It's National Chili Day and we are HERE for it

Call us "over the top" if you will, but we just can't get enough Chili from the recteq! In honor of National Chili Day, here's everything you've got to know to create your own award-winning chili on the grill.

What makes chili an American Staple?

What’s not to love? Chili is like a warm blanket by a campfire on a cold fall evening. Filling, warm, and easy to personalize, it’s the perfect stand-alone fall dish or addition to your favorite burger, hot dog, or baked potato. By the same token, it’s the passion for delicious food that also makes this dish so polarizing—everyone has their favorite chili recipe, and they are determined to defend it.

The Great Beans or No Beans Chili Controversy

The great chili controversy tends to boil down to the debate over beans. Team "Beans" v. Team “No Beans” tend to go head-to-head and both sides are armed with delicious ammunition. For example, if you ask a native Texan, they will defend their bean-free chili to the end, on the other end of the spectrum, you have skilled vegetarian chefs turning out smoked lentil chili that’s its own category of delicious.

So what is the official recteq bean stance?

"I think you can put anything in chili and that is what makes it so great region to region. You can travel to numerous chili competitions around our nation and taste so many different regional specialties with incredible, award-winning chili recipes. For me whether you cook it with beans, or without beans, top it with corn bread, corn chips, sour cream, jalapenos, or cheese, I’m up for sharing a bowl of chili with you!" - Chef John

Chef Greg's Favorite Chili Tips

"When I make a batch of chili, I like to bring a little bit of everything to the pot, a nice hand cut diced beef, seared in smoked, rendered beef tallow, fresh peppers and onion, ROTEL, and chili beans, of course. Truthfully, I’m a canned team bean kinda guy, because I don’t want to take the time sorting, soaking, simmering beans. In peak season hatch chilis are incredible and add a truly unmistakable spicy touch. One of the best parts of this dish, is that it only takes a few bucks in ingredients to feed a small army with a hearty, somewhat healthy batch of chili. Finally, don’t forget to add a dash of dark chocolate (trust me, it offers an amazing dash of umami)."

Chef John's Favorite Chili Tips

"No matter what my batch of chili includes, my true master-move is slow-smoking in a Dutch oven on a wood pellet grill. The temperature stability and kiss of smoke makes every bite perfect. Specifically, I love to use a local dark beer in my chili. Pairing it with roasted garlic, smoked chilis, and peppers create a final product that is going to amaze your guests. Try it, I know you will love it!"

More Viral Chili Ideas

What it boils down to is this: you make the rules for your chili and pretty much anything goes! As long as you have that extra smoke flavor from your recteq, your chili is destined for greatness. So whether you cook it with beans, or without beans, top it with corn bread, Fritos corn chips, sour cream, jalapenos, or cheese - we promise your next pot of chili is going to be incredible!