Chili Lunch
Join Wisconsin Chili Lunch!
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Celebrate Wisconsin-grown foods and farm to institution efforts by joining the 2023 Wisconsin Chili Lunch. Join K-12 schools, early care and education programs, hospitals, colleges, and more by cooking and serving a chili recipe made with local ingredients on National Chili Day—Thursday, February 23rd, 2023!
Participation is simple: Prepare and serve your Wisconsin Chili Lunch using as many locally grown ingredients as possible, and customize it to meet your needs! Add local meats, cheese, or yogurt! Serve it in a bowl, on a baked potato, or with a cinnamon roll! Use a recipe listed below, or cook up your own favorite chili recipe. The key is to source as many Wisconsin-grown products as you can. Register today to get the Chili Lunch Guide, supply chain help, more recipes and get connected to other farm to institution efforts in the state.
With foodservice operations experiencing so many supply chain disruptions right now, local foods may provide an opportunity to source reliable, high-quality ingredients that also support our local communities. We’re here to help you connect with local farmers and vendors.
In 2022 Wisconsin Chili Lunch participants served up 67,877 bowls of local chili at 365 different cafeteria sites across the state!
Learn More & Connect
Check out the Wisconsin Chili Lunch Facebook Page with photos from previous events
Quick Resources To Get Started
When you register you’ll receive a copy of the Chili Lunch Guide with more recipes and tools and resources to source local foods
- DPI School Nutrition Team Recipe Crediting Tool
- Use the USDA Food Buying Guide to substitute ingredients for the Chili Lunch recipe or to credit your own recipe toward the meal pattern.
Chili Lunch Logo Files
Chili and Sides Recipes for K-12 Schools
- Official Chili Lunch Recipe (K-12)
- Chili with Dry Beans
- Pork and Beans Homemade Chili
- Cornbread
- Fresh Apple Crisp
- Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls
Chili and Sides Recipes for ECE Sites
- Official Chili Lunch Recipe (ECE)
- Wisconsin Winter Chili Recipe – English
- Wisconsin Winter Chili Recipe – Spanish
- Wisconsin Solar Oven Simmered Chili
- Cornbread Mini Muffins
- Sweet Potato Chili Lime Cornbread Casserole
Additional Resources

Register today to get to the goal of
75,000 bowls of Wisconsin chili in 2023!
Contact Emily Latham (emily.latham@wisc.edu) with questions or for guidance.
Wisconsin Chili Lunch is a collaborative project of CIAS, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, and partners.