What Is Chili?

You may find this hard to believe, but I have known a few people over the years with a special, secret recipe for chili. And these folks have been kind enough to share their chili with me, a common neophyte. Some of these chilis have been absolutely delicious—a perfect blend of hot and spicy flavors. Others have been barely edible. I remember having to run to the bathroom shortly after eating one particular friend’s chili concoction. That recipe should have stayed in the secret vault. 

But generally speaking, chili is great! But what is chili, exactly? Is it the same thing as chili con carne? Is it a soup? Does it have beans? Let’s find out. 

What is chili?

Chili is a dish seasoned with chili peppers. It’s typically made with meat, beans, and tomato, usually with onion and garlic as well. It’s a delicious, easily made and easily portable dish. It can be made spicy, medium, or mild. 

What is chili con carne?

Chili con carne is the same thing as what we typically think of as chili. Chili con carne is just the longer, more formal version of the name. It’s the “Matthew,” if you will, while Chili is a nickname, like “Matt.”

“Con carne” means “with meat” in Spanish, and that is indeed typically how chili is made. Of course, there are also vegetarian versions of chili widely available, but vegetarian chili con carne is inherently an oxymoron. 

Is chili a soup?

Chili shares many of the same characteristics of soup, certainly. They’re both savory, gloppy foodstuffs that frequently come in a can and are eaten out of a bowl. However, it’s probably more accurate to call chili a stew rather than a soup. Of course, that raises the question: How is a stew different from a soup? Basically, a stew is thicker and less liquidy than its soupy counterpart. And, personally, I believe that if you can eat something with a fork—as you can with chili—it has no right to call itself a soup. 

Does chili have beans all the time?

For most people, chili includes beans. But if you’re in Texas, that’s heresy. In the Lone Star State, chili is made with meat, peppers, and spices, and sometimes tomatoes. And that’s it. When they say don’t mess with Texas, they really mean don’t put beans in your chili. 

What beans go in chili?

One of the great things about chili is that it has a bunch of varieties. That’s the fun of a chili cook-off, you get to taste all the different strange and unique recipes that the world’s chili enthusiasts have to offer. So far be it for me to tell you what beans you should or should not use in your chili.

However, if you’re asking what sort of beans are traditionally found in chili, the answer is typically kidney beans or pinto beans. 

Where did chili originate?

Chili con carne originated in Mexico, where people were using chili peppers to season stews as early as 1529. The more modernized version, complete with beans, onions, garlic, and tomato, became popular in the U.S. before World War II due in part to the many chili parlors that sprung up throughout Texas, and soon, the whole country.