweet mango, allspice, and orange juice temper the spice of the habanero pepper.
In our quest for unique chili recipes, we scored one with a seasonal bent. Butternut squash and cranberries are classic autumnal flavors. These ingredients meld beautifully with traditional chili fixings, including jalapeño pepper, chili powder, beans, and Monterey Jack cheese.
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Coconut-Chicken Chili
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Crisp veggies, ginger, basil, garlic, and coconut milk. Those ingredients sound more like something you'd find in your favorite Thai dish than in a chili. But add drained and rinsed beans and chili powder, and the combo might just earn a spot on your list of great new chili ideas.
If vegetarian chili sounds boring, just wait until you try this unique recipe. The hearty chili is spiced with green chiles, tomatillos, chipotle peppers in adobo, and—wait for it—beer! Mexican beer is added to the pot to give it a deeper flavor that will have you coming back for a second (or third) bowl.
As soon as there's a nip in the air, we start rifling through our archives of unique chili recipes to find the best way to kick off chili season. With chicken-apple sausage, butternut squash, and fresh green apples, this contender is perfect for when summer's growing season gives way to the autumn harvest.
Coconut-Pumpkin Soup
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Family-Style Chili and Corn Bread Dumplings
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When a chili recipe's ingredient list starts with round steak or pork shoulder, you know it will be rich and meaty! What makes it score a spot on our list of unusual chili recipes, however, is the plus-one of cornmeal dumplings.
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Steak and Soda Chili
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This might be the most creative of our unique chili recipes! Two kinds of dried chilis plus a can of a popular soft drink add sweet-spicy flavors to the bowl of red. What? No beans? Nope, it's patterned after a classic Texas-style chili, which means beans are out!
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Vegetarian Green Chili
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Fill your bowl with greens, soybeans, and rice when craving unique chili recipes that are healthful to boot. You'll also love how the celery, chopped green onions, spinach, and avocado make you see chili in a fresh, new way.
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Chunky Vegetable Chili
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With celery, corn, and zucchini joining the usual bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, this vegetarian chili isn't just meatless; it's downright veggie-driven! Put it on your list of different chili recipes that can be made in a slow cooker.
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Sweet Potato-Black Bean Chili
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Not only is this one of our most unique chili recipes, but it's also one of our most colorful, thanks to the corn, tomatoes, jalapeños, and sweet potatoes. Try it the next time you're looking for ultra-satisfying meatless Monday recipes.
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Fast or Slow Jalapeño Popper Chili
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With melted cream cheese and fresh jalapeño peppers, this chili is inspired by a popular bar-grill snack. Add bacon to the mix, and it's no wonder it's on our list of best chili ideas! For a bright and perky side dish, team with a side of Vinaigrette Coleslaw. Cook it for a few hours in the slow cooker. Or get the job done in about 30 minutes in a pressure cooker.
Cornbread and Chili are a Classic Pairing
Cornbread may not go with all of these chili recipes, but for most of them (and just about any other chili recipe), a piece of cornbread would be a welcome side dish. Classic cornbread is the obvious choice, but a Maple Bacon Corn Muffin sounds amazing. For something a little different, try these Pull-Apart Cornmeal Dinner Rolls or fry up some Cornmeal Griddle Cakes if you have the time.
Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight.
Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.
Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.
Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.
Ingredients like tomato paste, cinnamon, coffee and liquid smoke can all add flavor hints that will make your chili cook-off entry unique. Roast your vegetables and use broth or beer instead of water for even more flavor in your pot.
Sometimes after a long simmer, your chili will taste wonderful be maybe missing one little thing you can't figure out. Try a tad bit of vinegar or a squeeze of lime! The acidity in vinegar & limes bring a good roundness to the pot and binds all the flavors together.
Crushed Tomatoes and Tomato Paste: Adds a rich tomato flavor and contributes to the chili's thick texture. Molasses: Offers a touch of sweetness to balance the heat and spices. Lime Juice: Adds a hint of acidity and brightness to the chili's flavor profile.
The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.
Chili recipes need time for flavors to meld and come together, and collagen-rich meat (like chuck roast or ground beef) needs 90 minutes to two hours to fully break down and become tender. If you don't have time for a long simmer, try using a slow cooker or making it the day before.
Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.
If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.
Although canned chili will already have some seasonings, fresh herbs and spices will add bolder flavor. You can upgrade your chili using ingredients you likely already have on your spice rack, such as chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.
The real key to great chili however is brown sugar! In fact, brown sugar is what gives the chili a subtle sweetness you never even knew you were missing. With both subtly sweet tones and punches of heat, this Sweet and Spicy Chili, lives up to it's name, it truly is sweet and sassy!
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Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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