Chili is a spicy stew that is popular in many cuisines around the world. The key ingredients in chili are meat, chili peppers, and often beans or vegetables. However, one ingredient that sometimes causes debate among chili lovers is tomatoes. Do most chili recipes call for tomatoes, or are there many variations that leave them out? Let’s take a closer look at whether or not chili usually contains tomatoes.
The Role of Tomatoes in Chili
When present, tomatoes typically play an important role in chili by providing acidity, sweetness, and body to balance out the spices. Tomatoes contain glutamates that enhance savory umami flavor. Their texture also thickens the stew. So in chilis that do include tomatoes, they are much more than just an accent ingredient. Tomatoes tend to be a major component of the overall flavor and texture.
That said, tomatoes are not unanimously agreed upon as an essential chili ingredient. There are many recipes that omit tomatoes entirely. Opinions differ on whether “true” chili must contain tomatoes or not. Purists often insist that “chili” refers only to the tomato-free Texas red variety, while others argue that tomatoes are perfectly acceptable in chili.
Varieties of Chili That Typically Contain Tomatoes
While debates continue on whether “real” chili must omit tomatoes, there are certain regional styles and common varieties that typically do include tomatoes as a standard ingredient:
- American chili – The typical red bowl of chili served across most of the USA contains tomatoes as a base ingredient. Kidney or pinto beans may also be included.
- Chili con carne – Meaning “chili with meat,” this tomato-based variety often features chunks of beef as the meat. Chili powder and cumin are used to season it.
- Cincinnati chili – A Greek-inspired meat sauce containing a tomato base and an unusual blend of spices like cinnamon, cocoa, and Worcestershire sauce.
- White chicken chili – A lighter, tomato-based chili made with white beans and chicken as the meat.
For these popular regional and common types of chili, tomatoes are considered a standard part of the recipe rather than an optional ingredient.
American Chili
American chili is perhaps the most widely recognized chili style in the U.S. It contains tomatoes, chili powder, meat such as beef, beans, onions, garlic, and seasonings like cumin and oregano. This style came from adapting Texas-style chili for more mainstream American tastes by adding tomatoes and beans. The tomatoes provide moisture, flavor, and mellow the spiciness. Kidney or pinto beans also stretch the dish while adding fiber. This hearty chili with tomatoes is most likely what you’ll get if you order a “bowl of red” in a diner or cafe across America.
Chili Con Carne
Chili con carne, meaning “chili with meat,” is another tomato-based chili that is popular worldwide, but originated in the American Southwest. The meat is typically beef, usually chuck that has been diced or coarsely ground. Tomatoes provide the base along with chili powder for heat and cumin for depth of flavor. Other seasonings like garlic, onion, oregano, and salt are also standard ingredients. The tomatoes and meat are simmered together to meld the flavors and tenderize the beef. Chili con carne is usually served topped with cheddar cheese, onions, and sometimes beans over rice or corn chips.
Cincinnati Chili
Cincinnati chili originated in the 1920s from Greek and Macedonian immigrants to Ohio. It has an unusual ingredients list including tomato paste, cinnamon, cocoa powder, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and sometimes chocolate for sweetness. No beans are used. The thin, meaty sauce is served over spaghetti noodles and topped with cheese and onions. Tomatoes provide the base but take a backseat to the array of spices that provide Cincinnati chili’s distinctive flavor. This niche regional style always contains tomatoes.
White Chicken Chili
As a lighter take on chili, white chicken chili substitutes chicken for beef or other red meats. Despite its name, tomatoes are still very much included – they just aren’t the focus. White beans like cannellini or great northern are the star legume instead of red kidney beans. The tomatoes provide flavor and color but don’t dominate since color is not needed to disguise pale chicken meat. Onions, garlic, cumin, and chicken broth round out the flavor profile of this tomato-based chili. But the red chili peppers are often left out or minimized so the chili isn’t too spicy.
Varieties of Chili That Omit Tomatoes
While tomatoes are included in many chili recipes, there are also many variations that leave them out completely. Some of the most well-known tomato-free chilis include:
- Texas red chili – The oldest and purist style that uses chili powder as the sauce base without tomatoes.
- Green chili – Made from roasted and peeled green chili peppers rather than red ones.
- Chili verde – A green-hued chili with a sauce base of tomatillos or green tomatoes.
- Pork chili verde – Chili verde made with tender chunks of pork as the meat.
- Beef chili – Using beef chuck and chili powder as the backbone, without tomatoes.
While tomatoes are a common chili ingredient, they are by no means universally required. There are many beloved regional and meat-based chili styles that don’t include them.
Texas Red Chili
Texas red chili is considered the oldest and most traditional form of chili, dating back to cattle drivers in Texas in the 19th century. It combines meat, fat, chili peppers, and spices stewed into a thick, gravy-like consistency. Tomatoes and beans are conspicuously absent. Stewing cubes of beef chuck are the preferred meat, flavored only with chili powder and cumin. Onions and garlic add some supporting flavor. The lack of tomatoes allows the taste of the meat and pure chili flavor to take center stage. This is probably what chili traditionalists have in mind when arguing against tomatoes.
Green Chili
Green chili gets its name from the use of green chili peppers rather than red. The peppers are roasted, peeled, and then chopped or pureed to make a sauce base. Green chili can refer to the peppers themselves as well as the stew. Pork, chicken, or beef can be used as the protein. While tomatillos are sometimes included for tartness, tomatoes are generally not part of traditional green chili. The flavors are fresher and greener without the sweetness and acidity of tomatoes. New Mexican Hatch chilis are most iconic, but poblanos, jalapenos, and Anaheims work too.
Chili Verde
Chili verde means “green chili” and can refer to any meat chili made with green tomatillos, green tomatoes, or green chili peppers instead of red. Tomatillos have a similar appearance to tomatoes but a distinct tart, fruity flavor. Pork is often paired with the green ingredients. Cumin, garlic, onion, and cilantro add flavor. While tomatillos belong to the same nightshade family as tomatoes, they provide a much different flavor profile. Chili verde delivers a fresher, brighter taste without the weight and red color of tomatoes.
Pork Chili Verde
A popular specific take on chili verde is pork chili verde, made exclusively with pork shoulder or butt. The pork is luscious and juicy compared to chicken or beef in green chili. Tomatillos, chili peppers like Anaheims or jalapenos, cumin, garlic, and onion make up the base. The tomatillos’ acidity cuts through the richness of the pork. Cilantro adds freshness. Tomatoes are left out, allowing the tomatillos, pork, and green peppers to be the stars. This chili verde variation highlights how chili can shine without tomatoes.
Beef Chili
Beef chili can refer to any chili made with beef as the dominant meat without tomatoes. Ground beef or beef chuck are cooked until tender and then flavored with chili powder, garlic, onion, and other spices. Tomatoes add moisture which isn’t as necessary with fatty, juicy beef. So for many beef chili fans, the tomatoes are expendable. The beefiness shines through without the interference of tomatoes. This chili style demonstrates how just meat and chili pepper seasoning can still make a deeply flavorful and satisfying chili.
Regional Differences in Chili Ingredients
Chili recipes and ingredients vary greatly between different regions and cultures. Here is a table summarizing whether or not tomatoes are typically used in various regional chili styles around the world:
| Region | Style | Tomatoes? |
|---|---|---|
| American Midwest | Cincinnati Chili | Yes |
| American Southwest | New Mexico Chili | No |
| Mexico | Beef Chili | Sometimes |
| Mexico | Chicken Chili | Yes |
| Texas | Texas Red | No |
| India | Curry Chili | Yes |
As the table shows, tomatoes are a must in some regional chili styles like Cincinnati and Indian curry chili. They are always excluded from Texas red chili. In places like Mexico and New Mexico, tomatoes may be included or omitted depending on factors like the meat used. Local tastes, ingredients, and traditions dictate whether tomatoes are considered typical in different geographic chili styles.
Tomatoes in Award-Winning Chili Recipes
Award-winning chili recipes from competitive cookoffs provide insight into whether accomplished chili chefs tend to use tomatoes or not. The World Champion Chili Cookoff is one of the most prestigious chili competitions. Here are some of the winning and finalist recipes over recent years:
- 2018 – World Champion Chili by Chris Allen of Illinois featured chili paste and tomato sauce as main ingredients.
- 2019 – World Champion Chili by Ernest Servantes of Texas omitted tomatoes in favor of chili powder and beef suet.
- 2020 – World Champion Chili by Scott Rains of Kansas included tomato sauce and tomato paste.
- 2021 – World Champion Chili by Sarah Browning of Texas left out tomatoes in favor of chili puree and beef broth only.
- 2022 – World Champion Chili by Joey Chavez of New Mexico used chili powder, garlic, cumin and beef broth, no tomatoes.
Based on these award-winning recipes, tomatoes seem to be included about half the time. Expert judges view tomatoes as acceptable but not required. The endless debates over whether chili should have tomatoes or not play out even at the highest levels of competition chili cooking.
Tomatoes in Popular Chili Recipes
Looking at some of the top chili recipes on websites like AllRecipes and Food Network provides furher insight into whether popular home cook chili recipes contain tomatoes:
| Recipe Name | Tomatoes? |
|---|---|
| Best Ever Chili by AllRecipes | Yes |
| Instant Pot Chili by AllRecipes | Yes |
| Turkey Chili by AllRecipes | Yes |
| Easy Beef Chili by Food Network | Yes |
| Chicken Chili Verde by Food Network | No |
| Chili Con Carne by Food Network | Yes |
Based on these top-rated chili recipes on popular cooking websites, tomatoes appear to be included in most but not all of the most popular chili recipes for home cooks. The recipes containing tomatoes seem to outnumber those without by about 2 to 1 from these sources.
Tomatoes in Canned Chili Products
Canned and packaged chili products available at grocery stores also provide insight into the prevalence of tomatoes in quick and convenient chili options:
| Product Name | Tomatoes? |
|---|---|
| Hormel Chili with Beans | Yes |
| Wolf Brand Chili | Yes |
| Amy’s Organic Chili | Yes |
| Campbell’s Chunky Chili | Yes |
| Bush’s Chili Magic | Yes |
| Stagg Chili | No |
Among leading canned and packaged chili brands, the vast majority contain tomatoes. Only Stagg’s plain beef chili leaves out tomatoes. So tomatoes seem to be an expected part of convenience chili products that consumers are accustomed to, with only a few exceptions.
Conclusion
So does chili usually have tomatoes? Looking at all the evidence – chili styles, award-winning recipes, popular recipes, and commercial products – tomatoes seem to appear in chili at least half the time and arguably more often. However, there are still notable tomato-free chili styles and recipes, particularly from Texas and New Mexico. The late 19th century origins of chili before widespread tomato usage supports tomato-free purists. But tomatoes have become widely accepted in chili across many global regions and cultures. Debates endure, but tomatoes have unquestionably gained a solid foothold as a common chili ingredient included in many beloved variations.