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.

What would people serve instead of chili?

I do serve chilli but sometimes do lasagne, curry or sliced roast chicken, roast ham, and (the cliches) salads, crusty bread plus veggie versions

God! No, no please, please do not let the men get competitive over the crackers!

Chilli anyday over that.

I'm always making BIG pots of chilli and curries. It's a right pain as it's only me and DD at home and I don't have any friends.
By the time I've finished it on day 5, I never want to see chilli again. I look in the freezer, see mince and before you know it... D'oh!
It's a curse I tell you.

BPoC!

I love this. I'm going to use it when DD asks what's for dinner. It covers so many eventualities...

Big pot of chilli
Big pot of curry
Big plate of chips
Big pot of casserole
Big piece of cheese accompanied by BPoC.
Bass, Peas on Chips
Breaded piece of Cod
BPoC and BPoC surprise
Bloody Piss off Chef

That's the menu sorted for the week. Thank you!

I certainly have.

kidney beans are one of the worst foods. not as bad as liquorice, but approaching that level.

After reading this thread I did penne pasta for dinner and made arrabbiata sauce with two chilli peppers, and put some kidney beans in it too for good measure😆

I’ve had a really good chilli rarely, I’ve had a lot of watery, tasteless mince dishes with kidney beans.

I’m polite about them….

id rather have a wanky tapas.

you should be on some kind of register, mavis.

Chilli with salad?
Never.

You just go mild and flavourful, then serve jalapeños as one of the sides
I have served it at a bonfire night party with baked potatoes, salad, corn on the cob, cheese, coleslaw, rice, wraps, rolls, sausages, chicken drumsticks and ribs. Easy to do in advance, easy to have a veggie version, people can tailor it.

Mango salsa, fresh tomato salsa or deconstructed guac - all essentially 'salad' and all delicious with a chilli.

I love a good chilli, mainly because it's one of those foods like bolognaise, or ginger cake that gets better if you make it in advance and eat it a couple of days later. Chilli gets more flavourful, ginger cake gets more sticky.

Plus chilli like others have been said can be added to other things to make several meals that aren't just the exact same bowl of food 3 days in a row.

I hate kidney beans, they taste floury to me
Black beans work well if you like chilli but not kidney beans

I do too and it really makes it.

I loath chilli, I can't tolerate 🌶️ food. I like herbs and spices so long as they are not hot. It's the only food I don't eat.
What's an easy alternative? Plenty! Jacket potatoes with beans, or cheese, or roasted veg in tomato sauce; Pizza; bean pie; frittata with new potatoes and salad. Spags Bol (meat or veggie / vegan version). Etc

Jacket potatoes are a good alternative, as is spag bol but I think they would receive similar criticism as above, plus how
many potatoes can you do at a time?! Depends on numbers.

Pizza is definitely not as friendly to different dietary requirements but it depends on your guests. As with all of this really, if your guests are coming to spend time with you, and enjoy an informal gathering all of these are perfectly good options. Chilli is just suggested as a good, easy all rounder. Don’t serve it if you don’t want to, but the snobbery from a few on this thread is ridiculous.

I still want to know what @ClaraThePigeon would prefer

Almost any one of the other thousands of dishes that are available? Personally I like a small selection of items to choose from for variety. And as I've mentioned already I've never been served chilli at a party so clearly other options are available.

love a bit of wanky tapas

Someone upthread mentioned that chilli is more of a “boozy gathering” sort of food…especially if it’s in a big pot! The only time I’ve had it at a “party” was at a camping thing, rather than at a party.

I put chorizo in mine too and it's yummy. I also put loads of different types of beans in it to bulk it out.

It’s handy for a group of people - as people have pointed out you can accommodate a load of dietary requirements fairly easily with.

Also, if you’ve got salsa, sour cream, cheese, salad etc you can do baked potatoes, rice and tortillas easily and anyone who doesn’t like it can just have a baked potato with sides or make themselves a wrap.

But it’s not party food, I’ve seen someone on here suggest it for a buffet for a 21st... I mean... have you never been to one? They’re not sitting with a bloody plate of chilli 🤣 you can barely get them to stop drinking long enough for a slice of pizza or sausage roll.

I have chilli probably once a fortnight in winter, a bit less in summer. Along with casseroles it's simple to make and filling.

Spag Bol more of a pain imo. Can’t eat it with just a fork and would need a ridiculously big pan to make pasta for a big group. And it goes cold so quickly.

Curry is good. Easy to make ahead. Can do a veggie and a meat one plus trimmings.

I think most people probably like to have multiple options, but clearly that's much more faff for a host hence the popularity of one pot options.

Personally I can take or leave chilli, but it's incredibly obvious why it's so popular. And most of the objections you've raised would apply to any easy, one pot catering.