Learn how to host a Chili Party with these easy ideas and Free Printable decorations. This is a simple dinner party you can throw together quick. There is NO cooking involved, only heating up chili and dicing toppings.
Fun and easy dinner ideas for a crowd! Perfect for birthdays, a fall potluck or football party buffet ideas.
Fun Chili Party Ideas and Printable Decorations
Learn how to host a simple Chili Party with these fun dinner ideas! As much as I love a good homemade meal, sometimes it’s just way easier to buy ready made meals.
I hosted a Wolf Brand Chili dinner party with some friends while LIVE Tweeting about it. Confused? Basically, I just talked to people on Twitter about what I was doing for the party.
Our hashtag #1TexasChili was trending on Twitter for a while. Everyone loves chili, especially during fall weather and football season!
There is NO cooking involved, only heating up chili and dicing toppings. That’s my kind of party! I’m excited to share my chili party ideas with you.
How to Host a Chili Party
First you’ll need cute Chili Party Decorations. I designed cute free printables for a Chili Bar that you will love!
The printable decor (found below) along with these chili party ideas would be perfect for a fall potluck, birthday dinner or football party buffet.
We had a Chili Bar full of all kinds of toppings to try on your chili. If you haven’t tried Wolf Brand Chili in a while, now is the time.
My friends all agreed that it was great! These are women that love to cook homemade chili and probably haven’t tasted this brand in a while. I love it because it’s not only tasty, but fast and easy!
After doing many taste tests, we gave it two thumbs up.
Originally published October 16, 2013, updated January 2023
What Toppings Go on a Chili Bar?
There are so many great topping ideas for a chili bar! Because we did a taste test, I used the following toppings.
- cheddar cheese
- cornbread
- crackers
- tortilla chips
- Fritos
- banana peppers
- red peppers
- white onions
- red onions
- avocado
- chives
- tater tots
- blue cheese
- smoked gouda cheese
- hot dogs
- sour cream
- mustard
- ketchup
What You Need for a Chili Party
For the chili party supplies, you will need chili, bowls or cups, spoons and napkins.
I had small cups and plastic spoons available to sample toppings before the guests decided which toppings they would choose for their final big bowl.
Using a Crock Pot to keep the chili warm is a good idea.
Chili Bar Taste Test Station
The chili bar taste station was so fun! We ended up getting full from taste testing each topping on our chili that we never even used the actual bowls. It was really fun!
The top three favorite toppings were smoked gouda cheese, Fritos and avocado!
Coming in a close second was blue cheese. My husband told everyone he thought you only needed a few crumbles, that a little goes a long way. He was right! Just a few sprinkles of blue cheese was heavenly.
Fun Idea for Kids to Try New Foods
The kids loved the taste test station! Overall, the tater tots were the kids’ favorite.
The adults loved mixing all of the veggies together. The red pepper was a favorite because it gave the chili some crunch.
My son just realized that he likes chili after going to a cub scout camp out and he was all over this taste test. It was fun to create something that both kids and parents enjoyed together!
Chili in a Jar
There was so much chili left over that I made up layered Chili in Jar to store in my fridge for later.
With good canned chili like Wolf Brand Chili, this is so simple and really cute! My free printable circle tags work perfect on the jars.
Easy Homemade Chili Recipe
Prefer to make chili from scratch? Check out this amazing healthy Turkey Chili Recipe. If you prefer beef vs turkey, just replace the turkey with ground beef.
Download the Chili Party Free Printables
I designed some cute free party printables so you can host your own chili party!
This Free Printable Chili Party Collection comes with 9 files. Click a link below to download each one. Enjoy!
- 8×10 Party Sign
- 5×7 Party Sign
- Keep Calm Eat More Chili
- Party Flags
- Food Labels
- Circle Tags
- Toppings Rate Sheet
- Yellow gingham paper
- Red gingham paper
© 2013-2023 LivingLocurto.com – For Personal Use Only
Share your party!
Be sure to share your party photos on Instagram with us! Tag @LivingLocurto and use the hashtag #LivingLocurto so we can see. Thanks!
More Easy Party Ideas & Recipes to Try
- 30 Perfect Game Day Dips
- Pizza Party with Free Printables
- 15 Refreshingly Different Baby Shower Games
- Epic Charcuterie Board
- Passion Fruit Rum Punch
- 15 Creative Vegetable Trays
- Easy Butterbeer Recipe
- Passion Tea Lemonade
- Graduation Party Ideas
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake Cocktail
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Wolf Brand Chili. All opinions about recipes and products are genuine and my own.
I am grateful that you have shared this. It was very enjoyable to read for me. It is of very high quality. This is not only informative but also keeps one very interested. I was unable to stop working on it until I had completed it.
Thank you! Using for a chili bar this weekend!!
My shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtValeria
Hope you’ll like it!
Is it possible to get the 4×4 picture download? I LOVE the “Keep Calm, Eat More Chili!!!” 🙂
What a fun giveaway! Haven't done a chili cook-off in a few years. Might be time to bring it back!
I love cheese, green onions, lettuce, and ranch dressing on my chili – with some fritos, too. Yum! Ok, now I need chili for dinner.
Thanks so much! It was a really fun party idea and super easy.
this entire post is amazing & your printable are adorable! i’ll have to look & see if we have wolf chili here!
Mine would be jalapeno cheese favoured. =)
shredded cheese
Sour Cream!
i LIKE SHREDDED CHEDDAR AND A DOLLOP OF SOUR CREAM ON TOP OF MY CHILI
Must have cheddar cheese and sour cream.
I like to add cheese to my chili
lots of cheese and sourcream
cheese and sour cream
Cheese and sour cream!
Cheese and japaleños would have to be my favorite toppings with a side of cornbread. Yum!
Whenever I make chili at home, I make a vegetarian version. I like to cook veggie crumbles with three kinds of canned beans, peas and corn for some added flavor and crunch. Sometimes I might melt cheese on top.
Vegetarian chili with cheese is a good idea if you keep Kosher, are a vegetarian, or are staying with a family who does either as well. Morningstar Farms makes the crumbles.
I am not vegetarian, but grew up in a kosher household, so I still enjoy making this!
Good ol' cheddar
I love topping my chili with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and corn chips.
Your party was just darling! This looks like the perfect thing to break up these crazy Ohio winters! 😉
I love topping my chili w/cheddar, jalapenos & sour cream.
I love topping Chilli with a sour cream and shredded gouda cheese and mint leaves! Yum! Yum! Yum!
Cheese! 🙂
I use buttered crackers and smash them up or dip in the chili. Now im hungry
cheese and sour cream
My favorite topping is jalapeno peppers!! Yum!
Fritos!
cheese and crackers are the favorite toppings
I like cheddar cheese on my chili but after reading about your party, I can't wait to try bleu cheese!
Cheese!
Thanks for the giveaway….diced red onions & shredded jack / colby cheese
cheddar cheese & chopped onions!
My favorite chili topping is sharp cheddar cheese.
Favorite chili topping is cheese!!!
Onions & cheese ! Thanks Amy for the great printables!
Chili dogs all the way…with oyster crackers!
Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.
My favorite chili topping is Jack cheese and onions
I like to use chili primarily for frito pie and hot dogs, but occasionally I eat it in a bowl with crackers.
So cool
No Beano? Sounds like an awesome party theme idea! I can see my party with tin plates for serving bowls and bandanas for napkins!
I love cheddar and cilantro!
Cheese of course
Sour cream. And cheddar. Oh and green onions.
Grated cheddar cheese is my favorite chili topping.
I’m all about cheddar cheese and sour cream on my chili. 🙂
Cheese!!
Cheese, sour cream and crushed crackers or Fritos. Yum!
sour cream!!! yum!!!
Shredded cheddar cheese and chopped green onions
Cheese and sour cream and chives.
I have to have cheese on my chili, especially if it’s spicy!
Sharp Cheddar cheese
cheese, cheese, and more cheese
onions is mine and hot sauce
i like my Chili Plain with a side of Corn Bread!
Got to have lots of shredded cheese on top!
Love this! It’s perfect for my chili bar I’ll be creating real soon.
I am a cheddar and onion fan
hi Amy! is there any download for the 4×4 keep calm chili sign? I couldn't find it. Thanks
Shredded cheese and onions
Shredded cheese, white onions and a little sour cream
Onions, absolutely!
Wolf Brand Chili is the best with Sharp cheddar cheese on top. My youngest son will not eat any other canned chili than Wolf Brand. He would be thrilled to win the contest. I probably have 30 cans of it on my shelf right now because when it is on sale I stock up.
I do like onions on top!
Shredded cheese and corn chips!
my favorite is lots of onions
never tried the wolf brand chili….my favorite toppings are sourcream, avocado, and corn chips. thanks for the chance to win!
I love cheese!
My favorite topping is shredded cheese and white onions!
Sour cream and shredded cheese!
Sour Cream. I love Wolf Brand. I put it on my hot dogs to give it a spicy taste. Yumm! Thanks so much for the printables. Love them!!
Cheddar cheese, sour cream and onions!!
Oh wow. I love this! So adorable and such great ideas! I think this would be awesome for my husbands birthday. Thanks!
onions!