Some like it hot, some like it mild, some like it on top of a baked potato and some prefer it with or without beans – but however it is most appreciated, National Chili Day is the perfect excuse for millions of spicy food fans all around the world to chow down on a bowl of this delicious fiery favorite.

History of National Chili Day

Though many people believe chili originated purely in Mexico, modern thinking suggests that it was probably truly created in Texas and is a blend of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican cuisines. This claim is supported by the fact that the first-ever written reference to chili occurred in the city of San Antonio, Texas in 1828. This is just one of the many delicious varieties of food that fall into the category of Tex-Mex.

However, one legend dates chili back a little further, stating that some immigrants who came from the Canary Islands brought the recipe with them to San Antonio when they settled there in the 1700s. This was before the name “chili” came to be and it was simply referred to as “Spanish stew”.

Eventually, by the 1880s, a popular way to eat the dish in San Antonio was by picking up a “bowl o’ red” at a chili stand in an open-air stall, usually run by a “chili queen”. The popularity of chili began to spread throughout the US, and it was given a huge boost when it was featured at the 1893 World’s Fair which took place in Chicago, Illinois.

The dish that is now known as simply “chili” has, in the past, often been referred to as “chili con carne”, which just means chili with meat. Of course, today, many people make it without meat, and it can easily even be made into a vegan dish with no animal products of any kind.

Some people do tend to spell it differently, depending on where they are from. Most Americans will include only one “l” in the word, while some British folks and people from other parts of the world may add an additional letter to spell it “chilli”. But no matter how it is spelled, this is certainly a tasty dish that is worthy of celebration!