Rich, spicy, and warming — it’s no wonder chili dishes are so popular. These meals are packed with meaty goodness as well as loads of healthy vegetables. Whether you’re looking for delicious Ketogenic lunch recipes or evening meals, we could have the answer.

Let’s take a look at some of the best Keto chili recipes and why you should try them.

Is Chili Keto?

First things first: Is chili Keto? If you’re new to the diet plan, figuring out which classic dishes align with it is essential. The answer to this question is that most chili recipes should be Keto-friendly so long as you make some minor alterations. Ensuring that your homemade dish only boasts low-carb ingredients is key.

Rich in meat, protein, and fats, you might think that any chili dish would align perfectly with the Keto diet plan. However, there are a couple of ingredients in regular chili recipes which you need to watch out for.

Beans tend to feature heavily in these recipes and, since they’re surprisingly high in carbs, they should be avoided when on a Keto meal plan. Another standard chili ingredient is tomatoes. While these are technically Keto-friendly, they can also be high in carbs and sugars, which means that you should use them sparingly — if at all.

Why is Keto Chili Such a Great Lunch or Dinner?

Before we look at some of the best Keto chili recipes, let’s talk about why you should learn them. These recipes work well for dinner parties, weeknight meals, or even just for your daily lunches. Here’s why you should make a chili pronto:

1. Ideal for batch-cooking
   If you don’t want to spend time in the kitchen each evening, make batch-cooking your new best friend. Making a few large Keto meals — and storing them away for later — means you won’t have to cook something new each night. Keto chili recipes are ideal for making in bulk. You can make massive portions of these dishes and freeze them for later.
2. Comforting and satisfying
   When the weather gets cool, all you really want is a warm, satisfying dish. You might treat yourself to an freshly-baked Keto pumpkin muffins, for example, but it doesn’t have to end there. A freshly-made Keto chili gives you everything you could possibly need from a meal. It’s lightly spiced, protein-packed, and extremely comforting.
3. Easy to customize
   Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to get a little creative. You can customize these Keto chili recipes with ease. For example, you may want to try out a range of Keto-friendly vegetables in your meal. On the other hand, you may want to use a variety of different meats from lean turkey breast and chicken to beef or even bacon. From the moment you’ve learned these basic recipes, you can begin to truly make them your own.

Keto White Chicken Chili Recipe

Fancy a deliciously tempting dinnertime meal? You can’t go wrong with our Keto white chicken chili recipe. It’s full of flavor and meaty goodness.

Often, white chili will contain butter beans. However, since those are typically high in carbohydrates, we’ve omitted them from our recipe and loaded up on veggies instead.

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 3 hours (or more) | Serves: 4
Calories per serving: 343 kcal | Equipment: Slow cooker, chopping board, knife, skillet, and spatula

Ingredients

• 24 fl oz. chicken broth
• 400g skinless chicken breast
• 1 large bell pepper
• 1 large onion
• 100g green chilies
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 50g minced garlic
• 2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 150g shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Pour some chicken broth into your slow cooker and turn the heat on high.
2. Chop up the chicken breast, bell pepper, onion, and chilies.
3. Add some olive oil to your skillet and put it on medium heat. Put the chicken, pepper, onions, minced garlic, cayenne pepper, and chilies into the pan and cook for a few minutes until the meat is browned.
4. Put the contents of the skillet into your slow cooker.
5. Next, add the shredded cheddar cheese and mix well.
6. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and leave to cook for 3 hours or more.

One-Pot Keto Chili Recipe

Looking for a simple Keto chili recipe that ticks all the right boxes? This one-pot recipe could be the way to go. You don’t have to mess around with a load of equipment to get this particular meal right, which means that it couldn’t be easier to make. Here’s how to do it.

Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 50 mins | Serves: 4
Calories per serving: 329 kcal | Equipment: Chopping board, knife, and a large non-stick pot

Ingredients

• 500g minced lean beef
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 100g red chilies
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 1 large onion
• 24 fl oz. beef stock broth
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp heavy cream

Directions

1. Chop up the chilies, bell pepper, and onion.
2. Add some olive oil to a large non-stick pot and put it on medium heat. Put the chilies, bell pepper, and onion in the pot and begin cooking.
3. Next, put the meat in the pot and cook for 10 minutes until browned.
4. Pour the beef stock over the ingredients. Sprinkle in the oregano, cayenne pepper, paprika, and chili powder.
5. Continue to cook on medium heat for 40 minutes. Stir the Keto chili regularly.
6. Finally, add the heavy cream to the mixture and stir well. Cook for a further 10 minutes.

Red Wine and Mushroom Keto Chili Recipe

Ready for a perfect dinner party recipe? This red wine and mushroom Keto chili could be just the ticket!

As you may already know, the Keto diet rules allow small quantities of dry wine to be used. This recipe takes full advantage of that fact, using the wine to give the chili an altogether deeper, richer flavor. Plus, it takes almost no time at all to make.

Prep Time: 15-20 mins | Cook Time: 40 mins | Serves: 4
Calories per serving: 232 kcal | Equipment: Chopping board, knife, large skillet, spatula, and large pot

Ingredients

• 200g white mushrooms
• 1 red bell pepper
• 50g celery
• ½ red onion
• 50g red chilies
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 500g minced lean beef
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne powder
• 24 fl oz. beef stock
• 1.7 fl oz. dry red wine

Directions

1. Chop the mushrooms, bell pepper, celery, red onion, and red chilies.
2. Put some olive oil into a large skillet and place the pan on medium heat.
3. Add chopped mushrooms, bell pepper, celery, red onion, and chilies then cook for 5 minutes until the contents begin to become soft.
4. Next, put the minced beef into the pan and continue to cook for 10 minutes or until browned.
5. Add the paprika and cayenne powder. Then stir the mixture well.
6. Transfer the ingredients into a large pot and put it on medium heat. Pour beef stock and red wine into the pot. Stir well.
7. Cover the pot and leave the chili mixture on medium heat for a further 40 minutes or longer to reduce. Serve and enjoy!

How to Store Your Keto Chili

Now that you have three remarkable recipes under your belt, let’s talk storage. Much like the Keto stuffed peppers, you can make a large batch of chili and keep some for later.

Of course, before you get started, you should always wash your hands when dealing with food. Leave the chili to cook first. In the two hours after cooking, portion your meals into sealable containers and put them in your fridge. Your Keto chili should be safe to consume for three-to-four days once refrigerated, according to USDA guidelines.^[1]

When you’re ready to reheat and serve your Keto chili, ensure that it’s at least 140°F throughout.^[2] You may want to use a kitchen thermometer to check the temperature of your dish before you eat it. Remember, your health and safety should always come first.

3 Other Helpful Tips to Follow

1. Let the flavors infuse!
   The golden rule of cooking chili is: the longer you cook the dish, the tastier it will be. While we’ve given recommended cooking periods for each of these chili recipes, you can always extend them. If you have time to spare, keep your chili cooking on low heat for a few more hours.
2. Consider healthy sides
   Fancy something on the side? Since our Keto chili is high in protein and fat, you can eat it on its own. However, you may want to consider what you can eat on the side. There are loads of Keto-friendly options out there. For example, you may want a small portion of light Keto tuna salad or some low-carb Keto bread. Think about what works for you.
3. Make your Keto chili extra spicy
   Do you need more spice in your life? If you crave hot flavors, feel free to adjust these Keto chili recipes to better suit your needs.
   You can always add more cayenne or chili powder. Make sure that you keep tasting the mixture as you do so to make sure it’s not too spicy.

Hit the Kitchen!

Hungry already? Why not cook yourself a warm Keto chili for dinner tonight? Within this guide, we’ve offered three simple recipes that you can try for yourself. One of them is certain to suit your personal taste.

Go ahead and grab your chef’s hat and get to work!

References

• [1] https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/keep-food-safe-food-safety-basics/ct_index  
• [2] https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/keep-food-safe-food-safety-basics/ct_index