What is the obsession with chilli?

[ClaraThePigeon]

Every time someone asks what to serve at a party on MN, people always suggest chilli. They always have to specify a big pot of it too as though if they didn't the host would give everyone a teaspoon of it each.

Do people really like chili that much? It's ok. I enjoy it a couple of times a year but that's it. It isn't something that I'd want at a party and it's rather messy not to mention trying to satisfy everyone's heat level preferences.

Thank goodness someone else wonders this! Have been to loads of gatherings where they’ve had this, and yes, a huge pot. I’ve only ever seen people grab a spoon of it and have always wondered are they eating chilli for days afterwards!! I prefer a good lasagna or cottage pie myself!

I agree, it does get suggested on some weird threads. I love chilli myself, often cook it and it's great on a lot of fronts, easy to make, relatively cheap, easily converted to vegan/veggie, fairly healthy, allergy friendly, OK-ish for low carb folks. If the question was 'suggest a great family friendly easy dinner' or 'give me a one-pot/slow cooker meal suggestion to cheaply feed a crowd' then it would be a total winner.

It's the fact the ubiquitous 'big pot of chilli' (bonus points for 'in the slow cooker') is so often suggested on threads that say things like 'I've friends coming round for dinner, they are real foodies and I want to impress' or 'I want to cook an elaborate feast to show off my cooking skills for my family at the weekend, what new ideas can I try',-this just baffles me as I'd never put chilli (even the fancy kind made with braising steak rather than meat and done low and slow for hours) in the 'fancy'/show off/'dinner party' meal category - to me it's firmly in the 'family supper' arena or even 'meals you'd have at a campsite' - comforting/homely rather than impressive - other meals that for me are in the same bracket like fajitas/burritos or lasagne tend to get mentioned in the same breath too. I find it weird in a similar way to if someone suggested caviar, fillet mignon and oysters on a thread where someone asked 'what can I feed my fussy DC that's cheap and easy', a good meal suggestion in itself but answering a totally different question.

Obviously I'd very happily eat pretty much anything at a friend's house and be very grateful to have been fed something nice, I'd never be so rude as to make any adverse comment on it's fanciness vs homeliness so it's not as if it really matters, I just find it odd that so many people apparently find things like a pot of chilli 'impressive' - or then again we all know people don't always read the OP properly, so if they just saw the 'feed a lot of people' bit and are the sort of person that would absolutely dread having dinner guests and just want to do it as easily and cheaply as possible (no judgement on that, most people probably are the same), they're going to recommend their own tried and tested favourites rather than fancified and elaborate things requiring multiple different unusual ingredients and involving a lot of faffing around to prepare. Plus people can be a bit weird and defensive due to their own experiences of dietary needs being ignored and will only suggest gluten free/plant based/bland meals even if the OP has been clear there's no children or coeliacs or vegans coming, so if the suggested recipes don't appeal you just have to scroll on by...

Totally agree.
I eat meat, but find hog roasts so disappointing. All the focus is on the meat and there's never enough variety in the sides. And often not enough sides.

It's awful stuff, a big pot of slop. The only people I see eating it at parties are the children.

You've clearly never had a decent chilli.

This is bizarre. You can prefer to not serve chilli but how can you not see why it does appeal to so many. It’s cheap, versatile and can be prepared in advance.

I love a big chilli for that reason, I can cook it in advance, do a meat and veggie options, a range of sides and then spend some time with the people I have invited. It’s not a dinner party, just an informal gathering.

It's easy to make in bulk, easy to make gluten free and vegan, fairly cheap, can be served in bowls with just a fork, better for standing up with.?

Can be. I did sausages too so some people used those buns.

but how can you not see why it does appeal to so many.

Because as I mentioned earlier, it's messy, some people don't like or can't eat spicy foods and it's a bit samey plus you have to take into account different heat level tolerances/preferences.

I'm with you OP! a family friend serves chilli at every party they hold.
I'm surprised by the chilli love on here

So really your issues are spice levels and mess as there is no food likes by everyone, and the point of various sides is to stop it being samey?

what would be your alternative suggestion that ticks as many boxes as people have pointed at chilli does ?

Hmm I love chilli but only really the way I make it - very hot with a particular smoky flavour hot sauce added, lots of veg (peppers, onions, maybe celery/mushrooms/courgette), lots of garlic and seasoning, cooked down so the meat is really soft and the tomato sauce is thick and rich.

I don't think I've yet come across a 'big pot of chilli' made by anyone else that I've really loved (rather than thought was just 'ok') - all too often it's undercooked so the tomato sauce is watery with big lumps of tomato, it's underseasoned and not spicy enough, the meat is tough... My mum in particular makes chilli frequently whenever there is a big gathering and always buys the cheapest ingredients to make it go further so it's watery, tasteless and has rock solid kidney beans and greasy meat. She also adds chopped boiled carrots, peas and sweetcorn which is frankly sacrilege (sorry mum!) 😬

I've been giving this a bit too much thought, so I think:

Because as I mentioned earlier, it's messy, some people don't like or can't eat spicy foods and it's a bit samey plus you have to take into account different heat level tolerances/preferences.

If I were having a big party, even though I've got some pretty massive pots, none of them would feed 30+ guests. So the chilli would probably be one of a few options and it wouldn't matter that some people don't like spicy food. If I were having a small, but casual party, I would either know what my guests liked eating, or I would ask them. If OP were coming round, I wouldn't make chilli!

It's not that messy in my opinion because you can eat it from a bowl with one utensil. I wouldn't serve it with jacket potatoes (as some have suggested) for a big party, because you'd need to be able to cut those up. Someone earlier suggested they'd rather have lasagne, which again would need cutting up and is therefore not an option unless it's a small party with space for everyone to sit down at the same time and put their plate down.

However, when I have parties I make not just one, but multiple massive salads of all different kinds (can be made ahead and/or dressed at last minute), a cheeseboard, and lots of cakes.

Ok so people have explained the chilli obsession, I'm still not seeing the appeal but it is easy and cheap, but can anyone explain the specification of a big pot of it?

My friend used to serve it at parties in the 80's. Horrible stuff.

When I saw the tiel of the thread I thought it was going to be about the ready prepared snack foods/vegan stuff like rainbow fritters that are so hot they take the skin off your mouth and destroy any flavours that were once in there.

Yes, always crusty.

Up here it would be a meat and potato pie and red cabbage. Cheese pie for vegetarians

OP, as far as I can see, some people's definition of "good party food" is that it is easy, cheap and convenient, one size fits all so good for them.

What I (and I'm assuming also you) consider as "good party food" is something that is good for the guests - so something like chilli doesn't cut it - it's "meh" at best for guests. Good for the guests tends to include food not eaten everyday, more expensive or exotic foods, things that have taken more effort or skill to prepare, richer foods, good choice of different foods, stuff that is a treat.

At a bonfire party, with people eating on the patio, yes. Not for just a random get together, the thought of people wandering around indoors with a bowl or wrap of chilli and the potential spillages makes me go cold!

I didn't choose my decor to have chilli or other food splashed over it. Because people will not admit to spilling things, they'll hide it with a handy cushion or rub it into the carpet with their shoe preventing it being cleaned up until it's too late.

Its tasty, cheap, easy to make and most people like it.

Also goes well with a MASSIVE salad. 😂

I love chilli and would eat it once a week if I could. I'd never serve it at a party though due to the high potential for spillages and fussy people picking out kidney beans.

I am not a fan of chilli at all and will give it a miss at parties and just have the plain rice etc. I think people suggest a large pot here in case it is on the those mns who feel full after a couple of grapes and a cup of tea is doing the catering.

I think it's because where something is pretty bland and everyday (c.f. also, 'massive salad') the only way you can make it more impressive is in size/generosity of serving, hence great vats of chilli, huge steaming piles of rice etc - same reason people I like carveries and pizza hut buffets and all you can eat Chinese, it might not be the best food you've ever had but you can stuff it in to your heart's content

A LOT of cocktails or gin.

@mrsm43s what about people who don’t have lots of money, or are time poor. What other suggestions would you have for them if chilli is such a poor choice?

The reason chilli suggested is suggested is because it cheap and easy. Generally at gatherings I go to/ host the main point is to spend time together so something like that is ideal, so I think the guests would rather time with the host , so I believe I am thinking of the guests requirements. Plus millions of dietary requirement in my family so easy is always a bonus.

I feel this is a bit snobbery on this thread.