There’s nothing like walking through the door on a freezing night and catching a whiff of a fragrant chili—piping-hot and ready to be ladled into a big bowl. So what better way to greet guests at a winter dinner party? These 10 chili variations are the season's most perfect slow-cooker meals.
Slow-cooker taco chicken chili
This addictive chili involves pretty much zero prep time. What’s “taco” about it? The shredded chicken, plus spices like cumin and chili powder. Get the recipe.
Slow-cooker quinoa white chili with roasted poblanos
Jammed with vegetables, quinoa and earthy beans, this good-for-you chili is the ultimate comfort food. Get the recipe.
Slow-cooker pumpkin chili
As Amy of Mom Advice explains: “When you lean in to smell the chili in your slow cooker, it will smell like pumpkin pie, but you will see chili in there and get super confused.” Pumpkin pie and chili? Sounds like a winning combination to us. Get the recipe.
Paleo crockpot chili
So many crazy things happening in this chili! Bacon + ground beef + cacao powder + smoked paprika are just a few of the flavor contenders. Get the recipe.
Slow-cooker white bean chili with chicken and corn
This one doesn’t look like chili at first glance, but just take a bite: White beans, tender chicken, corn, cayenne, green chilis and chili powder come together in a smart, easy chili recipe your friends will be shaking you down for afterwards. Get the recipe.
Slow-cooker pork chili
This protein-packed chili would be perfect by itself or as a topping on the best baked potato ever. Get the recipe.
Slow-cooker beanless chili
A surefire crowd-pleaser, this chili is for those dinner parties or potlucks where some guests are bound to be gluten-free, or vegan, or what have you. It has zero gluten, no beans, and it can easily be made dairy-free too. Get the recipe.
Slow-cooker roasted poblano pepper chili
Here’s a chili that’s definitely not for the spicy-food-phobic: It packs a fierce combination of poblano chilies, jalapeños, chili powder, ground chipotle, and cayenne pepper. Get the recipe.
Slow-cooker turkey mole chili
The prep time for this chili is extra-quick: Just chop an onion and a couple of carrots, cook the turkey for a few minutes, then throw everything in the slow cooker. Get the recipe.
Slow-cooker bean and sweet Potato Chili
Sweet potatoes give fabulous texture and flavor to this bean-centric chili. If you’re vegan and/or gluten-free, this is an excellent option for you. Get the recipe.