The Best Homemade Chili (in our opinion) made with ground beef, tomatoes, beans, peppers and other seasonings for a flavorful meal everyone will love. This chili can be made on a stove top and simmer all day!
Almost everyone has a go-to chili recipe. We have a few different homemade chili recipes on our website, like our Mom’s Slow Cooker Chili, Southwest Ground Turkey Chili or even Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili!
But of all the chili recipes I’ve tried, this recipe is my absolute favorite!
Related Recipe: You’ll love this “Dump and Go” Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili Recipe. A delicious dinner waiting for you at the end of the day.
How to Make the Best Homemade Chili:
You will need a large pot to make this homemade chili. I recommend using at least a 5 quart stock pot, like this one.
Cook ground beef, onion, jalapeño and green pepper in a large pot over medium-high heat until beef is cooked. Drain excess grease.
If you are worried about the jalapeño, you can leave it out. However, by cutting the seeds out of the jalapeño you will lose a lot of the heat.
Stir in diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. You don’t need to drain these, you’ll want the liquid from the can of tomatoes.
Add the spices. I use cumin, chili powder, slat, cayenne pepper and paprika. Mix everything until well combined and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low, add black beans and kidney beans then cover and let simmer for 1 hour.
Serve hot and top with shredded cheddar cheese, additional jalapeño (if desired) and sour cream.
Serve this chili up with our Famous Corn Bread Muffins, and you’ve got one delicious meal!
“I have so much time!” -No mom ever
Let us give you your time back. With the Six Sisters’ Meal Plans, we do the dinner planning, grocery ordering, and then all you have to do is decide whether to pick them up or have them delivered.
What toppings do you put on chili?
Toppings are totally a personal preference. Like I mentioned above, we added cheese, sour cream and a little jalapeño, but here are some other options:
- Sliced avocado
- Frito corn chips
- Tortilla chips
- Sliced olives
- Corn bread crumbles
- Chopped tomatoes
- Salsa
Is chili a healthy dish?
Chili is generally considered a healthy dish due to its nutritious components. Firstly, it often includes lean beef or alternative proteins like ground chicken or turkey. By opting for lean cuts of meat and draining any excess fat, you can reduce the overall saturated fat content. Additionally, chili is packed with tomatoes, beans, and vegetables, providing a significant amount of fiber, protein, and essential vitamins. The fiber in chili can aid in digestion and promote a feeling of fullness.
To make chili even healthier, it is advisable to choose low sodium or low sugar products. This helps to reduce the overall salt and sugar content in the recipe, which can be beneficial for those watching their intake of these substances.
In summary, chili can be a healthy dish when prepared with lean proteins, loaded with fiber-rich ingredients like tomatoes and beans, and supplemented with low sodium or low sugar products to reduce salt and sugar intake.
What is the serving size for the chili?
The serving size for the chili is 1 1/2 cups.
What are some variations or substitutions you can make in the recipe?
There are several variations and substitutions that you can make in this recipe to suit your preferences. Firstly, if you prefer a spicier chili, you can increase the spice level by keeping the seeds in your jalapenos or adding some hot sauce or chili flakes.
When it comes to the meat, you have the option to use any ground meat you prefer, whether it’s chicken, turkey, or beef. If your meat has a high fat content, it’s recommended to drain it before simmering the chili.
For a different flavor profile, you can choose to add a bit of beer to the chili. This will add depth to the overall taste. If you prefer not to use beer, you can simply use extra broth as a substitution.
Furthermore, you have the freedom to swap out the spices used in the recipe according to your personal preferences. If you’d like to make a tex-mex inspired chili, you can easily incorporate a packet of taco seasoning to give it that distinct flavor.
Feel free to experiment and make adjustments to the recipe to create a chili that suits your taste preferences.
Can you freeze chili?
Absolutely! Freezing chili is a great idea. It freezes and reheats wonderfully, so you can enjoy it later without any loss of flavor or texture. You can freeze it in individual portion sizes for convenient lunches, or in freezer bags for a quick and easy weeknight meal. To defrost, simply transfer it from the freezer to the fridge overnight. When you’re ready to enjoy it, heat it up in a saucepan or microwave, and your delicious chili will be ready to serve!
How do you thicken chili without adding cornstarch or flour?
To naturally thicken chili without relying on cornstarch or flour, simmering it uncovered is the best method. By allowing the chili to cook slowly without a lid, the liquid will gradually evaporate, resulting in a thicker consistency. This process intensifies the flavors as well. However, if time is a constraint, there are a couple of alternatives you can consider. Adding a small amount of cornmeal to the chili or creating a slurry using cornstarch or flour and incorporating it into the simmering pot can also help thicken the chili. These options are especially useful when you need to expedite the thickening process. However, if you can spare a few extra minutes, it is recommended to let the chili simmer uncovered, as this provides the most authentic thickening and flavor-enhancing outcome.
The best homemade soup recipes:
- Slow Cooker 8-Can Taco Soup
- Hamburger Vegetable Soup
- Slow Cooker Beef Minestrone Soup
- Slow Cooker Tuscan Soup
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Fajita Soup
- Instant Pot Ground Turkey and Pumpkin Chili
- Mom’s Crockpot Chili
Serves: 8
The Best Homemade Chili Recipe
5 from 1 vote
The Best Homemade Chili (in our opinion) made with ground beef, tomatoes, beans, peppers and other seasonings for a flavorful meal everyone will love.
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
PrintPin
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced
- 10 ounces Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chiles 1 can
- 16 ounces tomato sauce 2 (8 ounce cans)
- 2 Tablespoons cumin
- 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 14 ounces kidney beans 1 can, rinsed and drained
- 14 ounces black beans 1 can, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup water
- shredded cheddar cheese for topping
- avocado for topping
- sour cream for topping
Instructions
Cook ground beef, onion, jalapeño and green pepper in a large pot over medium-high heat until beef is cooked.
Drain excess grease.
Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, salt, cayenne pepper and paprika.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low, add beans and water, then cover and let simmer for 1 hour.
Serve hot and top with shredded cheddar cheese, avocado and sour cream.
Notes
Our Favorite Chili Topping:
- Sliced avocado
- Frito corn chips
- Tortilla chips
- Sliced olives
- Corn bread crumbles
- Chopped tomatoes
- Salsa
Nutrition
Calories: 247 kcal · Carbohydrates: 31 g · Protein: 23 g · Fat: 4 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 35 mg · Sodium: 668 mg · Potassium: 946 mg · Fiber: 11 g · Sugar: 5 g · Vitamin A: 1038 IU · Vitamin C: 24 mg · Calcium: 77 mg · Iron: 6 mg
Equipment
large pot
Wooden Spoon
Recipe Details
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
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Join The Discussion
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Denielle Heany says:
This.Is.Delicious!! Tons of flavor and the perfect chili consistency!! Thanks for another great recipie!!
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Gina says:
Can you make this chili in the slowcooker?
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Cyd says:
You can make this chili in the slow cooker. Be sure to brown your hamburger with the onions and peppers in the pan before adding it all to the slow cooker.
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Yolanda says:
This is a great recipe! Do you happen to have the nutritional information for it?
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Danielle says:
How long should you cook it in the slow cooker after browning the meat?
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Cyd says:
You could leave it anywhere from 2-4 hours on low. You'll for sure want it to be heated through. And then in the slow cooker you could let it go a little longer by turning it on to the warm setting.
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Farrah says:
What is the calorie count of this? Per cup?
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Amy says:
Is it just me...or does the written recipe provided here not match the recipe made in the video? Thanks!
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Cyd says:
They are different chili recipes. We post our you tube videos in our posts. We don't have videos for every recipe, so often we will show a similar one or one that is trending.
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Julie says:
How can you make this in the Insta pot instead?
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Cyd says:
Here is the link to a post we did on converting recipes to the instant pot - https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/how-to-convert-recipes-into-instant-pot-recipes/
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Dana says:
My first time trying this recipe. Do I add the liquid with the rotel tomatoes?
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Momma Cyd says:
Yes, add the liquid too.
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Amy Call says:
My family loves this recipe! It's our favorite. It's also very versatile....I use petite diced tomatoes and a can of green chilis in place of the Rotel. I like white great northern beans instead of kidneys. It's a great, versatile recipe. Thanks for another amazing family favorite.
About The Author:
Elyse Ellis
Elyse lives in northern Utah with her husband and her four kids: 2 boys and 2 girls. She loves working out and movie theater popcorn.
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