National Chili Day

Wish I had time for just one more bowl of chili.

Kit Carson (allegedly the words spoken on his deathbed)

Some like it hot, some like it mild, some like it on top of a baked potato and some prefer it with or without beans – but however it is most appreciated, National Chili Day is the perfect excuse for millions of spicy food fans all around the world to chow down on a bowl of this delicious fiery favorite.

How to Celebrate National Chili Day

Though not an official public holiday, National Chili Day is widely celebrated with many restaurants offering free samples of their own unique recipes. Others mark the day with a huge chili party for family and friends – or simply make sure they have a big bowl of chili for lunch!

Try out these fun ideas for celebrating the day:

Make a Big Pot of Chili

Even people who don’t really do much cooking can make a pot of chili to enjoy with a whole group of friends. It really is one of those meals that allows pretty much everything to be thrown into a pot and simmered while the flavors meld together.

A classic chilli recipe usually consists of a protein (often meat as well as beans), some sauce (usually tomato sauce), some veggies (corn, onion and diced tomatoes are typical) and spices for flavor (chili powder, garlic, cayenne pepper, onion powder and paprika). Toss in some jalapenos or other chili peppers for a little bit of kick. Let the whole thing simmer for a while and enjoy!

Enjoy a Chili Contest

Chili is a food that people love to gather around–and it’s great for competing too! Whether participating in a chili cookoff that pits top chefs against each other, or a chili-eating contest where the winner consumes the most chili in a short amount of time, this is a dish that can be filled with fun.

Today’s chili cook offs can get pretty serious, where contestants often use ingredients that will help them to create the most intense flavor possible. They also try to be unique, using interesting meats such as sausage, turkey or even venison, as well accessing a variety of chili peppers to create just the right amount of heat.

Get into the competitive spirit by participating, or just enjoy watching and rooting for a favorite person to win. Can’t find a chili contest in the local area? Don’t let that get in the way–go ahead and start one in honor of National Chili Day!

Get Creative with Chili Recipes

Getting involved in this day can be a delightful culinary experience! Take things far beyond the ordinary by including unique and interesting ingredients into that pot of chili. While the classic recipes are certainly amazing, these types of ideas get things moving to a whole other level:

• Chorizo Sweet Potato Chili. Give that pot of chili a delightful twist using a paleo friendly recipe that is a quick fix (can be on the table in around 30 minutes!). Chopped vegetables and some spicy chorizo sausage are flavors that meld together deliciously.
• Short Rib Black Bean Chili. Beginning with short ribs as the protein base, this chili is slow cooked with the bones to add tons of flavor and depth. Mildly spicy, the black beans round out the taste into something delightfully delicious.
• Spicy Chocolate Chili (Vegan). Sweet potatoes, maple syrup and cocoa powder work together in this recipe in a surprising way. Filled with beans and veggies, then topped with cilantro, lime and pumpkin seeds, this unique recipe will keep the whole family coming back for more!
• Kale and Barley Chili. Keep things super healthy with this chili that is filled with healthy greens. Add some white beans in for extra protein and bulk!

History of National Chili Day

The inaugural celebration of National Chili Day was in 2006 when it was founded by restaurant owner, Rich Kelly, of the Hard Times Cafe in Arlington, Virginia. But the background of the dish obviously goes back much further than that!

Though many people believe chili originated purely in Mexico, modern thinking suggests that it was probably truly created in Texas and is a blend of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican cuisines. This claim is supported by the fact that the first-ever written reference to chili occurred in the city of San Antonio, Texas in 1828. This is just one of the many delicious varieties of food that fall into the category of Tex-Mex.

However, one legend dates chili back a little further, stating that some immigrants who came from the Canary Islands brought the recipe with them to San Antonio when they settled there in the 1700s. This was before the name “chili” came to be and it was simply referred to as “Spanish stew”.

Eventually, by the 1880s, a popular way to eat the dish in San Antonio was by picking up a “bowl o’ red” at a chili stand in an open-air stall, usually run by a “chili queen”. The popularity of chili began to spread throughout the US, and it was given a huge boost when it was featured at the 1893 World’s Fair which took place in Chicago, Illinois.

The dish that is now known as simply “chili” has, in the past, often been referred to as “chili con carne”, which just means chili with meat. Of course, today, many people make it without meat, and it can easily even be made into a vegan dish with no animal products of any kind.

Some people do tend to spell it differently, depending on where they are from. Most Americans will include only one “l” in the word, while some British folks and people from other parts of the world may add an additional letter to spell it “chilli”. But no matter how it is spelled, this is certainly a tasty dish that is worthy of celebration!