The REAL Chili Debate: To Noodle Or Not To Noodle?

Dare I say it… forget about the beans. I mean, put them in, leave them out, either is fine by me. What I’m most concerned about are the NOODLES.

If you’re asking yourself what noodles have to do with chili, you’re not alone. When I moved to Colorado, one of the first things I did to gather friends was host football Sundays. Chili is an easy crowd pleaser and has a way of sparking conversations (and debates). But boy did I spark the debate of the century when I laid out the spread and first up was a big ol’ pot of macaroni noodles. 

You would’ve thought I put a plate of snails in front of them and said “have at it!”. They didn’t know what to do. And so, thus began my education on the great history of Chili-Mac. Chili, in my opinion, is thick, spicy and packed with flavor. It’s made to be topped with all the things and because of that, it needs a base. Now, my fellow Ohioans are probably screaming “What about Skyline?!”. Yeah, yeah, I hear you… but it’s not for me, unless on top of a hot dog. 

What I love about adding noodles as a chili base is the way they help to balance spice and the bold flavors. And if you’re feeding a big group, like I usually am, it makes one pot of chili go twice as far. Win-Win!

Once my friends got over their shock, they took to the noodle addition instantly. It’s now a staple for game days and fall gatherings. 

As for my chili recipe, it changes based on what’s in my pantry.. And that’s what I love about chili – it’s easy and never boring. Don’t be afraid to change it up!

Last Sunday, I had extra pork shoulder from dinner the night before and I tossed it right in. 

Add the beans. Add the meat(s). Add the spice. ADD THE NOODLES!