Food and Drink

It’s football season — and chili season. Charlotte, share your best recipes

It’s chili season. Share your best recipe with us, and we may print it in a future article.
It’s chili season. Share your best recipe with us, and we may print it in a future article. rudisill Getty Images
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.

Read our AI Policy.

  • Charlotte invites residents to submit their top chili recipes for football season.
  • Submissions must include ingredients, instructions, photos and topping ideas.
  • Recipe entries are due by Monday, Sept. 15 at noon via charlottefive@charlottefive.com.

Football season has arrived in Charlotte, and for many of us, that means feeding a crowd.

Among the standard options you’ll find on many people’s tailgating tables and kitchen counters is chili, so we’re diving in to help you prepare.

Last year, I wrote about some of the best places in Charlotte to get chili. And long ago, I wrote about my home state of Nebraska’s obsession with pairing chili with cinnamon rolls. (TLDR: Try it once. I promise, it’s not as weird as you think.)

A high-angle shot of a bowl of chili and a cinnamon roll on a light blue tablecloth. The chili, in a white bowl, is topped with a generous pile of shredded cheddar cheese. The cinnamon roll, on a small white plate, is glazed with a thick, white icing that drips down the sides. A spoon is partially visible next to the chili bowl.
Homemade chili soup and cinnamon rolls are a popular food combination in Nebraska. bhofack2 Getty Images/iStockphoto

This year, I want to bring you into the conversation.

Chili is one of those dishes where everyone makes it slightly different, and your personality can really show through.

Competing in my neighborhood’s chili cookoff a few years ago opened my eyes to all kinds of styles: white chicken chili, Texas-style with big chunks of meat, veggie chili with beans and meat-heavy options without beans. (I actually won the event with my kid-friendly taco chili — and you better believe I proudly show off my prize swag, an apron and wooden spoon that each say “chili cookoff winner.”)

A close-up, high-angle shot of a bowl of chili. The chili has a rich, reddish-brown color with visible beans and ground meat. It is topped with a dollop of white sour cream or yogurt, a mound of shredded yellow and orange cheddar cheese, and a sprinkle of chopped green onions. The bowl sits on a striped blue and white cloth, with a spoon and another bowl partially visible in the background.
We’re looking for a variety of chili recipes from CharlotteFive readers to share. bhofack2 Getty Images

Share your chili recipe with us

So, let’s get down to the details. We want your best chili recipes, which you can share with us at charlottefive@charlottefive.com.

Please include:

  • Your name, so we can properly credit you, and contact information for questions
  • A list of ingredients, including amounts and measurements
  • Directions on how to prepare and cook your chili
  • A full-sized horizontal (landscape orientation) photo of your chili — and one with you holding your chili would be fantastic
  • Your suggested list of toppings or accompaniments

The deadline for submissions is Monday, Sept. 15 at noon, and thank you for participating! We can’t wait to help show off your kitchen prowess and help keep this year’s football season full of chili, chili dogs, chili cheese nachos and more.

Related Stories from Charlotte Observer
Profile Image of Heidi Finley
Heidi Finley
The Charlotte Observer
Heidi Finley is a writer and editor for CharlotteFive and the Charlotte Observer. Outside of work, you will most likely find her in the suburbs driving kids around, volunteering and indulging in foodie pursuits. Support my work with a digital subscription
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER