By Arielle Weg-Zager
Between cooler temperatures, busier schedules, and game day returning, there’s nothing I love more in the fall than a big pot of chili. It’s an affordable meal that comes together in one pot and feeds a crowd. What could be better than that? While it’s always been a meal I’ve loved to make a few times a season (did I mention most of the ingredients are pantry and freezer staples?), when I started dating my now husband, who was born in Texas, I knew I had to up my chili game.
Chili quickly became a weekly staple in our kitchen, which meant I needed options depending on what I had on hand and how much time I had. I turn to these three options for chili nights—a quick and easy weeknight classic, a slightly longer but oh-so delicious Instant Pot recipe, and a go-to slow cooker version for game day and hosting. Then, I can customize all of our toppings. I love mixing and matching, so I almost always serve it alongside corn chips, sour cream, cheese, onion, avocado, and cilantro.
These three basic chili recipes are perfect to keep in your back pocket, no matter how much time you have.
Weeknight Turkey Chili
With the right mixture of ingredients, you can have a crave-worthy, warming bowl of chili that tastes like it’s been simmering away all day—in just 40 minutes. This one-pot weeknight wonder combines ground turkey with just a few chopped veggies, like onions, pepper, and garlic. Add in quick pantry staples, like chili powder, oregano, cumin, frozen corn, and cans of beans and diced tomatoes, and let it all come together. I like to get all my favorite garnishes ready while it simmers for just a few minutes on the stove, and dinner is served.
Get the recipe: Weeknight Turkey Chili
Instant Pot Black Bean Chili
If I have a little extra time, I break out the Instant Pot for a vegetarian chili that’s ready in just over an hour. The best part is the beans—the Instant Pot softens dried black beans until they’re ultra-tender and practically melt into the chili. Add some pantry staples, like onion, garlic, chili powder, and cumin, with chili must-haves, frozen corn, frozen pepper strips, and canned tomatoes for a real treat.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Black Bean Chili
Slow Cooker Beef and Butternut Squash Chili
When it’s a weekend, game day, or you have some time in the morning, a slow cooker chili is the best way to tenderize meat and coax out flavor. A quick 15-minute prep of cooking beef chuck roast, onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, and garlic quickly turns into a dump dinner. Add the cooked meat and veggies to your slow cooker with crushed tomatoes, butternut squash, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cumin, and let it go low and slow until it’s a textbook-perfect chili.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Butternut Squash Chili
For more chili recipes, check out our best chili recipes.
Arielle Weg-Zager is the digital editor of SavoryOnline and has been writing about food, nutrition, and health for over 9 years. She collects cookbooks and loves nothing more than cooking elaborate meals for her friends or exploring the local restaurant scene.
