The GreatChili Cook-Off
Love your neighbor. Out-cook your neighbor.
Enter your chili Just here to eatChurch, then chili.
After service we’re spilling out into the courtyard for a long, slow, spicy lunch together. Some of us will cook. All of us will eat. A few brave souls will judge.
Sign up
Claim your spot below and give your chili a name worthy of the moment.
Plug in
Drop your crock pot at the chili station, set it to warm, and go worship with a clear conscience.
Judge & feast
Our panel tastes every pot blind while everyone else grabs a bowl and makes the rounds.
Crown a champion
Winners announced, prizes awarded, losers allowed to say “it’s really more of a stew.”
How we’ll separate the sheep from the goats.
Each judge scores every pot out of 50. Pots are numbered, not named, so nobody gets points for being their small-group leader.
Flavor
20 pointsThe big one. Depth, seasoning, richness. Does the first bite make the judge close their eyes and briefly forget the sermon?
Heat & Balance
10 pointsSpicy is welcome. Painful is a different ministry. We’re looking for heat that builds with purpose and lets the other flavors talk.
Creativity
10 pointsA secret ingredient, a family twist, a bold swing. Cinnamon? Cocoa? Brisket? The judges reward courage (within reason).
Texture & Presentation
10 pointsBody, bite, and toppings game. Does it look as good as it tastes? A ladle and a little flair go a long way.
Ties will be broken by the judges’ gut feeling, which, frankly, is how chili works.
Glory awaits. Humbly.
Three honors up for grabs. The winner’s name lives on in Sanctuary lore (and possibly an announcement slide).
Grand Champion
Highest combined score from the judges’ panel. Takes home the prize and the Golden Ladle.
Best Name
Judged on the name alone. Wordplay, puns, and sheer audacity. Make a sign and let it do the talking.
Boldest Pot
For the most daring, inventive, “wait, what’s in this?” recipe of the day.
Meet the judges.
Three discerning palates. Names to be revealed closer to the day, so the lobbying can’t begin early.
The Purist
Believes chili should taste like chili. Suspicious of quinoa.
The Heat Seeker
Keeps a bottle of hot sauce in their Bible bag. Respect.
The Wild Card
Has never once finished a bowl of anything. Today could be the day.
You’re in!
Check your inbox for a confirmation. Start simmering.
Fine print, served warm.
When is the sign-up deadline?
Friday, November 6. No cap on entries, so the more pots the merrier.
Do I have to bring chili to eat chili?
Not at all. Everyone gets a bowl, whether you cooked or not. Come hungry, bring a friend, and make the rounds.
When and where do I drop off my pot?
Bring it to the chili station in the courtyard before service starts at 10:30am. We’ll have outlets and extension cords ready. Set it to “warm” and we’ll keep an eye on it.
How much should I make?
A standard crock pot (around 6 quarts) is perfect. Judges only need a few spoonfuls; the rest goes to feeding the church family.
Can I bring my own toppings or sides?
Please do. We’ll have chips and a few basic toppings. If your chili depends on a signature topping or side (cornbread, anyone?), bring it along. It counts toward presentation.
Is store-bought chili allowed?
Technically we can’t stop you. But the judges have very sensitive palates, and God sees all.
Can kids enter?
Yes, as part of a family team. Some of the best chefs we know are under four feet tall.
Grab a spoon. Pull up a chair.
“Taste and see that the LORD is good.” — Psalm 34:8. We figured chili was a good place to start.
Enter your chili