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Chili Bar

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Create a cozy chili bar by offering a big pot of your favorite chili with a variety of toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, diced onions, jalapeños, and cornbread muffins. Set out bowls and let guests customize their chili just the way they like it!

Whether it’s game night, a birthday, or just a weekend hangout, a chili bar transforms an ordinary meal into an interactive and memorable hit.

Bowls of chili, tortilla chips, corn muffins, and toppings on platters.

Planning Your Chili Bar Setup

Chili Bar set up on counter.

The Perfect Chili Bar Location

Picking the perfect spot for your chili bar is essential. You want a location that’s accessible but not in the way. Kitchen counters, dining tables, or even a sideboard can work wonders. Consider where your guests naturally gather. If your space allows, set up outside for a relaxed backyard vibe.

Think about flow: you want your guests to move easily around the bar, grab their toppings, and enjoy their chili without feeling cramped. An assembly line setup often works best, leading your friends from bowls and chili to a wide array of tasty toppings and sides.

Graphic of chili bar set up.

Essential Equipment and Supplies

For a successful chili bar, make sure you’re equipped with the right tools.

  • Bowls: Have enough to cover a couple of rounds per guest.
  • Utensils: Stock up on spoons and forks. You won’t want to run out mid-party.
  • Serving Spoons: Essential for each topping you serve.
  • Ladles: One for each chili variety, to avoid mixing flavors.
  • Napkins: Plenty of them – chili can get messy!
  • Crockpots / Slow Cookers or Instant Pots: To keep your chili warm and ready to serve.
  • Small Plates or Dishes: Perfect for piling on extra toppings or sides like cornbread.

Preparing a Shopping List

Creating the ultimate chili bar means having a variety of ingredients and toppings at your disposal. Here’s a guide to help you prepare your shopping list:

  • Chili Ingredients: Beef, beans, tomatoes, onions, chili powder, garlic, etc.
  • Toppings:
    • Cheese: Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or queso fresco.
    • Sour Cream: A cooling complement to spicy chili.
    • Jalapeños: Fresh or pickled, for those who like some heat. Try serrano chiles for more heat.
    • Green Onions and Red Onions: For a burst of flavor.
    • Fresh Herbs: Cilantro or parsley for a fresh touch.
    • Tortilla Chips and/or Corn Chips: To add some crunch.

1. Prepare the Chili

Bowl of chili topped with cheese, sour cream, and jalapeno slices on wood platter with spoon.
  • Make big pots of at least two to three chili varieties, such as classic beef, vegetarian, or a white chicken chili. Keep them warm in a slow cooker, Instant Pot, chafing dishes, or on a stovetop low-simmer.
  • Offer bowls and ladles nearby for easy serving.

2. Arrange Chili Toppings Station

Toppings for chili bar in small bowls on counter.

You want everything in reach and neatly organized. Set up small bowls with toppings so guests can customize. Use a variety of heights to display your toppings; think cake stands or tiered trays to make grabbing toppings a breeze.

Arrange bowls, spoons, and ladles at the start of the line to pick up and serve, then follow them with toppings. Popular chili bar toppings include:

  • Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper jack)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Diced onions, scallions, or chives
  • Sliced jalapeños (fresh or pickled)
  • Diced tomatoes, avocado, or cilantro
  • Lime wedges
  • Hot sauce(s), red pepper flakes, and salsa
  • Cornbread croutons or tortilla chips for crunch

By strategically arranging your chili bar, you not only make it simple for guests to grab what they want but also encourage them to try new combinations.

3. Provide Sides and Extras

  • Add sides like cornbread, warm rolls, or oyster crackers.
  • Offer rice, baked potatoes, or tater tots as extra bases if you would like more variety.

Our Favorite Chili Sides

4. Include Serving Essentials

  • Have plenty of bowls, spoons, and napkins, ideally in team or theme colors for a fun, festive touch. Wood platters give your guests a handy way to carry their creations.
  • Add a chalkboard or small signs labeling each topping for a decorative and helpful element.
  • Make sure to mark vegetarian options, gluten-free items, identify common allergens, and note the spice levels to allow your guests choose what works best for them.

5. Set Up for Easy Flow

  • Arrange everything in a way that guests can move easily from the chili pot to the toppings and then to seating.

6. Expert Tips

  • Plan about 1-1.5 cups of chili per person.
  • Keep extra toppings ready in the kitchen.
  • Place garbage bins in convenient locations.
  • Store leftover chili covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Consider having take-home containers available if you do not want a refrigerator full of leftovers.

Beverage Pairings

Check out my Super Bowl Cocktails post for team cocktail recipes!

Decor and Atmosphere for Your Chili Bar

When it comes to decorating your chili bar, consider the occasion and lean into a theme. Are you hosting for game day? Think about integrating football-themed decor such as mini helmets or banners in your team’s colors. You can even use chalkboards or mini flags to label each chili variety and topping station.

If your gathering is seasonal, let the time of year inspire you. For a fall soirée, pumpkins, autumn leaves, and candles can create a cozy vibe. Winter events might call for warm, rich colors and fairy lights to add a touch of magic.

  • Game Day: Football napkins, tablecloths, and banners.
  • Fall Theme: Pumpkins, gourds, and leaf garlands.
  • Winter Scene: Twinkling lights, evergreen branches, and rich reds and greens.
  • Birthday Party: Balloons, streamers or banners, colored napkins, and tablecloths.

I chose to keep things very simple without creating a theme. My chili bar was actually created for Thanksgiving, but I did not want that vibe in the images. My everyday blue napkins and bowls with the wood platters created a simple, cozy feel that was perfect for us.

Did you create your own chili bar? I’d love to see it!
Tag @cookingwithcurls on Instagram & Facebook and leave a ⭐️⭐⭐⭐⭐ review below!

Enjoy!!

Bowls of chili, tortilla chips, corn muffins, and toppings on platters.

Chili Bar

Create a cozy chili bar with your favorite chili, a variety of toppings, and let guests customize their chili just the way they like it!
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Print Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: servings
Calories: 342kcal
Author: Lisa Johnson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 12 cups chili

Toppings & Garnishes

  • 2 cups shredded cheese cheddar, Monterrey Jack, crumbled queso
  • 1.5 cups diced red onion or yellow
  • 3 large jalapeno peppers thinly sliced
  • 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 2 avocados diced
  • 0.5 cup chopped, fresh cilantro or Italian parsley
  • 0.5 cup diced green onion
  • 2 limes cut into wedges
  • hot sauce and red chile flakes for added heat

Sides & Extras

  • corn chips like Frito's scoops
  • tortilla chips
  • cornbread muffins with softened butter and honey
  • baked potatoes
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Instructions

  • Choose a location for your chili bar that’s accessible but not in the way. You want your guests to move easily around the bar, grab their toppings, and enjoy their chili without feeling cramped.
  • Arrange bowls, serving spoons, and ladles at the start of the line to pick up and serve, then follow with pots of chili, toppings, sides, stack of napkins, soup spoons, and knives. Creating an assembly line presented in a logical order will allow for the best flow of traffic.
  • Place the beverage bar in a separate location to keep the flow moving, and prevent your guests from gathering in one spot.

Notes

  • Plan about 1-1.5 cups of chili per person.
  • Keep extra toppings ready in the kitchen.
  • Place garbage bins in convenient locations.
  • Store leftover chili covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Consider having take-home containers available if you do not want a refrigerator full of leftovers.

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 425mg | Potassium: 1206mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 2935IU | Vitamin C: 344mg | Calcium: 235mg | Iron: 3mg

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