Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

National Chili Day Shows The Top Ways We Prefer To Eat It

Author Bob Bronson

It’s National Chili Day and these are the top ways we Americans prefer to eat ours.  First though let us praise this  delicious bowl of goodness.

One of the earliest chili recipes dates back to 1850 in Monterey Mexico. This is where chili con carne  was first reported to have been  made using ground beef mixed with chili peppers, tomatoes and pinto beans.

Of course we don’t know when the recipe got more sophisticated, using cumin, chili powder and toppings, such as cheese, sour cream, and chopped onions to name a few.

Three chili dogs with cheese and onions, and fries

Chili was a basic stew that made its way north over the border later in the 1900’s. Coming from Mexico to states like Texas and California it quickly became a favorite dish for cowboys and ranchers out on the range.

A poll for National Chili Day found the top ways we like to eat it are in a bowl, on hot dogs, in a Frito chili pie, and on French fries.

Fast forward to today and chili is on just about every bar and diner menu across the country. There are restaurants that specialize in just chili and adding it onto everything from hot dogs to spaghetti to grande nachos.

  A poll for National Chili Day looked at the top ways we eat it . . .

 

 

1.  In a bowl, 52%.  It crushed all other options by at least 40 points. No brainer here, basic, simple, classic

 

2.  On a hot dog, 12%. Don’t you want at least one chili dog every once in a while

 

3.  In a Frito chili pie, 9%. This combo is meant to be

 

4.  On French fries, 8%. Better than ketchup!

 

5.  Over rice, 6%. Brown or white rice, doesn’t matter, sounds good.

 

6.  On a baked potato, 4%. Delicious way to enhance your potato game

 

7.  On garlic bread, 3%. Think of it as an elevated approach to chili on plain bread

 

8.  On spaghetti, 2%.  Lookin’ at you, Cincinnati. Made famous by SkyLine in Ohio

 

9.  With mac & cheese, 2%.Should be more popular than this

 

10.  On a sloppy joe, also 2%. This is a better way to get sloppy

 

 

A few more quick stats:  Our favorite chili toppings are cheese, crackers, and cornbread . . . 26% like it spicy . . . 10% have a chili recipe they’d rather not share . . . and 14% of Americans say chili tends to make them kinda gassy.  So maybe crack a window today.

 

 

(National Today)

Bob is a native New Englander, growing up (sorta) in Maine where his love for radio started at a young age. While in high school he hosted radio shows on a local radio station, and he has never looked back. Bob joined the US Navy and served onboard the Sixth Fleet Flagship as a radio and TV host. After serving for 3 years, it was off to Emerson College in Boston. Bob hosted shows in Boston on WMEX, WVBF and WSSH in the 80’s and 90’s before heading to radio stations in Raleigh, NC, Manchester, NH, and New York City. Bob has been married for almost 25 years to Carolyn, a Woburn gal and they have 3 daughters, Nicole, Taylor, and Bridget. Bob and Carolyn are proud first-time grandparents to baby Caroline, who they plan to spoil every chance they get! “I started my career in New England and could not be happier to come back to Boston where I can root for all the Boston sports teams and eat lots of lobster rolls and clam chowder (okay not lots)… It is an honor to host the WROR morning show with LBF and wake up the World’s Greatest City!” Bob writes about recipes and restaurants, pop culture and trending topics.

The Best Bowl of Chili You Can Get In each New England State

February 23rd is National Chili Day and the folks at Lovefood.com have done their homework and have rated the best restaurant chili in all 50 states.

Here’s the best chili you can get in each New England state

Author Bob Bronson
Category:

More Bob Bronson

Load More