When the weather turns, few dinners beat a big pot of chili. It is forgiving, it stretches to feed a crowd, and most of the work happens while it simmers away on its own.
This collection leans on easy, mostly hands-off recipes: slow cooker classics, quick rotisserie-chicken bowls for busy weeknights, and a run of creamy white chicken chilis if red chili is not your thing. Every one links straight through to the full recipe.
Three Chilis to Start With
- Easy Crockpot Chili: the classic beef-and-bean pot that feeds a crowd with no fuss.
- Rotisserie Chicken Chili: ready in about 25 minutes using pre-cooked chicken, ideal for weeknights.
- White Chicken Chili: the creamy, gently spiced bowl to make when you want something lighter.
Why You Will Love These Chili Recipes
- Most are slow cooker or one-pot, so they are close to hands-off.
- They scale up easily and reheat well, which makes them great for batch cooking and lunches.
- There is a bowl for every mood, from hearty red beef chili to creamy white chicken versions.
- Simple pantry and freezer staples do most of the work, so they are budget-friendly too.
The Chili Recipes
1. Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe
A thick, classic chili built on ground beef or turkey, three kinds of beans, and diced tomatoes, all left to simmer low in the slow cooker. It is the one to make when you want a big pot that feeds the whole table with almost no hands-on work. Scoop it over rice or top with cheese and sour cream.
Key ingredients: ground beef or turkey, onion diced, garlic minced, kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes
Total time: 480 min | Serves: 6 | Ingredients: 12
2. Turkey Chili Recipe
Lean ground turkey keeps this version lighter but the bell pepper, kidney beans, and warm spices mean it still tastes rich and cozy. The aroma alone fills the house on a cold evening. It reheats beautifully, so it is a smart one to batch for lunches.
Key ingredients: lean ground turkey, onion diced, garlic minced, bell pepper any color, canned diced tomatoes with juices, canned kidney beans rinsed
Total time: 45 min | Serves: 6 | Ingredients: 9
3. White Chicken Chili Recipe
A creamy white chili with tender chicken, white beans, and diced green chiles in a gently spiced broth. It is comforting without being heavy, and it comes together faster than a traditional red chili. Finish with lime and a handful of cilantro.
Key ingredients: onion finely chopped, garlic cloves minced, chicken broth, diced green chilies, ground cumin, paprika
💡 Cook’s tip: onion finely chopped. Fresh onions bring depth; avoid pre-chopped frozen.
Total time: 40 min | Serves: 8 | Ingredients: 18
4. Creamy White Chicken Chili Recipe
This one leans into the creamy side, with a silky broth, green chiles, and smoked paprika for a little depth. It feels hearty and light at the same time, which is a hard balance to strike. A great pick if you want something a bit more special than a weeknight bowl.
Key ingredients: yellow onion diced, garlic minced, chicken broth, each diced green chilies, cumin, smoked paprika
💡 Cook’s tip: yellow onion diced. Fresh onion adds natural sweetness and aroma.
Total time: 45 min | Serves: 5 | Ingredients: 15
5. Rotisserie Chicken Chili Recipe
Built around shredded rotisserie chicken, this chili is on the table in about 25 minutes. The pre-cooked chicken does all the heavy lifting, so you just simmer it with green chiles, cumin, and beans. Perfect for a busy December weeknight.
Key ingredients: rotisserie chicken shredded, onion chopped, garlic cloves minced, each diced green chilies, ground cumin, dried oregano
Total time: 25 min | Serves: 6 | Ingredients: 14
6. White Bean Chicken Chili Recipe
Tender chicken and creamy white beans carry this gently spiced bowl, with cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika rounding it out. It is filling without being stodgy. Works with either chicken breasts or thighs, whichever you have.
Key ingredients: onion chopped, boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika optional, each white beans
💡 Cook’s tip: onion chopped. Adds sweetness and aroma; yellow onion works best.
Total time: 40 min | Serves: 4 | Ingredients: 16
7. Mexican Street Corn White Chicken Chili Recipe
A white chicken chili with the flavors of elote stirred in: sweet corn, jalapeno, sour cream, and lime. It is creamy, a little tangy, and genuinely different from the usual bowl. Top with crumbled cheese and extra lime to lean into the street-corn theme.
Key ingredients: boneless skinless chicken breasts, yellow onion chopped, jalapeño diced, chicken bone broth, sour cream, garlic minced
💡 Cook’s tip: boneless skinless chicken breasts. Using fresh chicken breasts ensures you’ll get tender, shreddable meat.
Total time: 25 min | Serves: 6 | Ingredients: 17
8. Crock pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili Recipe
Cream cheese melts into the slow cooker to give this chili a plush, velvety texture around tender chicken, beans, and tomatoes. It is the ultimate low-effort comfort pot. Set it in the morning and come home to dinner done.
Key ingredients: boneless skinless chicken breasts, onion chopped, garlic minced, green bell pepper chopped, diced tomatoes, kidney beans
💡 Cook’s tip: boneless skinless chicken breasts. Lean protein that shreds beautifully after slow cooking.
Total time: 360 min | Serves: 6 | Ingredients: 16
9. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe
If you love buffalo wings, this is your chili: chicken, white and black beans, tomatoes, and corn all spiked with buffalo sauce. The slow cooker does the work and the heat is easy to dial up or down. Serve with a cooling drizzle of ranch or blue cheese.
Key ingredients: boneless skinless chicken breasts, buffalo sauce, white beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, corn kernels fresh or canned
💡 Cook’s tip: boneless skinless chicken breasts. Cooks tender and shreds beautifully; thighs also work if you prefer richer meat.
Total time: 360 min | Serves: 7 | Ingredients: 15
10. Colorado Green Chili Recipe
A proper green chili, slow-simmered with roasted peppers, jalapeno, and plenty of cumin and Mexican oregano until the kitchen smells incredible. It takes time but rewards you with deep, roasty flavor. Spoon it over burritos or eat it straight from the bowl.
Key ingredients: white onion diced, jalapeño seeds removed and diced, garlic minced, diced green chiles fire-roasted recommended, ground cumin, mexican oregano
💡 Cook’s tip: white onion diced. Adds sweetness and depth.
Total time: 180 min | Serves: 8 | Ingredients: 13
Chili is hard to get wrong, so treat these as a starting point. Adjust the heat, swap the beans, and top it however your table likes.
Make a double batch while you are at it. Chili freezes brilliantly and tastes even better the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the secret to good chili?
Give it time and build the flavor in layers. Brown the meat, cook the onions and garlic until soft, bloom the spices for a minute, then let everything simmer so the flavors meld. A low, slow cook in the crockpot does this for you.
Can I make these chili recipes in a slow cooker?
Many here are written for the slow cooker, and most stovetop chilis adapt easily. Brown any meat first, then add everything to the crockpot and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4.
What is the difference between red chili and white chili?
Red chili is tomato-based, usually with beef or turkey and red beans. White chili skips the tomato and uses chicken, white beans, green chiles, and often a splash of cream for a milder, creamier bowl.
Can I freeze chili?
Yes. Chili is one of the best freezer meals. Cool it completely, pack into airtight containers, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently, adding a little broth if it has thickened.
What should I serve with chili?
Cornbread, rice, baked potatoes, or tortilla chips all work well. For toppings, set out shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced jalapenos, diced onion, and lime wedges so everyone can build their own bowl.