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How To Build A Chili Bar

By Sarah On   |  Updated:

Learn how to set up the ultimate chili bar for the next time you host game day! All my favorite hosting tips inside including chili recipe suggestions, topping ideas, and more.

Save this recipe for later using the ‘save to recipe box’ button. If you make it, please let me know by leaving a comment + star rating below the recipe card. This only takes moments and helps support my website so much!

Your turn to host the next game-day event? Cancel those pizza delivery plans because your game-day food dilemma is in the BAG. Or the chili pot to be more specific.

A chili bar is one of my favorite ways to serve food at a sports viewing party and today I’m showing you how to put together the ultimate chili spread that I guarantee will liven up your event! This is THE ultimate way to throw a shindig.

This Guide Includes…

  • Chili recipe suggestions
  • Tips for keeping chili warm
  • Side dish and topping ideas
  • Leftovers inspiration

Choosing Your Chili

I recommend choosing 2-3 chilis for your chili bar so guests have a few options to choose from. Feel free to also ask a guest to bring one of the chilis to take some of the prep off yourself and so you have an extra slow cooker on hand to keep it warm.

Recipe Suggestions

How To Keep Chili Warm

Once you have your chili recipes assembled, I highly recommend transferring chilis to separate slow cookers and keep on the ‘warm’ setting for up to 3 hours. You can easily set up the slow cookers on the table alongside toppings for easy serving this way.

Choosing Your Toppings and Side Dishes

Set up the toppings and side dishes immediately after the chili on your bar so guests can easily dress up their individual bowls. No need to include everything from this list either, just choose crowd-specific favorites!

  • Bread Section (remember to put softened butter + honey on the table for serving with the bread)
    • Homemade or box mix cornbread (try this recipe if you’d like to do homemade)
    • Italian bread
  • Crunchy Section
    • Tortilla chips
    • Fritos
    • Doritos
  • Sauce Section
    • Sour cream
    • Salsa
    • Guacamole
    • Hot sauce
  • Cheese Section
    • Cheddar cheese
    • Pepperjack cheese
  • Veggie Section
    • Avocado
    • Red onion
    • Green onion
    • Fresh or pickled jalapenos
    • Tomato
    • Cilantro

Drink Ideas

I recommend doing 1-2 non-alcoholic drinks and 1 alcoholic if there are 21+ers in attendance. Drinks are also something you can do BYOB and ask guests to bring.

  • Beer and/or ciders (I like to do a mix of alc and non-alc)
  • Chilled or mulled apple cider
  • Sangria or wine
  • Sodas or fruit punch

Dessert Ideas

I recommend choosing 1-2 options from this list and set them up at the end of the bar alongside the drinks. You can also keep it easy and buy pre-made desserts!

Misc Equipment You Will Need

  • 2-3 slow cookers
  • Paper bowls/plates (use real spoons as plastic will melt in the hot chili)
  • Napkins
  • Plastic cups
  • Ramekins/prep bowls for serving toppings
  • Serving trays
  • To-go containers for sending guests home with leftovers.

Hosting Prep Timeline

  • 1 Week (or several) Before
    • Set your menu (decide on the chili recipes you’ll be using, toppings, side dishes, desserts, and drinks)
    • Send out requests for what you want guests to bring
  • Week Of
    • Do the grocery shopping for ingredients and any equipment you’ll need
  • Day Before
    • Bake or buy any breads you’ll be serving
    • Bake or buy any desserts you’ll be serving
    • Prep toppings and store in refrigerator (wait to slice avocado if serving until right before)
  • Day Of
    • Make chilis and transfer to slow cookers
    • Set out bowls, spoons, napkins, and cups
    • Place chips in bowls
    • Assemble toppings/side dishes on table (wait to set out perishable ingredients like sour cream until just before guests arrive)
    • Assemble drinks and desserts on table
    • Have yourself a bowl of chili!

Leftover Ideas

Find yourself with leftover chili and toppings? Try these ideas to liven up those leftovers.

  • Make a chili casserole using rice or pasta as the base
  • Build-your-own baked potatoes
  • Fold chili into mac and cheese
  • Make nachos

Save this recipe for later using the ‘save to recipe box’ button. If you make it, please let me know by leaving a comment + star rating below the recipe card. This only takes moments and helps support my website so much!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Bri says

      Don’t forget bacon bits, real bacon please, and sour cream. Perfect with the cheddar cheese. I also make BAKED, opposed to GRILL cheese. I buy dense Italian bread. The kind you can only find at a bakery. With crusty outside and soft, fresh inside. Thin amount of butter on 1 side of 2 slices, favorite cheese (cheddar, provolone, or my fave, American, in the middle and place butter side down on baking sheet. Can do many in the oven than 1 or 2 on the stove top. Set oven 400*. 1st side 5-7 mins. 2nd side 5 mins. Depending on your oven. Will be golden brown with crispy crust. Let cool a bit so cheese sets up and doesn’t ooze out when cut into wedges. Use in place of spoons. Always loved. Always a must. I promise ? Enjoy

      Reply

  4. Cailee says

    This is so fun!! …and everything looks delicious!! I would love a chilly bar… maybe my college could get one!! haha, that and a smoothie bar! YUM 🙂 Great idea!!

    Reply

  13. Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says

    OMG! A Chili bar?!? What a fun idea! I honestly cannot wait to try this next time I have people over for dinner! My fav. part is also the toppings (so much fun!)! I love being able to customize my own toppings and let everyone do their own thannngg! 🙂

    Reply

  16. Joanne says

    A chili party sounds like a perfect fall party idea! This way you don’t have to do ALL the work and it makes it more interactive for your guests!

    Reply

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