How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (2024)

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How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (1)

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As the weather turns colder, many people turn towards their favorite chili recipes for an easy, comforting meal.

Every celebrity chef, from Martha Stewart to Emeril, has their own unique way of making chili, and you may want to use some of their tips or recipes the next time you're meal-planning.

Here's how 10 celebrity chefs make their chili.

Max Kalnitz contributed to an earlier version of this story.

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Guy Fieri is just one celebrity chef who uses beer in his chili recipe.

How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (5)

A combination of six chili peppers and sweet peppers gives Fieri's Texas chili its bold flavor. True to Texas-style chili, Fieri uses cubed pieces of chuck in addition to the traditional ground beef to give the dish some extra protein, and he ties the mixture together with a bottle of beer (preferably an amber) and masa harina.

Fieri suggests finishing the chili off with a drizzle of beer cheese — the recipe for which is also included in the link below.

See the recipe here.

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Bobby Flay takes his chili to the next level with a cumin crema and an avocado relish.

How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (6)

Flay opts for cubed instead of ground beef altogether. Like many others on this list, he uses a dark beer to create his sauce, but he also uses chicken stock and sweetens it with honey.

Pair the chili with Flay's cumin crema and avocado relish (recipes included), and it will look like it came from a professional kitchen, not your own.

See the recipe here.

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Martha Stewart uses dried beans for her slow-cooker chili.

How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (7)

The debate over whether chili should even contain beans has long raged on, but Martha Stewart doesn't shy away from using them.

Her recipe instructs you to cut up your beef into small cubes and throw it into the cooker with a diced red onion, two minced cloves of garlic, a can of tomato purée, dried (and rinsed) black beans, and chili powder and let it cook for six hours on high (or eight hours on low). Serve it with some of the diced red onions and sour cream.

See the recipe here.

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Gordon Ramsay's recipe for chili con carne includes onion, a red chili pepper, fresh tomatoes, and kidney beans.

How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (8)

Ramsay's chili recipe is lengthy — it includes everything from ground cumin and sweet paprika to a cinnamon stick, ground beef or beef mince, and garlic.

The British chef recommends serving the chili con carne atop a mound of boiled rice, with sour cream and chives dolloped on top.

See the recipe here.

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Anne Burrell's vegetarian bean chili is perfect for clearing out the pantry and fridge.

How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (9)

Burrell intentionally made this recipe easy for pandemic at-home cooking. And once again, this one features beans.

The recipe calls for whatever beans you have tucked away in the cupboards (garbanzo, kidney, chili, you name it), along with celery, peppers, and an onion. Toss those into a pot with your canned tomatoes, frozen corn, and spices, and 45 minutes later you'll be set.

The best part is the recipe yields a lot of chili, so it's perfect for freezing and reheating on a cold day.

See the recipe here.

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Emeril Lagasse substitutes beef with ground turkey and hot Italian sausages in his chili.

How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (10)

The first step in making Emeril Lagasse's chili is browning the turkey and sausages before adding in the onion, bell peppers, and chili peppers so they can absorb the meat's flavor. Beer and chopped tomatoes make up the dish's sauce while an array of spices give this chili its intense flavor.

Lagasse suggests topping the chili with shredded Monterey Jack cheese and a side of tortilla strips.

See the recipe here.

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Instead of canned tomatoes, Ree Drummond relies on tomato sauce and masa harina for her chili base.

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The Pioneer Woman describes this chili as "a total cinch to make."

After browning ground beef with minced garlic, pour in your tomato sauce, spice mixture, and beans and simmer. Drummond finishes the chili by thickening it with some water and masa harina.

See the recipe here.

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Ina Garten tosses ground turkey and beef to the side in favor of chicken for her chili.

How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (12)

There are really only three steps to Ina Garten's chicken chili.

First, saute your veggies with the spice mixture, then add crushed tomatoes and set to simmer. Dress a chicken with olive oil, salt, and pepper and throw it in the oven to roast. Then pull the chicken off the bone and mix it all together.

See the recipe here.

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Geoffrey Zakarian uses green and red hot sauce in his chili for a flavor boost.

How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (13)

Geoffrey Zakarian suggests browning your ground meat of choice first then reducing the heat and adding your veggies. Then throw in your tomato paste, beer (he recommends a Dos Equis), hot sauces, and spices, and let the mixture cook until it's thick, which takes about 1.5 hours.

The fun part is topping your chili with all sorts of goodies — Zakarian recommends scallions, crème fraîche, sliced jalapeños, fresh cilantro leaves, diced tomatoes, sliced cherry peppers, and shredded Monterey Jack and shredded cheddar cheeses.

See the recipe here.

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Joanna Gaines' chili recipe is topped with a bag of Fritos and sharp cheddar cheese.

How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (14)

Gaines' family chili recipe, which can be found in bestselling cookbook "Magnolia Table,"includes many classic ingredients such as white onion, ground beef, diced tomatoes and green chiles, and Southwest-style beans.

"If you're looking for a great mild-flavored chili that's crowd-pleasing and won't turn off picky eaters, this is the chili recipe for you," Taste of Home's Lauren Habermehl wrote of the recipe.

See the recipe here.

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How 10 celebrity chefs make chili (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What to put in chili to make it taste better? ›

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.

What does putting vinegar in chili do? ›

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.

What is the best liquid for chili? ›

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.

What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

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.

What adds depth to chili? ›

Here are some of the most common (and most effective) flavor boosters to add to your chili recipe.
  1. Booze (Beer, Wine, or Liquor) ...
  2. Liquid Smoke. ...
  3. Brine or Vinegar. ...
  4. Soy Sauce. ...
  5. Fish Sauce. ...
  6. Worcestershire Sauce. ...
  7. Coffee or Espresso Powder. ...
  8. Chocolate.
Aug 23, 2021

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

It's hard to imagine Mexican chilli con carne without cumin. This spice is commonly used in Mexican cuisine and pairs nicely with hot peppers to round out the flavours of the dish. Cumin's fragrance and warmth helps to create a balanced palate, with its deep earthiness and lemony hint brightening up any chilli recipe.

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

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.

How do you make chili taste more meaty? ›

In a pot of chili, just a few strips of bacon add a smoky, meaty depth. And it's not just the bacon itself that adds flavor, it's the bacon fat, too. Before you start your recipe, cook 3 to 4 strips of thick-cut bacon until they're as crispy as you like.

What is my chili missing? ›

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.

Why put baking soda in chili? ›

Baking Soda: Helps tenderize the beef by locking in moisture, making it more succulent. Also accelerates browning, resulting in a more flavorful, tender chili. Onion, Garlic, Red Bell Pepper: Forms the aromatic base of the chili.

What does adding butter to chili do? ›

Butter smooths out the bitterness and adds its unique richness, making you take another bite without quite knowing why. A dash of sugar and vinegar gives a sweet-sour flavor that also makes the sauce rounder and more satisfying.

What can I add to a can of chili to make it taste better? ›

“If there's one thing you have to do with any canned chili, it would be adding fresh chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapeños. Maybe even some pickled jalapeños.

What is the best ingredient to thicken chili? ›

Add cornstarch or all-purpose flour: Cornstarch and all-purpose flour are common thickening agents that you might already have on hand in your pantry. Adding flour directly into the chili will create lumps. Instead, make a slurry by mixing one tablespoon of cold water with one tablespoon of cornstarch.

How to make chili taste homemade? ›

Make your own spice blend

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.

What makes a good competition chili? ›

We Like To Cook!
  1. Color – The chili should look appetizing.
  2. Aroma – The chili should smell good. ...
  3. Consistency - Chili should have a good meat-to-sauce ratio. ...
  4. Taste – The chili should taste, well, like chili. ...
  5. Aftertaste - The aftertaste or bite is the heat created by the various types of spices and or peppers.

Why add baking soda to chili? ›

In this chili recipe, baking soda (that same thing the fluffs up cakes and cookies) tenderizes the ground beef while making it brown better. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is alkaline.

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