CASI cook-off rules
The Chili Appreciation Society International's rule book, quoted.
Our take written by Chili Times
CASI's rule book sets one standard for the chili itself: cooked on site on the day, prepared from scratch with no commercial chili mixes, and no fillers, which it lists as beans, macaroni, rice and hominy. Onions, peppers, tomatoes and garlic are allowed if they are of consistent size and spread evenly through the cup.
The rule book says membership isn't required to cook, and it ties sanctioning to points: cook-offs that use CASI rules can be sanctioned, and CASI records points for their winners. Judges must be adults. The current rules are dated to run through the end of September in the year the rule book prints.
Our summary of the CASI rule-book quotes below.
The chili
a. Be cooked on site the day of the cookoff.
b. Be prepared from scratch (no commercial chili mixes). c. Contain no fillers (beans, macaroni, rice, hominy, etc.)
2. NO FILLERS IN CHILI - Beans, macaroni, rice, hominy, or other similar ingredients are not permitted.
a. Onions, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, etc., are permitted in chili as long as these ingredients are of consistent size and are distributed evenly throughout the judging cup.
Membership, sanctioning and judges
Although one does not have to be a member of CASI to participate in chili cookoffs
Annual CASI Membership dues are $25.00 per person
Cookoffs that use CASI rules are eligible for CASI sanctioning. Through the CASI sanctioning process, points for cookoff winners are recorded by CASI.
Judges must be adults (18 years or older).
Which rule book
Effective October 1, 2025 Through September 30, 2027
CASI cook-offs on the calendar → · Terlingua International Chili Championship
Check before you go. Cook-off dates, fees and details change, and events can be cancelled. Confirm on CASI: Official CASI Rules (PDF); we last found these words there on October 14, 2026.