Chili Lunch

Celebrate Wisconsin-grown foods and farm to institution efforts by participating in the 2024 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 22nd, 2024!

Participate by preparing your Wisconsin Chili Lunch with as many locally grown ingredients as possible. 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. When you register, you will receive newsletter updates throughout February to support you with supply chain help, more recipes and get connected to other farm to institution efforts in the state.

Foodservice operations can experience many supply chain disruptions. Local foods may provide an opportunity to source reliable, high-quality ingredients that support our local communities and reduce the steps in the supply chain. We’re here to help you connect with local farmers and vendors! 

In 2023 Wisconsin Chili Lunch participants served up 6,023 bowls of local chili at 46 different cafeteria sites across the state! Let’s gather together at even more sites in 2024 to share our bowls of Wisconsin-grown goodness this winter!

Join us to help reach the goal of
75,000 bowls of Wisconsin chili in 2024!

Contact Emily Latham (emily.latham@wisc.edu) with questions or for guidance.


Wisconsin Chili Lunch is a collaborative project of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension and partners.

Support Extension