Greek Yogurt Isn't Just For Topping Chili — Try Stirring It In Instead

A warm bowl of chili — whether it's vegetarian, made with beef, or creamy white bean chicken chili — is often made better with the ingredients you top it with. Some dollop Greek yogurt (in place of traditional sour cream) atop chili, but incorporating Greek yogurt by stirring it right into a pot of chili creates a whole new kind of meal. When completely stirred in, the thick dairy ingredient's impact is twofold. First, it adds creaminess to the taste and texture. Second, it balances the entire flavor profile of the dish; perhaps most notably, cutting some of the heat from spicy or bold ingredients like chili powder or chopped green chiles. 

While topping chili with a spoonful of Greek yogurt adds a nice contrasting garnish, mixing it in not only adds a finishing touch, but thickens and adds depth, especially to thinner chiles like tomatillo and white bean chili, for example. This makes the dish even more hearty. The time to fold in a bit of Greek yogurt to your favorite chili recipe is after the chili is cooked, simmered, and almost ready to serve. You can just stir Greek yogurt right in with other finishing-touch ingredients like cilantro and lime juice. The result will be an added creaminess that perfectly complements the acidity of tomato-based bean chiles, as well as balancing a smoky paprika-seasoned bowl of chili. 

When it comes to stirring Greek yogurt into chili, there aren't any hard and fast rules — only creative ways to spruce up a weeknight dinner. The yogurt softens any acidity while adding a creamy texture to tomato-based, vegetarian black bean, or beef chili. So, when stirring it in, add just a few tablespoons — enough to complement the stew but not overpower it with dairy flavor. Further, Greek yogurt also works well to add creaminess to already-creamy chili recipes, such as white bean chili with broth, green chiles, and veggies, or a chicken and white bean chili with corn. It's a great alternative to heavy cream or sour cream, while still providing creamy texture and a slight tangy taste to the chili.  

Any unsweetened Greek yogurt you have on hand in the fridge will work. Full-fat Greek yogurt adds richness and flavor to the mix, while low-fat Greek yogurt provides protein and a creamy texture, with a softer richness. While you can simply stir Greek yogurt right into a variety of delicious chili recipes when almost done cooking, for good measure and to prevent any separation or curdling of the yogurt you can also temper it in a bowl with a small amount of hot chili, then add it to the pot. Alternatively, stir Greek yogurt into already-prepared bowls of chili to customize the amount each person wants to incorporate.