9 Best Pots For Cooking Chili In 2023
We’re getting into the cold, wintry months where we want to make foods that will warm us from the inside out.
Not just any food will do! We want to make chili, soups, and other similar recipes. It’s the perfect way to comfort ourselves in the cold and get warm while enjoying some delicious food.
If you love to cook chili, you need a good pot for doing so. If you’re going to cook chili or any other type of soup or stew, you need something large that will let you simmer the ingredients together and make enough to feed an army (or close to that anyway).
What is the best pot for cooking chili? The best pot for cooking chili should be deep, have a large capacity and is ideally non-stick with a sturdy handle. Pots should be made with durable materials. Options with lids are also a good idea.
The good news is that you can choose from a variety of options. We recommend something deep and probably something that is non-stick and easy to handle. If you find an option that comes with a lid, you’ll have the perfect pot for cooking chili!
In this guide, we will share with you our top picks for pots for cooking chili. We’ve searched and tested and narrowed down the playing field so that you don’t have to spend hours researching your options.
We think you will find that any of these will make a great solution. So stick with us to learn all about the 9 best pots for cooking chili – and more!
How to Choose the Best Chili Pot
When it comes to making chili and soups and stews and whatever else you might be making, not just any pot will do.
For example, if you use a sauce pan, you’re going to be sorely disappointed and run out of room fast. Of course, you probably already know that but you see what we mean.
If you’re looking for the best pot for chili, we have some things for you to keep in mind while you make a decision. Check these out.
Can You Use Cast Iron for Making Chili?
Here’s the deal. You want to keep in mind that most chili uses tomatoes or a tomato sauce of some sort as a base. While there are recipes that skip them, this is a common ingredient for most traditional chili recipes.
There are some materials that just don’t react well with tomatoes. Cast iron happens to be one of those materials.
However, there are a few cast iron pots out there that might work. They need to have a pH of 4.3 or lower. Otherwise, what you will find is that the acid of the tomatoes causes a reaction from the cast iron and your chili will take on a metallic flavor. Yuck.
In addition to the flavor, the acid of the tomatoes might also cause your cast iron pan to corrode or shorten the overall lifespan of your cast iron pot. For these reasons, we recommend looking for alternative to cast iron.
Materials
As you can probably tell now, the materials for making chili really do matter!
As we said, you should avoid cast iron, so what materials can you look for instead? The best options are steel and aluminum but there are multiple materials, such as titanium and ceramic, that will work well too.
Be sure to use a material that is non-corrosive. We also recommend a heavy-duty material. It is fine if the handles are made of something softer like rubber. A pot with a heavy bottom is the perfect solution for chili overall!
Size
As you are picking out your new chili pot, you will naturally want to consider the size.
In case you’ve never made chili before, we definitely recommend a sizable pot for this function! Chili is something that one typically makes in large batches and you will need to make sure your pot can accommodate that.
That being said, you don’t have to purchase the biggest stock pot on the market, but you will want to make sure that you get a pot that will truly be big enough to meet your needs. Besides, chili freezes quite well.
The 9 Best Pots for Cooking Chili
Whether you’re looking for an extra-large pot or a traditional large pot, we’ve got you covered. There are a number of options that will work really well for chili if you keep the tips we shared in mind as you make a selection.
Here are our top 9 chili pot picks:
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Chili Pot | Hard-anodized aluminum, 5 qt |
2. | T-fal Soup and Stock Pot | Aluminum, 8 qt |
3. | Cooks Standard Nonstick Dutch Oven | Hard-anodized aluminum, 7 qt |
4. | Rachael Ray Nonstick Stockpot | Hard-anodized aluminum, 10 qt |
5. | Tramontina Gourmet Covered Stock Pot | Stainless steel, 20 qt |
6. | Gotham Steel Stock Pot | Titanium/ceramic, 7 qt |
7. | Cook N Home Nonstick Stockpot | Heavy gauge aluminum, 10.5 qt |
8. | Imusa Nonstick Dutch Oven | Ceramic/aluminum, 4.9 qt |
9. | Farberware Nonstick Covered Stockpot | Aluminum, 10.5 qt |
Below, you will find our top picks for the 9 best pots for cooking chili, complete with reviews so you can make an informed decision. Save us a bowl when you’re done, okay?
1. Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Nonstick Pot
This first option is our top pick overall. It’s a 5-quart pot so it’s plenty large for chili. Cuisinart did a great job with this design when it comes to a chili pot. The materials are hard-anodized aluminum which is a top-quality material. We love the large, sturdy handles on the side of this pot for easy handling
The handles are riveted so they are designed to stay cool while you are cooking because of air flow. The pot comes with a tempered glass lid that is strong and sturdy and also has a nice handle on top for easy maneuvering.
This pot is perfect for making chili and is even oven safe up to 500 degrees (pot only, not the lid), which gives you some additional versatility. The pot should be washed by hand to maintain the overall quality. Cuisinart offers a limited lifetime warranty on this pot as well.
Pros:
- Hard-anodized metal
- Large and sturdy design
- 5-quart capacity
- Handles designed to stay cool
- Oven-safe up to 500 degrees
Cons:
- Food residue seems to make its way into the rim of the lid and can be hard to clean out.
- It seems like the lid does not always fit consistently.
2. T-Fal Soup and Stock Pot
This next option comes from T-Fal, which is a recognized kitchen brand. The pot is an 8-quart stock pot so it is plenty large to make even huge batches of chili in. This pot is made with aluminum and has a non-stick coating so you won’t have to worry about your chili sticking or staining the materials.
The aluminum is premium quality, heavy-gauge aluminum. It has top-notch heat conduction, which makes this pan great. With the pan being non-stick, it’s easy to clean up. It is listed as dishwasher-safe as well and can go in the oven up to 350 degrees.
This pot has ergonomic handles with silicone grips that stay cool and comfortable. It also has a glass lid with a vent hole and a stay cool knob as well. This pot is simple but very effective and will work nicely for chili.
Pros:
- Large 8-quart stock pot
- Layered with non-stick coating
- Easy to clean and dishwasher-safe
- Silicone grips on handles for comfort
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- The fit of the lid is inconsistent and doesn’t always fit properly.
3. Cook’s Standard Nonstick Dutch Oven
Cook’s is another well-known kitchen brand that typically offers reasonable prices for quality products. This stock pot for chili is definitely a winner in our book. We listed here the 7-quart but they also have an 8-quart option if you prefer.
This pot is made with hard anodized-aluminum so it is durable and sturdy and won’t react badly with your chili. It’s a tough and durable pot that is made to last. The pot is designed for even heat distribution and has a non-stick coating as well.
The listing show this as dishwasher-safe but also recommends hand-washing for better life span of the pot. This pot can work like a Dutch oven. It comes with a vented lid as well. It is oven safe up to 500 degrees. The handles are very nicely made for a comfortable grip.
Pros:
- Comfortable, sturdy handles
- Reliable materials built to last
- 7-quart sizable pot
- High-quality build with a reasonable price tag
- Comes with a vented lid that has a handle
Cons:
- The non-stick coating isn’t the best and tends to wear or scratch easily.
- The lid does not fit securely on the pot.
4. Rachael Ray Brights Nonstick Stock Pot
If you’re looking for premium quality and willing to pay the price, this pot will do it for you. It’s a gorgeous dark gray pot that has orange accents on the handles of the pot and lid. It looks really nice and it works incredibly well also so you can’t beat that.
This is a 10-quart stock pot so it has plenty of space in it for those big batches of chili. The pot is made with hard-anodized aluminum and is built for durability. It’s made to last and the quality is definitely apparent.
The handles are not just colorful but they are riveted and the colorful part is rubberized so you can have a comfortable grip that is also steady and firm. The lid is shatter-resistant, which is a nice upgrade from some lids out there. These pots are covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Very stylish design with a pop of color
- Sturdy and reliable materials
- Comfortable grip handles
- Non-stick coating that is high-quality
Cons:
- The exterior tends to wear and scratch with regular use.
- The bottom is smooth and not non-skid so it will move easily on a stovetop.
5. Tramontina Gourmet Stainless Steel Stock Pot
Are these “small” stock pots just not really doing it for you? Check out this 20-quart stockpot that is really large and gives you plenty of space to cook your chili without being bulky or overly heavy. This is a gourmet pot and it is very nice in terms of quality and style.
This pot is available in smaller sizes if you like the brand and style but don’t want this large so you do have options. The Tramontina stock pot is made of gorgeous, simple stainless steel. It is high-quality materials that work really well with the ingredients of chili.
The pot has riveted stainless steel handles and is compatible with all types of cooktops, including induction. It is oven safe up to 500 degrees. This has an accompanying stainless steel lid as well. The pot and lid are NSF-certified and both are covered by a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Stainless steel materials
- Supreme size with 20-quart capacity
- High-quality build and design
- Riveted handles that stay cool
- Oven safe up to 500 degrees
Cons:
- The tri-ply materials are only around the base. The base is sturdy but the walls are fairly thin.
- The holes where the handles are attached sometimes leak if anything is that high in the pot.
6. Gotham Steel Stock Pot
Gotham Steel is a quality company that is American-owned. Some of their products are produced overseas and then packaged in the USA so it’s impossible to know where this pot stands as far as where it is built. It is a very nice pot that is highly-rated because of the reliable quality.
This pot is made with ceramic and titanium materials that are heavy-duty without being heavy weight. The materials are dishwasher-safe, which is always a bonus. This stock pot is a 7-quart pot that has a non-stick coating.
The pot comes with a quality tempered-glass lid and has riveted handles that are easy to grip.
Pros:
- USA-based company
- High-quality titanium and ceramic
- Dishwasher-safe materials
Cons:
- The handle is oddly-shaped and not very comfortable to hold onto.
7. Cook N Home Cookware Nonstick Stockpot
Next, we have a simple option from Cook N Home. This is a standard 10.5-quart stockpot that is well-made and looks nice as well. You can get it in black or a really awesome turquoise color if you prefer. The quality is nice with aluminum materials that are durable.
The handles have a silicone grip for comfort and staying cool and this has a nice vented lid as well with a cool-touch knob attached. This pot also has a non-stick coating so it will be perfect for letting your chili simmer.
This is oven-safe but at very limited temperatures (up to 350 Fahrenheit) compared to others on this list. Still, it’s good to have options and this feature does broaden your horizons some.
Pros:
- Heavy-gauge aluminum materials
- Comfortable handles that stay cool
- Simple but effective chili pot
Cons:
- The lid tends to not fit consistently or securely.
8. Imusa Ruby Red Nonstick Dutch Oven
This next option is a good selection if you want a smaller pot option. A lot of the pots we have shared have been large and extra-large but this pot is a good medium-size that will work for smaller batches of chili with its 4.9-quart capacity.
The pot is designed to work similarly to a Dutch oven. It also comes in a gorgeous ruby red color. The handles are gripped with red silicone and the tempered-glass lid has a vent hole and the gripped handle as well.
This pan is made with quality aluminum and ceramic and has an effective non-stick coating as well. It manages to merge function and fashion beautifully.
Pros:
- Ceramic and aluminum materials
- Smaller pot size solution
- Gripped handles that are cool and comfortable
Cons:
- The handles might have a chemical smell but this does wear off.
- Not as heavy a material, but should be quite durable.
9. Farberware Cookware Covered Stockpot
Finally, we leave you with this pot from Farberware. It is a simple, budget-friendly pot that is well-made and highly-rated across the board. This particular pot is champagne silver in color but you can choose black as well.
The pot is made with quality aluminum that is not overly heavy. It offers a 10.5-quart capacity so it has plenty of space. The handles are comfortable and simple and you also get a nice lid with a cool-touch knob.
Pros:
- Lightweight pan
- Comfortable handles
- Simple and affordable
Cons:
- The lid sometimes warps from the heat.