Outdoor patio set up for a gathering, featuring a table with brown cloth and table runner, neatly arranged cutlery and napkins, another table with drink dispensers and snacks, surrounded by cushioned seating, and trees in the background.

How to Host a Fall Backyard Chili Cook Off Party

ByLisa

Fall is my favorite season and it is the perfect time to host a chili cook off party! Chili cook off parties are so much fun and require very little culinary skills. The best part is, the host doesn’t have to do all the hard work. So round up your friends, break out the hoodies and blankets and host your very own fall backyard chili cook off. With the leaves changing color and the shift in temperature, it’s the perfect fall gathering. I must confess, we did this last year, but it was such a great time we decided to do it again!

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A chalkboard sign with "2016 Annual Chili Cook-Off" written on it in white chalk. The board is framed in wood and placed on a stone or brick pavement.

How to Host a Fall Backyard Chili Cook Off Party

We have made the chili cook off party an annual event at our house. It’s a super fun way to gather friends and family for good food and a little friendly competition. It’s also a good idea for game day, tailgating, or even a chili cook-off fundraiser for charity or your kids school. This is actually a pretty easy and fun party to host. We always host the chili cookoff party outdoors to take advantage of that cozy fall feeling and to use our fire pit 🙂 

Outdoor patio with green cushioned chairs, a glass-top table, and a patio heater on a stone-paved area. A grassy lawn, trees, and a wooden fence surround the space. A small shed is in the corner, with various bottles and flowers in the foreground.

The first thing you will need to do is make sure you have plenty of room. You will need enough counter space or table space for all the chili entries. I always ask our guests to bring their homemade chili in a slow cooker. This way all the chili can stay warm as everyone fills up their tasting cups with all the bowls of chili. 

Covered patio with a wooden roof, grill, and outdoor seating area. A sofa and chairs with green cushions face a coffee table. The backyard features a lawn, fire pit with chairs, and a storage shed against a wooden fence.

On the patio, we set up a chili table tasting station using a large card table on one side and another running perpendicular. I covered them with brown table cloths so they would look a little nicer. Then we ran a ton of extension cords and power strips to make sure all the crock pots could be plugged in. This is why the table cloths are so handy……..they hide the cords under the tables!

Outdoor patio with tables set for a gathering. Brown tablecloths and striped runners adorn the tables, which hold utensils and napkins. A small plant sits beside a drink station. A grassy yard and chairs around a fire pit are visible in the background.

Since our guests were all bringing a pot of chili, I provided a variety of chili toppings like cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, oyster crackers, etc. I also made some homemade cornbread using my favorite easy doctored up Jiffy cornbread. It’s always a big hit! 

A buffet table set up outdoors, featuring slow cookers, serving baskets with dips labeled in chalk, and decorative pumpkins. There are small bags labeled "Spoons" and "Scones," along with plates and utensils arranged neatly.

Whenever we host a party, I always like to do a big batch drink as well as beer and wine. With fall as our theme, I opted for a mulled cider which I made in a crock pot. I bought the cider from the grocery store and added some spices like cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice as well as some orange and apple slices. I made this without alcohol, but had a Caramel Vodka & a Cinnamon Whiskey available for those who wanted it. While it was good without the alcohol, my favorite was the Vodka but Barry liked the Whiskey.

Outdoor beverage station on a patio with a chalkboard menu listing mulled cider. Items include a crockpot with citrus slices, cups, a whiskey bottle, glass dispenser, ladle, and a wooden stirrer. Patio furniture and greenery are in the background.

If you are looking for a fall cocktail for your chili cook off party try this fireball apple cider mimosa  or pumpkin spice caramel white Russian. Both are so good!  

A large metal tub filled with a variety of beer and soda bottles, each with colorful caps and labels, surrounded by ice. The tub is placed outdoors near plants and a wooden fence.

No party would be a party without dessert! And with a fire pit, the choice was obvious, a S’mores bar. I like to try new things (and I LOVE cookies) so in addition to the traditional graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, I set out chocolate covered pretzels for a salty twist, chocolate fudge stripped cookies and homemade chocolate chip cookies for an alternative to the graham cracker.

A wooden box with jars labeled "Marshmallows," "Fudge," and "Chocolate Chip Cookies" on a black table. A sign reads "S'mores Bar." Nearby stands a bottle holding skewers. A wooden fence serves as the background.

Outdoor patio with a wooden fence, Adirondack chairs, a side table, and a brick fire pit. A black table holds party supplies in the background. The seating area is adorned with a colorful polka dot cushion on one chair.

To facilitate the tasting, I ordered small orange taster cups for people to use as sample cups to taste the chili and larger brown bowls for people to go back for more of their favorite chili recipe. I made a chalk board sign to explain the process and each pot received a number so each of the chili entries would be judged in a blind taste test. 

Outdoor setup for a chili cook-off with stacked orange cups, spoons in a bucket, napkins, and a chalkboard. Chalkboard lists rules: 1. Use a small cup. 2. Vote. 3. Return for more. Pebble path and part of a table visible.

This year I bought these cutting board chopping mats at the Dollar Tree which came in a two pack to put under the crock-pots. This helped keep the table a little cleaner after the ladles had been used. I also added cute pumpkin stickers and wrote a number on each with a marker to identify each chili. 

A pack of pumpkin stickers on a black surface. The pack contains 12 pieces displayed in three rows. The price is marked as 97 cents. A choking hazard warning is also visible.

You will also need a fair amount of ladles or wood spoons to dish out the different chili as they should only be used in one pot so the flavors don’t cross contaminate. 

Outdoor patio set up for a gathering, featuring a table with brown cloth and table runner, neatly arranged cutlery and napkins, another table with drink dispensers and snacks, surrounded by cushioned seating, and trees in the background.

Once all of our guests arrived, we had about 10 crock pots of chili which made for an amazing chili cook-off. The best chili recipes contained a variety of chili peppers and spices. Let me tell you, it was really hard to try them all! But it was a really great way to keep people up and socializing.

Looking for a new recipes for your next chili cook off party, try this traditional chili with cornbread waffles or this salsa verde white chicken chili. 

To set create a fun evening vibe Barry and I hung lights in the backyard to add a little ambiance. I wanted to mimic the look that a lot of restaurants and bars have on their patios. Since we already had a ton of white Christmas lights, we used those rather than buying new ones. I LOVE the way it turned out!

Cozy backyard patio at night with string lights overhead. Green cushioned seating surrounds a glass-top table with lit candles. A wooden fence and trees are in the background, along with a small, lit-up garden shed.

These were a little challenging to hang since we attached them to our trees, but the look was still there. I am just sad we can’t leave them up. But rest assured, I will be brainstorming a way to hang string lights permanently in the backyard ðŸ™‚ What do you think?

A backyard at night with string lights overhead, illuminating a patio set with six chairs around a table. A fire pit area with additional chairs is visible, and a small shed stands near a tree. The setting is cozy and inviting.

Judging

To have the best results with a chili cook off party you will want to make sure your guest list included enough people so there will be a variety of chili and prizes to foster a competitive spirit. The official rules however are up to you. I require all chili to be homemade and arrive in a crock pot. I use three different categories which are judged by all the party guests. Each category winner receives a small prize like a $10-20 gift card. 

A small table with a chalkboard sign reads "Vote for three chilis: Best Overall, Spiciest, Most Creative." A jar of pencils, a blank voting sheet, and a glass jar labeled "Vote Here" are placed beside it.

If hosting a chili competition for charity I would require each chili entry to pay a fee to compete and each chili sampler to also pay a fee. The total of all the fees would then be divided up as prize money with a percentage being the charitable donation. The grand prize winning would be largest largest amount after the amount donated to charity.  

Now all that’s left to do is host your own super fun chili cook-off party! 

A cozy backyard at night with string lights overhead. Several candles illuminate the space, surrounded by outdoor seating and tables. The fence encloses the area, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.

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Image of a chili cook-off party setup. A table holds a jar labeled "Vote Here," a chalkboard with awards for chili, and pens with ballots. Below, a backyard scene shows a long table, chairs, and food stations under a patio with colorful cushions.

This post, How to Host a Fall Backyard Chili Cook Off Party, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

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