Heating up Fall with a Chili Cook Off

With no limits on the spice level, the ingredients, or the consistency, this soup and chili challenge was open to anyone who wanted to participate. Some entries had never been made before while others were family recipes that were passed on from one relative to the other.

“This chili recipe is actually my Mom’s. I’d never really made it by myself, but I had helped her make it quite a few times growing up.” 

– DeLaney K., Creative Web

Some of the varieties included a hamburger soup, white chicken chili, a creamy chicken tortilla soup, pulled pork chili, and even a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup (it’s got some good flavor!). Tortilla strips and chips were available to top things off and add extra flavor, too.

Dozens of little cups and spoons were provided to make sure there were enough samples for everyone, but the crockpot with the thick, flavorful cheesy chicken tortilla soup was still cleaned out within 20 minutes.

As Cars For Sale employees made their way from soup to chili to the next chili over a three-hour time period, they were asked to choose three favorites from the bunch. Since the cheesy chicken tortilla soup was so popular, it probably shouldn’t have been surprising that it claimed third place after all the votes were tallied. In second place was the white chicken chili. And first place went to a spicier chili with all the traditional ingredients like hamburger, beans, and tomatoes.

“I thought I had a good chance when I went and looked a couple of hours after the cookoff started and my chili was the first to be all the way gone. I figured people must have liked it but I was really shocked I got 1st overall.”

– Matt P., Sales

For some of the winners there was strategy was involved, and it paid off. 

“I had never used this recipe before. I actually never even got a sample of it at all because it was gone so quickly! I think my favorite part was the crowd erupting in cheers and applause for me winning. I felt like I got third place in the competition for food, but FIRST place in the people’s choice award.”

– Amber B., Customer Support

For everyone else, they got a free lunch with a variety of flavors and a chance to trade some delicious recipes.

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