How to Run a Ward Chili Cook-Off: Ideas, Categories, and Judging Tips
A ward chili cook-off is a fall activity where members of a congregation bring homemade chili, everyone samples, and the ward votes on favorites. It is one of the easiest, cheapest, and most popular ward activities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it pairs perfectly with a trunk or treat. Here is how to plan one.
Two things decide whether a cook-off works: enough pots and fair judging. This guide covers both, then adds prize ideas and a sign-up sheet.
Why is a chili cook-off such a popular ward activity?
Chili feeds a crowd, costs little, and lets families contribute something they are proud of. The General Handbook says most activities "should be simple and have little or no cost," and that members "may provide food if doing so is not a burden" (General Handbook chapter 20). A cook-off fits both.
How do you plan a ward chili cook-off?
- Get approval and a date. Work with the ward council and reserve the cultural hall and kitchen. Fall Saturdays or weeknights work well. Avoid Sundays and Monday evenings.
- Recruit chili makers. Aim for one pot for roughly every 10 to 15 people expected. Ask for a sign-up a week ahead.
- Assign the extras. Cornbread, toppings, drinks, desserts, and paper goods. The ward budget can cover basics with bishopric approval.
- Set up categories. See the list below.
- Plan the tasting flow. Number each pot, provide small sample cups and spoons, and keep slow cookers on separate circuits if possible.
- Run voting. Give everyone a ballot or a bean to drop in a cup by their favorite pot.
- Announce winners with fun prizes. A golden ladle, a homemade apron, or bragging rights.
- Serve dinner. After tasting, everyone fills a bowl with their favorites.
- Clean up together. Ask chili makers to take their pots home and assign a dish crew.
What are fun chili cook-off categories?
- Best Overall
- Spiciest (with a warning sign)
- Most Kid-Friendly
- Best White Chili
- Best Vegetarian
- Most Creative Ingredient
- Best Name ("Nephi's Noble Chili," "Relief Society Red")
- Best Presentation
- Best Cornbread (side contest)
- People's Choice
Sample judging sheet
| Pot # | Taste (1 to 5) | Texture (1 to 5) | Heat balance (1 to 5) | Aroma (1 to 5) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||
| 2 | |||||
| 3 |
For a casual ward event, simple "bean voting" (everyone drops a dried bean in the cup of their favorite) is faster and more fun than score sheets.
What should go on a chili toppings bar?
- Shredded cheddar and pepper jack
- Sour cream
- Diced onions and green onions
- Jalapeños
- Crushed tortilla chips and corn chips
- Avocado or guacamole
- Cilantro
- Hot sauce bar
- Oyster crackers
- Cornbread and honey butter
What food safety tips matter for a potluck chili cook-off?
- Keep chili hot. Slow cookers on "warm" or "low" throughout.
- Label allergens. Ask cooks to note common allergens such as dairy, gluten, or nuts.
- Mark spice levels with a simple pepper scale.
- Offer a vegetarian option for guests who need one.
- Follow the Word of Wisdom. The General Handbook says substances contrary to the Word of Wisdom are not permitted at Church activities or on Church premises, so leave recipes that call for beer or coffee for another time.
- Protect outlets. Too many slow cookers on one circuit can trip a breaker. Spread them around the hall.
Pairing ideas: make it a full evening
| Pairing | How it works |
|---|---|
| Trunk or treat | Chili inside, then trunk or treat in the parking lot. See church trunk or treat ideas. |
| Fall festival | Booths and games after dinner. See church fall festival ideas. |
| Talent show | Short acts while people eat. |
| Elders quorum / Relief Society night | Combined activity for adults. See elders quorum activity ideas. |
| Pie contest | Dessert round after chili. |
Can a chili cook-off be a fundraiser?
Possibly, but with limits. Under the General Handbook, a bishop "may authorize one fundraising event each year" only to help pay for annual youth camps or camp equipment, and the event "should provide a meaningful value or service." Contributions must be voluntary, units should not advertise beyond their boundaries, and raffles or other games of chance are not approved (General Handbook 20.6.5). Most wards keep the cook-off free and fund it from the budget.
Do you need forms for a chili cook-off?
No permission forms are needed for a typical ward cook-off at the meetinghouse. If the youth plan a related outing, like a hayride or a corn maze trip before dinner, collect parent permission for that part.
For that part of the evening, you can text parents one Ward Waivers link. They read the details and sign on their phone, and you see who still needs to sign. It does not replace any official form your bishop or stake president asks you to use. Set up your activity. Learn more in our Forms & Safety hub.
Ward chili cook-off timeline
| When | Task |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks out | Get approval, reserve the cultural hall and kitchen |
| 3 weeks out | Announce the cook-off and open chili sign-ups |
| 2 weeks out | Assign sides, toppings, drinks, and desserts |
| 1 week out | Confirm cooks; buy bowls, spoons, sample cups, and ballots |
| Day before | Print pot numbers and category signs |
| Day of | Set up tables and outlets 90 minutes early; open with prayer |
How do you include people who can't cook?
Not everyone has time to make a pot of chili. Invite them to bring cornbread, a topping, drinks, or a dessert, or to help with setup and cleanup. Students and single members can team up on one pot. Make it clear that everyone is welcome to come and eat whether or not they bring anything.
What chili recipes win ward cook-offs?
Every ward has its legends, but a few styles consistently do well: a classic beef and bean chili with a little sweetness, a creamy white chicken chili, a smoky brisket or pulled-pork chili, and a hearty vegetarian chili with black beans and sweet potatoes. Kid-friendly entries with mild spice often win People's Choice because families with young children vote for them. Whatever the recipe, label the spice level and any common allergens on the pot.
How do you set up the tasting tables?
Arrange pots in a single line or U-shape along the wall so guests move in one direction. Put sample cups and spoons at the start, a trash can at the end, and ballots or bean cups behind each pot. Leave space between slow cookers for serving spoons and labels, and tape cords down so no one trips.
What are good chili cook-off prizes?
| Prize | Estimate | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Decorated wooden spoon or ladle trophy | $5 to $15 | Grand champion |
| Golden pot (spray-painted thrift pot) | $5 to $10 | Traveling trophy year to year |
| Apron with "Ward Chili Champ" | $10 to $20 | Best overall |
| Ribbon or certificate | $1 to $3 | Every category |
| Bag of cornbread mix and honey | $5 to $8 | People's choice |
| Kids' pick sticker | Under $1 | Kids' favorite |
All prices are estimates. Keep prizes inexpensive and lighthearted; the goal is fun, not competition.
Chili cook-off sign-up sheet layout
| Entry # | Name | Chili name | Mild, medium, or hot | Contains beans? | Allergens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ☐ | ||||
| 2 | ☐ | ||||
| 3 | ☐ |
Helpers: toppings bar (2), cornbread (3 to 4 pans), drinks (1), judges (3 adults plus a kids' panel of 3 Primary children), cleanup (6).
Kids' panel variation: give children tasting spoons and smiley-face cards instead of score sheets, and let them name a Kids' Pick.
Frequently asked questions
How many chili pots do you need for a ward cook-off?
A good rule of thumb is one pot for every 10 to 15 people expected, plus a couple of backup pots. Ask for sign-ups a week ahead so you can adjust.
What are good chili cook-off categories?
Best Overall, Spiciest, Most Kid-Friendly, Best White Chili, Best Vegetarian, Most Creative Ingredient, Best Name, and People's Choice are popular categories.
How do you judge a chili cook-off fairly?
Number the pots, hide the cooks' names, and use either simple bean voting or a score sheet that rates taste, texture, heat balance, and aroma from 1 to 5.
What prizes work for a church chili cook-off?
Keep prizes simple and fun: a homemade golden ladle, an apron, a ribbon, or bragging rights. Avoid expensive prizes.
Can we use beer in chili for a church cook-off?
No. The General Handbook says substances contrary to the Word of Wisdom are not permitted at Church activities or on Church premises. Choose recipes without beer or coffee.
What goes well with a chili cook-off?
Cornbread, a toppings bar, a pie or dessert contest, and a trunk or treat in the parking lot afterward.
Ward Waivers is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These resources provide general organizational information, not legal advice. Follow current Church guidance, local leader direction, and any required official forms.