October 24, 2023
Review RecipeChili
This old-fashioned chili recipe will make you think of meals at grandma’s when you were little. It’s hearty and filling. The flavors are perfect!
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Table of Contents
This simple homemade chili recipe combines beef and beans with a robust tomato sauce and spices and simmers away to create the perfect comfort food. It’s an easy, delicious, homemade meal that is ready in just half an hour.
CHILI INGREDIENTS
You’ll need:
- 2 pounds ground beef or turkey
- 2 small green peppers, about 2 cups diced
- 1 small yellow onion, about 1½ cups diced
- 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
- 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 15 ounces of water
- 2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 3 tablespoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon baking soda, optional to cut acidity
CHILI RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
BEANS: Traditionally you would use kidney beans in this chili. But you could also try another kind of beans such as black beans or pinto beans.
You can also increase the beans and reduce the amount of meat — or eliminate the meat altogether to make it a vegetarian option.
TOPPINGS: Add your favorite toppings to this perfect chili recipe. Grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onion, and fresh cilantro are all great choices.
SPICE: If you like spicy chili, you can adjust the spice level in this recipe with more cayenne pepper, or add hot sauce or red pepper flakes.
MEAT: You can substitute ground turkey or ground pork for ground beef. Another option is to use a pound of ground beef and a pound of another ground meat.
VEGETABLES: You can add any other vegetables you’d like to this ultimate chili recipe. Red pepper and mushrooms are two great options.
You can also substitute the green pepper with red, yellow, or orange pepper if you’d like.
PRO TIP:
Ground beef can be cooked ahead of time in large batches and frozen until you need it. You could use pre-cooked beef in this recipe if you’d like.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CHILI
STEP ONE: In a large dutch oven or large pot, saute the diced peppers and onions until they’re translucent and start to caramelize.
STEP TWO: Add in your seasoning, minus the baking soda. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes while stirring continuously.
PRO TIP:
You don’t want anything to burn, so make sure you keep stirring!
STEP THREE: Add your ground meat and brown until it’s just done. It’s okay if it still has some pink in it before you add the rest of your ingredients because you’re going to continue cooking it.
STEP FOUR: Pour in your tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and water.
STEP FIVE: Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook for about 15 minutes. Add the drained beans.
STEP SIX: Stir in the baking soda, if desired. This will cause the sauce to start to bubble up. Keep stirring over medium heat until the bubbles have gone away.
PRO TIP:
Adding baking soda helps cut the acidity in the tomatoes.
STEP SEVEN: Remove from heat and you’re ready to serve.
WAYS TO SERVE THIS RECIPE FOR CHILI
Serve the chili nice and hot with your favorite chili toppings. Don’t forget to pair your bowl of chili with homemade cornbread, beer bread, or cheese biscuits.
We have a variety of chili recipes that are amazing and yummy. Try our white chicken chili and vegetarian chili for two hearty options.
MORE CHILI RECIPES
HOW TO STORE THIS HOMEMADE CHILI RECIPE
IN THE FRIDGE: Store leftovers in an airtight container and then place in the fridge for up to 1 week.
IN THE FREEZER: Chili freezes really well and can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
This is the best chili recipe around. It’s the perfect comfort food and having a pot of chili simmering away on the stove is such a cozy way to warm up on a cold day.
I absolutely love it and it’s some of my favorite kitchen time memories we make together.
Chili Recipe FAQS
Can I make this chili in the slow cooker?
This classic chili recipe could be made in the slow cooker or check out our slow cooker chili recipe here.
Can I freeze chili?
This easy chili recipe freezes exceptionally well. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Can I turn this into a vegetarian recipe?
If you’d like to make this chili into a vegetarian dish, omit the ground beef and increase the beans in the recipe.
What is the secret ingredient to good chili?
The secret ingredient to take your chili to the next level is adding 1 teaspoon of cinnamon along with all the other spices. It brings an added warmth without adding additional spice and is a great way to balance the other spices in your recipe.
How do you make chili more flavorful?
You can make your chili even more flavorful by adding additional spices to the mix. While we love the classics of cumin, cayenne, and chili powder, you can get creative by adding spices such as turmeric, garam masala, or sumac for even more flavor.
MORE FAVORITES YOU’LL LOVE
Chili Recipe
This old-fashioned chili recipe will make you think of meals at grandma’s when you were little. It’s hearty and filling. The flavors are perfect!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef or turkey
- 2 small green peppers about 2 cups diced
- 1 small yellow onion about 1 ½ cups diced
- 2 cans tomatoes diced (15-ounce cans)
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 15 ounces water
- 2 cans kidney beans drained and rinsed (15-ounce cans)
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 3 tablespoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- ½ teaspoon baking soda optional
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven, saute diced peppers and onions until translucent and they start to caramelize.
- Add seasonings (minus the baking soda) and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring continuously. Make sure they don’t burn.
- Add ground meat and brown until just done. It’s okay if it still has some pink in it before you add the rest of the ingredients.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water, and tomato paste.
- Bring to a simmer over medium low heat and cook for about 15 minutes. Then add the drained beans.
- Stir in the baking soda. The sauce will start to bubble up. Stir over medium heat until the bubbles have gone away.
- Remove from heat and serve.
Video
Notes
TIP: You don’t want anything to burn, so make sure you keep stirring!
TIP: Ground beef can be made ahead of time in large batches and frozen. You can use pre-cooked ground beef in this recipe.
TIP: Adding baking soda helps cut the acidity in the tomatoes.
Nutrition
Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1181mg | Potassium: 939mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2127IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 6mg
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Comments
Claudia says
This is my second time making this recipe. It is really delicious! We have a cold front that just moved in and it is perfect comfort food. I made homemade skillet cornbread to go with it. We will look forward to our leftovers. Thank you for such a great recipe.
KarenB says
OOOOHHH this is good ….!!
I just made it and letting it simmer, but can’t stop “tasting” it, yum! Thank you for sharing your recipe with us.
I am just waiting for hubby to feel better before sharing with him …… or not (snicker)
The only thing I did different was NOT add the water, we like our chili thick and doesn’t compromise the taste.
Andrea says
Excellent flavour and just spicy enough. A real hit with family and friends.
Sydney says
I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! My youngest daughter ate it right up, my 5 year old thought it was spicy even though she didn’t say anything has she took a long time to eat it and was swishing her milk around her mouth. I found it to have a kick, but nothing too bad. And my boyfriend thought it could be more spicy, but I only put 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Thank you for the recipe! 10/10!
Beth says
This is the BEST chili recipe, and I’ve tried many! Perfect mixture of flavors and just a hint of spice. I like to use minced fresh garlic instead of garlic powder (about 2 cloves) and instead of adding the green peppers at the beginning I add them last so they stay a little crunchy. I’ve also had success doing this in the instant pot – sauté mode for the first step, then pressure cook on high 20 min.
Cindy Brown says
This is beyond a doubt the best chili ever! I halved the recipe and ingredients and made it from start to finish in my 6-quart Dutch Oven. I’m sure it is very tasty as written but l added in diced celery, diced carrots, a handful of frozen kernel corn and a (small) drained can of mushroom slices and only 1/4 cup of water…yummy! I did cut back a bit on the spices a tad as l can’t eat anything too spicy and it did not jeopardize the flavour. Thank you for sharing this recipe…it is now my go-to chili recipe!
Melissa says
Best chili!! I’ve made chili using this recipe two times now and is my go to. I love all the spices used. The baking soda does help so be sure to use it. I do sub beef broth for the water for a little more flavor. I recommended this chili recipe to any and everyone! Best chili!!!
Monica says
I made this chili today. It was very very good. It’s definitely a winner! I would make it again. Thank you for your recipe.
Whirlwind says
Easy to make has excellent taste!
It is better to simmer 2 to 3 hours and as with anything better the next day!
George W. Van Sise says
Ok, hang on to your hats.
Here are four optional ingredients that I have been putting in my chili for decades.
1. sautéed mushrooms – I like the white button mushrooms
2. Cocoa – I like to use a little dark cocoa powder
3. Dark beer – I use a bottle of Guinness Stout it adds an incredible richness
4. Pineapple – I know what you’re thinking, but diced pineapple adds a slight sweetness that is wonderful. Of course all of these things are to taste, a little more a little less, it’s your choice.
Thanks for listening.
George