If you’re looking for an interesting game day meal, look no further. Over the top chili is chili cooked on the smoker with a giant meatball cooking above it and dripping into the pot. That smoky beef drippings + chili combo creates a ridiculously flavorful bowl of chili you’ll want to make again and again.
Chili has always been one of my favorite fall meals for a Sunday afternoon with football on. When I saw this over-the-top style, I had to try it — and it did not disappoint. I used my usual chili recipe, just cooked the ground beef above the pot instead of browning it in the pan, and the flavor was out of this world.
Why I Love This Recipe
This one hits the sweet spot for game day: it’s hands-off once it’s on the smoker, it feeds a crowd, and it has that “what is that?” factor when people see a giant meatball hovering over a pan of chili. The best part is the flavor — the meatball picks up smoke, then drips into the chili while everything slowly cooks together.
It’s also super easy to customize. Swap the wood, change the seasoning, add heat, switch up the meat… and it’s still the same simple process.
Cooking Basics
Build the Chili Base
The prep work is simple. Chop your veggies and kielbasa, sauté the onion/pepper/mushrooms, then mix everything together in an aluminum pan (or any smoker-safe pan). This pan is going to sit under the meatball and catch all the smoky goodness.
Make the Giant Meatball
Form your ground beef into a giant oval meatball (think “football” shape). Season the outside with salt and pepper (or your favorite burger seasoning). Place it on a wire rack that can sit above your chili pan so it can drip down while it cooks.
Smoke It Over the Chili
Preheat your smoker to 225°F. I like hickory here, but apple or cherry also works great. Put the chili pan on the smoker, then set the wire rack with the meatball on top.
Cook until the meatball hits 155°F internal (about 2 hours, but go by temperature). Then remove the meatball, chop it up, and stir it into the chili.
After mixing it in, keep cooking for another 1–2 hours to let the flavors meld together.
Final Thoughts
This meal is awesome for leftovers. Honestly, I thought it tasted even better the next day after the smoke and seasoning had more time to settle in.
Easy Ways to Change It Up:
• Vegetables: Keep it mild for the kids, or add jalapeños/habaneros to bring the heat.
• Seasoning: Use your favorite chili blend, or mix a little into the meatball too.
• Meat: Try bacon mixed into the meatball, or swap in breakfast sausage/pork sausage for a different vibe.
Thermometer tip: This is one of those cooks where temp matters more than time. A good probe thermometer makes it easy to hang out and watch the game without constantly running outside to check the meatball.
🔥 So fire up the pit, and let’s grill and chill.
Over the Top Smoked Chili (Game Day Chili on the Smoker)
This over-the-top chili is cooked on the smoker with a giant seasoned meatball hanging above the pot, dripping smoky beef flavor right into the chili as it cooks. It’s an easy game day meal that tastes even better as leftovers.
Preheat your smoker or grill to 225°F (If smoking, hickory, apple, or cherry are good wood choices).
Chop up onion, red pepper, and kielbasa.
1 onion, 1 red pepper, 1 lb kielbasa
Put oil in pan and toss in onion, red pepper, and mushrooms to sauté for 6–7 minutes.
1 tbsp olive oil, 12 oz fresh sliced mushrooms
Add sautéed vegetables to cooking pan along with kielbasa, Rotel, diced tomatoes, beans, tomato sauce, and chili seasoning, and mix well.
1 can dark red kidney beans, 1 can light red kidney beans, 1 can Rotel, 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes, 2 pkgs chili seasoning, 1 20 oz can tomato sauce, Salt and pepper to taste
Form hamburger into a giant oval meatball and season with salt and pepper (or your own favorite seasonings for burger).
1 1/2 lb ground beef
Place meatball on wire rack and place wire rack on top of cook pot.
Put cook pot in smoker and let cook until internal temperature of the meatball reaches 155°F (about 2 hours).
Remove meatball, chop up the meat, and mix into the chili mix.
Let cook for another hour or two on the smoker.
Serve and enjoy!
Keyword backyard BBQ, beef recipes, chili, comfort food, easy dinner, fall recipes, game day food, leftovers, over the top chili, smoked chili, smoker recipes, tailgate recipes
