11 Chili Recipes, Grouped by What's in the Freezer
Eleven chilis grouped by protein — beef and pork, chicken and turkey, beans and veg — each with estimated cost per serving, protein, and cook time.
Chili is the cheapest way to put 30g of protein in a bowl, and it is the one dinner that is better the next day. Every chili below simmers in one pot, freezes flat, and reheats without losing anything — which is why the list is grouped by protein rather than ranked: pick the section that matches what's in the freezer and stop reading.
Anychef catalog data: our library holds 18 true chilis (chili mac and chili dogs excluded — those are a different dinner), at a median $1.85 a serving and 40 minutes. Ten come in under $2, nine carry 30g+ of protein, and nine are meatless. Ranked by protein per dollar inside each group. Costs are per-serving estimates, not measured prices.
Beef and pork
1. Cincinnati Chili
38g protein640 cal$2.50/serving50 min
Silky, cinnamon-spiced meat sauce ladled over spaghetti and buried in cheddar, Ohio's famous five-way done right.
View the full recipe →
2. Classic Beef Chili
32g protein420 cal$2.20/serving40 min
Hearty, spiced ground beef simmered with beans and tomatoes, better with each passing day as flavors deepen.
View the full recipe →
3. Pork Green Chili
38g protein420 cal$2.80/serving80 min
Tender braised pork in a tangy green chile sauce, the Colorado diner favorite that is great in a bowl or over burritos.
View the full recipe →
4. Texas Beef Chili
42g protein460 cal$3.40/serving90 min
Big chunks of beef in a deep red chile gravy with no beans in sight, chili the way Texans swear by it.
View the full recipe →Chicken and turkey
5. Buffalo Chicken Chili
39g protein440 cal$2.50/serving40 min
White chicken chili crashed into wing night, creamy, tangy, and just spicy enough to keep you coming back.
View the full recipe →
6. Turkey Chili Lite
35g protein310 cal$2.80/serving40 min
Lean ground turkey simmered with tomatoes and beans, a lighter take on the classic chili without any guilt.
View the full recipe →Beans and veg
7. Smoky Black Bean Chili
15g protein310 cal$1.10/serving25 min
Black beans and corn in a smoky, deeply spiced tomato base, a fast meatless chili with serious backbone.
View the full recipe →
8. Three Bean Chili
16g protein320 cal$1.20/serving40 min
Kidney, black, and pinto beans in a smoky tomato base, a meatless chili so hearty nobody misses the beef.
View the full recipe →
9. Smoky Chickpea Chili
14g protein310 cal$1.10/serving35 min
Hearty chickpea chili with smoked paprika and warming spices.
View the full recipe →
10. Black Bean And Kale Chili
14g protein300 cal$1.20/serving40 min
Hearty black bean chili loaded with kale and warming spices.
View the full recipe →
11. Black Bean And Corn Chili
15g protein320 cal$1.30/serving40 min
Hearty black bean chili loaded with corn, peppers, and warming spices.
View the full recipe →Keep going
Every recipe above comes from the Anychef library of 1,700+ recipes, each with cost per serving and full macros — browse the comfort food collection and every 30g+ recipe. Or skip the browsing entirely: scan your fridge with the Anychef app and get recipes built from what you already have, macros and grocery list included.
