As with any legend, the early years of the Chili Bowl have become shrouded by the mists of time (hey, it's been 28 years, and we were in our twenties then and there was a lot of beer and tequila!)...here are some of the chilis that have found fame and infamy at previous Chili Bowls...
Featured chilis from 1990-2006 have their recipes published in the Chili Bowl Wonders cookbook. You can order your very own copy here.
A revised edition will be published just as soon as we get enough new recipes submitted! (Hint to all you fabulous chefs to send me your recipes)
2024 - 14 Chilis
- "C" is for Chili (that's good enough for me!) - Mike and Corey Berman (Most Appealing Appearance )
- Peanut Chicken Chili by Chat GPT - Miriam Amon (Most Fragrant Bouquet, Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Porkiest Pig - Michael and Aaron Cincinatus (Most Blistering Heat)
- Red Dawn - Ellen Morrow (Most Curious Combination)
- Two-Alarm chili (two and a half, tops) - Toby Abramson (ICB Grand Champion)
- My Balls are on Fire - Sarah Greene
- Kiss My Bair Sas - Rachel Saslove
- Chil-AI - Marisa Benjamin and Tom Stesco
- BUTT is it chili? - Gail Agensky and Ken Gotlib
- It's in the bag - Ally Saks
- Fire Roasted Chili - Brian Saks
- Fidel Gastro - Cory Weiss
- Sweet Spuds Southwest Chili - Jenn Katz
- The Seven C's (Colie and Chip's Cheesy Creamy Cleveland Chicken Chili) Nicole and Chip Vavro
2023 - 14 Chilis
- Time for Chili - Toby & Diana Abramson (Most Appealing Appearance)
- Hoak'n-Smok'n BBQ Chili - Brian Saks (Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Smokin' Chicken Corn Carne - Mike & Corey Berman (Most Blistering Heat)
- Kare-Kare Me Back to Old Manila - Cory Weiss (Most Curious Combination)
- Chili’n and Grillin’ -Gail Agensky & Ken Gotlib (Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Smokin' Chicken Corn Carne - Mike & Corey Berman (ICB Grand Champion)
- It’s Goan to be Delhi-cious! - Ruth & Rob Brickman (ICB People’s Choice)
- Chili with a Chance of Meatballs - David Benjamin (ICB Next Gen)
- Guess Why? - Michael Cincinatus
- Schlitz Creek Chili - Ally Saks
- Steamed Hams - Cory Amon
- Fart of Darkness - Ellen Morrow
- You Don't Know Jack - Dawn & Barry Bernstein
- The Aurora Ambuscade - Paul Beard & Julie Sermer
2022 - 7 Chilis
- Squashing The Meat-Eaters - Dawn & Barry Bernstein (Most Appealing Appearance)
- The Merciless Chili of Quetzalacatenango, also known as the Guatemalan Insanity Chili - Tobiah Abramson & Diana Bellisimo (Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- HOT As A Mother-Clucker !!!! - Michael & Corey Berman (Most Blistering Heat)
- Just a Curd to Me - Cory Amon (Most Curious Combination)
- Kickin’ Chilaroni and Cheese - Sarah & Hillary (Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Satay all the way - Cory Weiss (ICB Grand Champion)
- Wendy's - Rachele Benjamin (ICB People’s Choice)
2021 - 9 Chilis
- Justin Queso - Gail Agensky & Ken Gotlib (Most Appealing Appearance)
- Hello Dal-ly - Cory Weiss (Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Lotso Bean Methane Reduced Weight Watcher Friendly Hope This Tastes Good Chili - Sarah Greene (Most Blistering Heat)
- Support Your Local Chili - Jeremiah & Judy Silver (Most Curious Combination)
- There’s No Place Like Home - Flying Monkey Chili - aka Eddie's Award Winning Chili - Miriam Amon (Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Chili’s got Seoul - Toby Abramson & Diana Bellisimo (ICB Grand Champion)
- Mom's Having Another Hot Flash!!! - Mike & Jakey Berman (ICB People’s Choice)
- The Big Chill-i - Jeff & Lisa Dessau
- It's Just F**king Chili - Mark & Sharon Rubinstein
2020 - 11 Chilis
Having to cancel our in person party days before the event as we all went into lockdown, we still managed to have a virtual party and created special categories for this year's winners.
- Stay The Cluck Away From Me - Ruth and Rob Brickman - (Best Name - Punny, Thematic, or Just Brilliantly Conceived!)
- Chillin’ With The Balls - Hillary and Sarah Greene (Most Mouthwatering - Chili I want to eat just by looking at it!)
- Something To Taco About - Rachele Benjamin (all the way from Vancouver!)(Most Impressive Presentation - It could be just your creative name card, or an entire tableau for your entry.)
- Above and Beyond Meat
- Wish We Were There
- Me so Chilly AKA What we had in the Fridge - Cara, Rich, Hanna, and Julian Kowal
- The Burning (ass) Fires of Quetzalcoatl - David and Eddie (all the way from Chicago!)
- Cory's Coronavirus Chicken Chili
- The Left Stuff
- Goodness Gracious, Great Balls of Fire - Marisa Benjamin and Tom Stesco
- Hunkering Down Chili
2019 - 17 Chilis
- Bohemian Ruthsody - Heather & Michael Berger (Most Appealing Appearance)
- En-Thai-rely Awesome - Ruth & Rob Brickman (Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Chilly Chili avec Chickpeas - Phyllis Cincinatus (Most Blistering Heat)
- Poisson - Jeremiah Silver & Jakey Berman (Most Curious Combination)
- Bohemian Ruthsody - Heather & Michael Berger (Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- It’s Not Easy Being Green Tomatillo Chili - Ken Gotlib (ICB Grand Champion)
- Duck Duck Goose - Cory Weiss (ICB People’s Choice)
- Papa Damn Good Butter Chicken Chili - Gail Agensky (ICB Next Gen)
- Southern Fried Chili - Gary Craft
- Let Me Call You Sweet-Hot - Ellen Morrow
- Ooh Mommy - David Benjamin
- Lone Star Chili - Michael Cincinatus
- Artisanal Homemade Vegan Gentrification Rent Hike Chipotle Chili (or Smokey Southwest Chili) - Daniel Berg
- Yamallamadingdong - Marisa Benjamin (& Tom Stesco?)
- Plain Ass Chili - Toby Abramson
- Bombay Bellybuster - Kyle Bernstein & Aaron Cincinatus
- The Control - Matt Amon
- Chili Pureehed - Maureen Silver
2018 - 13 Chilis
- Vegan Veggie Chili from Well Good FB Feed 8am Today! - Chili Chef: Angie Lama
- Louisiana Maque Choux Chili - Chili Chef: Ken Gotlib
- This one is for my gurl Eleven - Chili Chef: Matt Amon
- Seriously Syrian - Chili Chef: Gary Craft
- Who's Pulling My Pork? Chili - Chili Chef: Michael & Corey Berman
- Numby Nummy Ma Po Chili - Chili Chef: Cory Weiss
- Chili Bo Peep - Chili Chef: David Benjamin
- Hot and Spicy - Chili Chef: Lisa Dessau
- Wasted Away Again Margarita Chili - Chili Chef: Gail Agensky
- Uncle Seamus’s Definitely Not Squirrel Chili - Chili Chef: Kyle Bernstein and Aaron Cincinatus
- Poultrified - Chili Chef: Jeff and Carol Close
- Mi Hermana Tailandesa - Chili Chef: Jacob Morrow
- Mirkwood Mushroom Chili - Chili Chef: Cory Amon
2017 - 15 Chilis
- Won Sum Chili? - Chili Chef: Michael & Corey Berman (Most Appealing Appearance)
- On A Buffalo Wing & A Prayer - Chili Chef: Gail Agensky (Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- The Scorched Sphinx - Chili Chef: David Benjamin (Most Blistering Heat)
- Aloha Pilgrim - Chili Chef: Michael Cincinatus (Most Curious Combination)
- Won Sum Chili? - Chili Chef: Michael & Corey Berman (Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Pot of Chili - Chili Chef: Jake Morrow (ICB Grand Champion)
- Cheeky Chili - Chili Chef: Sharon Abramson & Jeff Close (ICB People’s Choice)
- Canned Heat - Chili Chef: Ellen Morrow
- Do Not Go Lentil Into That Good Night - Chili Chef: Dawn Bernstein
- Can I Get Fries With That? - Chili Chef: Lisa Dessau
- Baconchocoholics Anonymous - Chili Chef: Aaron Cincinatus & Kyle Bernstein
- Tex Mex - Chili Chef: Pauline & Barry Landon
- Trump's Stump - Chili Chef: Lisa Goodman
- Meatless Wonder - Chili Chef: Julie Sole
and, with several write-in votes, despite being labeled as an appetizer…
- Chip’s Cleveland Korean Meatballs
2016 - 15 Chilis
- Diken Struktid - Chili Chef: Michael Cincinatus (Most Appealing Appearance)
- General Tso's Chili - Chili Chef: Gail Agensky (Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- That Burning Sensation - Chili Chef: Jacob Morrow (Most Blistering Heat)
- Jack(Fruit) Pot Chili - Chili Chef: Toby Abramson (Most Curious Combination)
- Diken Struktid - Chili Chef: Michael Cincinatus (Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Barquing Dog Chili - Chili Chef: Ken Gotlib (ICB Grand Champion)
- Mean Ween Bean Machine - Chili Chef: Aaron Cincinatus & Kyle Bernstein
- Vapor Trail - Chili Chef: Mike Berman (ICB People’s Choice)
- Chai Octane - Chili Chef: Cory Weiss
- Because It's 2016! - Chili Chef: Ellen Morrow
- Chico Maki - Chili Chef: Gary and Leigh Craft
- The Spiked Pig - Chili Chef: David Benjamin
- The Sweet Hereafterburn - Chili Chef: Corey Berman
- Chicken Chew “Bawk” A Chili - Chili Chef: Miriam Amon
- Deep in the Heartburn of Texas - Chili Chef: Rob Brockman
- Obi wan Canobeans - Chili Chef: Emily Amon
2015 - 12 Chilis
- Beer Belly ChiliSouthwestern Chicken Chili (Most Appealing Appearance)
- Subterranean Hogtown Blues (Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- The Smokey Pokey (Most Blistering Heat)
- Awful Offal, aka The Hunger Games Aftermath (Most Curious Combination)
- Not Rili Chili (Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Going Down to Chicken Town (ICB Grand Champion)
- The 7 C's
- Hawaii Doin'?
- Lucky #7
- Chili Gonzales
- If Summer Was a Chili
- Shanks for Nothing!
2014 - 19 Chilis
- Beer Belly Chili (Most Appealing Appearance)
- So Fine, Ovine (Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Flanken Treasure (Most Blistering Heat)
- Drunken Nuts Chili (Most Curious Combination)
- Quinoa-N Of You Show Me The Way To Santa Fe (Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- So Fine, Ovine (ICB Grand Champion)
- Ancho and The Beanstalk
- 3 Bean Hustle
- Emily Is The Best Sister Ever
- Has Anyone Seen My Tail? Chili
- Seat Of My Pants
- Spring Has Sprung
- Fire In The Roll
- Stop Ford
- Phil
- Chili (good old plain chili)
- Chillin with Chuck
- Close Call
- The Only Good Thing To Come Out Of Cincinnati
2013 - 12 Chilis
- Low Country Chicken and Waffle Chili
- Phuket - I'll Have Another Bowl
- (Thai Fusion Chili)
- Chili With Balls
- Double D
- Zero Chili with Hand Pies
- Zero Chili with Hand Pies
- Give a Kick
- I-Scream Chili
- 3 Little Pigs
- March Madness
- Chanochomincho
- Jack The Ripper
- Drag-on Queen Chili
2012 - 14 Chilis
- Dayenu
- C'est Wot
- Countdown Chili
- Great White North's Chilly
- Chilitini
- Adam's Rib
- Alpha Team Chili
- Al B. Ino's
- One Pot Hominy
- Catesnada Magic Mushroom Chili
- What The Cluck?
- Pipe Full of Fun
- Fire In The Hole
- The Dessau's
2011 - 16 Chilis
- Treyf On The Bayou
- Chick Pea Chili
- Treyf On The Bayou
- Tropical Mystery
- Tahrir Chili
- True Gristle
- Anaphylactic Shock
- Willy Wonka's Inventing Room Chili - A Dessert!
- Russian Imperial Chili
- Mole, Mole, Rock and Role
- Kadosh Mole Chilit Chayim
- Mean Bean Chili
- 3 (c) 2 - Three Chile Chili
- Vegetarian 3 Minute Chili
- Sassy BBQ Shrimp Chili
- Up All Night
- Gobble It Up
2010 - 13 Chilis
- Chili 21
- Happiness & Hominy
- CANICURID
- Willy Wonka
- iChili
- Jambalaya Chili
- Hillbilly Chili
- Father, Son, & Holy Spirits
- El Pollo Loco
- The SS POA
- Rajin Cajun Chili
- Chili Peppers, Literally
- Vegan Mystery Spice Chili
2009 - 13 Chilis
- Madoff Jailhouse Chili: Prepared in the Penthouse, Served in the Jailhouse
(made with Ponzi Beans!) (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance) - Buddha's Awakening (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- "Stolen St. Paul" (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- Bermuda Triangle Seafood Chili:
You could get lost in the flavors! (Winner - Most Curious Combination) - Madoff Jailhouse Chili: Prepared in the Penthouse, Served in the Jailhouse
(made with Ponzi Beans!) (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy) - Free Willy Chili (Winner - Most Everything)
- Knonoplye (Winner - Most Overall Popular)
- Pine Nut and Chili Bundt with Chili Glaze
- A Looong Slooow Finish
- Commander in Beef: A Chili You Can Trust
- Title-Challenged Chili
- Chili For Dummies
- Chicken Edamame Olives (CEO!)
- Skyline Cincinnati Chili
2008 - 15 Chilis
- Mortal Sin '94 (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance)
- A Touch of Ginger (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Egyptian Chili - Fava Beans With A Kick! (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- A Touch of Ginger (Winner - Most Curious Combination)
- There Won't Be Blood (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Beef - 2008 (Winner - Most Everything)
- Ian & Sylvia - Four Strong Winds
- Vampire's Brew
- Hot Momma
- Kyoto Killer
- Just Darn Good Chili
- Sooo Meaty
- Mary's Texas River
- Old Faithful Plus
- Tom's Tardy Chili
- This Can't Be Chili
2007 - 16 Chilis
- Silly Chili (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance)
- Untitled Complex Chili (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Make Love Not Gas (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- Shrimp and Spice (Winner - Most Curious Combination)
- Randy's Coney Island Chili Dawg (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- The White Devil (Winner - Most Everything)
- Chili Not Hot (Winner - Most Popular)
- Vegetarian Chili Mole
- Turkey and Bean
- Great Plaines Chili
- Toasted Pecans and Corn
- Secret (Redacted) Chili
- Global Warming - An Inconvenient Chili
- Black Bean Chili
- Vegetarian Black Bean
- Experimental
2006 - 12 Chilis
- Tres Chiles Chili
- Canadian Vampire Repellent
- Chicken Chili Chakra
- Chip's Cleveland Creamed Chicken Cheesy Corn Chili
- Cheney Chili Blast (A Face Full of Flavor)
- Border Town Chili
- Mill City Chili
- Kickin' and Chicken Chili
- Vita Mita Veggie Chili
- Chili Chicken Little
- Hometown Spicy
- Vegetarian Black Bean Chili
2005 - 8 Chilis
- Are You My Mother? Chili
- Wooly Bully Chili
- Hot Hot Heat
- Mighty Mooseshroom Chili
- Chesapeake Chili
- B2 C2
- Pub Grub Chili
- Hot Coffee on a Chili Day
2004 - 16 Chilis
- Big Chunks
- Green Monster
- Legume Change Begins at Home
- Lord of The Zings: Return of the Sting
- Crabby Mark's Headless Horseman's Chili
- South Beach Chili Cha Cha
- Daffy's Family Jewels
- Chili "Veep" from an Undisclosed Location
- Navajo Joe's Pecos Junction Grande
- Pumpkin Black Bean Turkey Chili
- Weird and Wonderful
- Just Lucky To Be Here
- Muy Sabroso Poco Peligroso
- Kucinich Chili (Naturally 3rd)
- Beer and a Bump
- Partido Verde
2003 - 12 Chilis
- Freedom Chili (Winner - Most Everything)
- UN Chili (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance)
- Burn Baby Burn (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- Orange Alert Chili (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- White Chili (Winner - Most Curious Combination and Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Joe Chillionaire
- Cactus Chili
- Pete's Picture Perfect Chili
- The Ol' College Try
- Bubbie's Buckaroo Chili
- Spicy Black Bean Chili
- Very Veggie
2002 - 12 Chilis
- The Bee's Knees
- Canadian Gold (Argent pour le France)
- Hot Town Saturday Night Shrilly (Winner - Most Curious Combination)
- Chicken Ala Queen Of The Damned (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- It Won't Hate You In The Morning
- Ashkenazic Chili (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- A Lime To Kill (Winner - Most Everything)
- If It Looks Like A Duck And Sounds Like A Duck...It's Chili! (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance and Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Hilic
- Right On Target's Effort....(Mike, ya gotta help me remember this name!)
- Everything But The Kitchen Sink
2001 - 8 Chilis
- Barbeque Lamb Chil'eh?
- Bud's Batch (Winner - Most Everything)
- Crouching Tofu - Hidden Heartburn (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- I'll Be Bock
- Jumping Black Bean
- Kings Island (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet/Most Curious Combination)
- Piquante Palate (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- White Lightnin' (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance)
2000 - 6 Chilis
- Y2K Chili (Winner - Most Everything)
- The Chili You Can Actually Eat (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance)
- White Out (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- It's Not Easy Being Green (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- It's Not My Chili (Just My Crockpot) (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- Sherry's PPP (Peak of Pathetic Paleness) (Most Curious Combination)
1999 - 16 Chilis
- Smokey Mojo (Winner - Most Everything)
- Rufux Valdez Texas Chili
- Lakeland's Pride
- Poco's Rodeo Chili (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance)
- Heaven and Hell (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- Zesty Chili (Most Curious Combination)
- Nut In Honey (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Smoke My Jalapeña (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Bite Me P.E.L.
- Second Week of Bear Camp
- Danelle & Ken's Infamous Deer Stand Chili
- Dante's Peak
- Mrs. Gray's Bean
- Blue Plate Special
- The First ShotVegetarian's Delight
1998 - 14 Chilis
- Winston's Chili
- Bamboozled
- Baz's Curry (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Hair On Your Chest (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- Ole and Lena's North Shore Style Chili
- Odd Chili
- Carribbean 151 Inferno (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance)
- POA Chili(s) (Winner - Most Everything)
- Fare Warning
- El-Sid
- Flounder's Fury (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Kick It Up
- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
- Turkey Trots (Winner - Most Curious Combination)
1997 - 8 Chilis
- Bye Bye Birdie (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance & Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Eternal Life (Winner - Most Everything )
- Gerber's Delight
- Hell Fire's Kitchen
- Mimi's "Bite Me, Pig" Chili (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy )
- Swamp Sludge (Winner - Most Curious Combination )
- The Devil Made Me Do It (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- Trust Me, It's Not Hot!!!
1996 - 13 Chilis
- Debutante's Delight (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- Fire In The Hole!!! (Winner - Most Blistering Heat )
- Just Thai Some (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance )
- Somebody Stop Me (Winner - Most Everything )
- Triple Sweet Mince Meat (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Central Perk's "Best Bud Chili
- Dumb Lady In The Crosswalk (cut in front of them on the way to the party :-{ ...)
- Herbaceous Habanero
- Hotsie Totsie
- Jah
- Roadkill Cowabunga (made with armadillo! Winner - Most Curious Combination)
- Saturday Night Fever???
- (hmm, it was something like Meat My _______)
1995 - 14 Chilis
- Capsaicin Experience (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- Italian Rose Chili (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Legends Of The Fowl (Winner - Most Everything!)
- Margarita Chili (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- No Name (Winner - Most Curious Combination)
- Sister Mary Con Carne...Nun Better (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance)
- Bite Me!
- First Time Ever
- Hot Lips
- Hot Starter
- Minnesota Fats
- PG-34
- Silly Goose
- Sneaky Weasel
1994 - 13 Chilis
- (missed another one!)
- Bobbit Chili (Winner - Most Appealing Appearance - a twisted crowd this year!)
- CCCC (Winner - Most Blistering Heat)
- Montana Red (Winner - Most Fragrant Bouquet)
- Mortal Sin (Winner - Most Everything!)
- Organic (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy - way cool presentation on this one!)
- 3 Meats and a Chili (Winner - Most Curious Combination)
- Ambrose
- Bean Belly
- Hormel
- Inner Beauty
- Mad About Ewe
- Veggie Boy
1993 - 10 Chilis?
- Baa Baa Black Sheep (Winner - Most Everything!)
- Decadent Chili (Winner - Most Unabashedly Trendy)
- I had an entry this year, a repeat of my awesome 1992 entry, made in too much of a rush, that led to it being dubbed "The Exxon Valdez" (yeah, it had an oil slick on top!)
1992 - 7 Chilis
- Margarita Nightmare (Winner - Most Unabashedly Terndy)
- "What Are You, Chicken?" (Winner - Most Everything)
- Weeping Apache (Host Chili - Terry Bartz)
- Ten Chile Chili (Host Chili - Ian Silver)
1991 - 9 Chilis
- Flaming Sphincter
- Mad Dog
- Hoosier Red
1990 - 6 Chilis
- (2 from the hosts)???
How's your memory of the early years? Remember some entries I've not listed? Got a recipe from one of those great entries? Just let us know, and we'll get 'em added!