The Best Type Of Meat To Use For Chili

Picture this: It's a snow day, so school's out. You and your friends brave the elements, sleds in tow, to the neighborhood hill, and spend the whole day slipping and sliding in the snow. Eventually, the sun goes down, and the cold turns bitter. You trudge home, losing feeling in your extremities. Mercifully, your house comes into view, and when you take the first steps into your toasty abode, a familiar scene wafts into your nose –- meaty, spicy, and most importantly, warm. It's chili night!

Registered dietician Toby Amidor says of chili, "This classic comfort food is the perfect end to a cold day" (via Food Network). Chili is a relatively simple, low-maintenance meal, but its versatility can prove difficult. Everyone has their opinions pertaining to the precise composition of a correct chili. As such, when you're getting ready to prepare a big vat of this hearty dish, it can be difficult to decide which are the best types of meat to include.

According to National Chili Day, the dish dates back to 1800s San Antonio, though there's speculation that it may be even older. In 1828, J.C. Cooper wrote of chili, "... a kind of hash with nearly as many peppers as there are pieces of meat — this is all stewed together." By the 1880s, you could find chili, or "bowls o' red," as it was referred to at the time, all over San Antonio, and its popularity even earned it a stand at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

A classic chili recipe calls for slow-cooking a slew of different ingredients, including, but not limited to: a meat component, beans, chopped onions (other chopped veggies can be included for flavor or texture), and tomatoes. You'll also need to include a spice blend of black pepper, salt, garlic powder, cumin, and (of course) chili powder, or alternatively, fresh chilis. Different recipes will call for different ingredients, but including beans in your chili could, in certain circles, spark a bit of controversy, per Southern Living. But now that we've covered the basic ingredients, what meat is best?

Ultimately, determining what exactly the best meat to use for your chili is will depend heavily upon the variety of chili you want to make. If you're opting for a classic beef chili, US Wellness Meats recommends that you include 80/20 (80% muscle, 20% fat) ground beef, as it is relatively inexpensive and pre-tenderized. They also recommend adding ground sirloin, which will give your chili a richer flavor with a chewier texture. 

However, you shouldn't limit yourself to cow cuts when choosing your chili. If you're looking to limit your red meat intake, chicken chili is an excellent option. Reddit user u/beautifulsymbol includes chicken breast in their white chicken chili recipe. However, in the same thread, user u/AwkwardBurritoChick opines, "Skinless and boneless chicken thighs in any slow cooker recipe is a good winner as it doesn't dry out like chicken breasts." If you'd rather skip out on meat all together, there are no shortage of vegetarian options, like this pumpkin chili.