The Best Chili Recipe is one that is loaded with beef and beans and absolutely full of flavor… just like this one! Chili is hands down one of my husband’s favorite meals (and I love it because it’s easy to make)!
This easy chili recipe cooks on the stovetop and is perfect served alongside Homemade Cornbread, buttered toast or Buttermilk Biscuits. Add in your favorite toppings like cheese and onions for the perfect meal.
How to Make Chili
While I sometimes make crockpot chili, this easy version is great for a weeknight meal!
Seasonings:
- The seasonings in this recipe are chili powder and cumin. Store bought or homemade chili powder work well in this recipe.
- What is in Chili Powder? Sweet paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, oregano and cumin.
- Mix Chili Powder into the raw ground beef before cooking to ensure every morsel is seasoned to perfection.
Beans:
- I use canned red kidney beans but pinto beans or black beans work as well.
- Rinse beans (unless using chili beans) before adding to remove excess salt and starches.
- Chili beans add great flavor! What are chili beans? Usually either pinto or kidney beans with added flavors in a chili style sauce.
How to Cook Chili
- Brown the beef, onions, garlic and some of the chili powder.
- Drain any fat.
- Simmer Add remaining ingredients and simmer uncovered.
To Thicken Chili
When making chili on the stove, I simmer it uncovered which allows the chili to naturally thicken without having to add cornstarch or flour. While thickening chili by simmering is the best option, you may not always have time to let it reduce. If you don’t have time to simmer it to thicken you can sprinkle in a little bit of cornmeal or make a cornstarch or flour slurry and add it in.
If you can spare a few extra minutes, just let it simmer uncovered.
Variations
Spice Level This chili is just right for our liking but you can increase or reduce the spice level to your liking. For extra heat, leave the seeds in your jalapenos or add a few dashes of hot sauce or a sprinkle of chili flakes.
Ground Beef Any ground meat will work in this recipe from chicken to turkey. If your meat has a lot of fat, be sure to drain it before simmering.
Beer I love the depth of flavor that a bit of beer adds. Feel free to skip the beer and use extra broth.
Swap the Spices Spice up your chili any way you’d like. To make a tex-mex chili, toss in a packet of taco seasoning.
Can You Freeze Chili?
100% yes!!! Chili freezes and reheats beautifully. We freeze it in single sized portions for lunches or in freezer bags for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
Defrost in the fridge overnight and heat in a saucepan (or the microwave) to serve.
More Chili Recipes You’ll Love
- Instant Pot Chili
- Easy Crock Pot Chili Recipe
- Texas Chili
- Green Chili Recipe
- 15 Bean Slow Cooker Chili
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Chili
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 1 jalapeño seeded and finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 ½ tablespoons chili powder divided, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 14.5 ounces crushed tomatoes 1 can
- 19 ounces canned red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 1 cup beer
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine ground beef and 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder.
- In a large pot, brown ground beef, onion, jalapeno, and garlic. Drain any fat.
- Add in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 45-60 minutes or until chili has reached desired thickness.
- Top with cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro or other favorite toppings.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Tex Mex© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Toppings for Chili
My #1 favorite of course is cornbread or just plain ol’ toast with butter. Pretty much any bread to sop up whatever is left in the bottom of my bowl! 30 Minute Dinner Rolls are great with chili too! If you need to stretch out the meal, serve it over white rice.
I always put out a collection of toppings… and while everyone has a different idea as to what goes with chili I have a few staples:
- sour cream
- red or green onion
- cheddar cheese or monterey jack
- jalapenos
- cilantro, avocado & lime wedges
- croutons or tortilla chips
Is Chili Healthy
Yes, it’s lean beef loaded with tomatoes and beans (and veggies if you’d like). Tons of fiber, protein and flavor all in one bowl! Be sure you’re using lean beef and drain any fat (or use ground chicken/turkey if you prefer).
Choose low sodium or low sugar products to reduce the salt and sugar in this recipe.
This chili recipe is not the best, unfortunately. The beef broth ruins it, I like my chili thick. I added more tomato paste and crushed tomatoes. I also used a lot of chili powder, added crushed red pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and more pepper. The green peppers and jalapeños are still crunchy, so I am letting it simmer for awhile longer. If you like bland and watery chili this recipe is for you. I don’t usually comment on recipes, but this one had me so disappointed.
Oh no Brenda, I’m sorry you were disappointed. If the chili was watery, it likely needed to be simmered longer to thicken (your pot or Dutch oven may have been a different size which can affect the simmering time). After it simmers and thickens, this will also intensify the flavor.
If you actually follow the recipe it will be perfect. But by what you wrote it is obviously not the same recipe. If you like it thicker reduce the broth to only one cup (I do that). The recipe does not call for extra chili powder, crushed red peppers, garlic powder, onion powder nor extra pepper. You didn’t follow the recipe at all. Try it how it was submitted and you will see it will be way better!
Haven’t made it yet but was wondering…. canned kidney beans or hard beans? couldn’t find 19 oz anywhere. making it tonight. ty!
We use canned kidney beans in this recipe.
I use only 2 cans of kidney beans but do not add them in until 1 hr before dinner. That keeps them from getting too soggy!
I followed the recipe to the tee, however it was very bland.
Thanks for trying the recipe, Jenelle. You can definitely adjust the seasoning to your preference!
This is the best chili recipe I have ever made. The beer adds a wonderful depth of flavor, I used Sam Adams Octoberfest. Really happy with how this recipe turned out. The whole family loved it and it was great the next day too!
amazing recipe the whole family loves it!!!
Delicious! Loved this recipe! Made it for the South Carolina game!
This recipe is awful. Little to no taste and too watery. Followed the instructions to a tee.
Thanks for trying this recipe, Neil. I am sorry it didn’t work out for you.
This was excellent. I used two packets of store brand chili seasoning that I’ve had for a while and 24 oz of crushed tomato. I didn’t use any sugar, well, because it’s sugar and it was sweet enough. I also didn’t use beer as I don’t have it in the house. My kids loved it and there were no leftovers. This goes into my favorites. I make quite a few of your recipes. I am a single dad with five kids. I make dinner and we eat together every night. We cook alike and I appreciate your take on recipes. Thank you very much, you help me keep it together.
Delicious. I didn’t have chili powder but I used red pepper flakes instead. The beer adds a nice flavor and it’s the perfect consistency, not too thick and not too watery. Absolutely perfect for football season!
I know nothing about beer; what kind of beer? Seems like a really important piece if information missing, lol. Can’t wait to try this!
Any kind will work, I usually use a lighter beer like Budweiser.
Love your recipes
Why do you not include the bell pepper when browning the meat?
Hi Ron, we find the bell pepper is cooked enough when simmering.
I’ve been making chili for 33 years, I made this chili today exactly as the recipe is. It’s delish and the best chili recipe I’ve probably ever made!
This will be my “go to” recipe from now on! Thank you! ❤️
I am so glad you are loving this recipe Christine!
I followed the recipe as written. I don’t understand mixing the chili powder to the ground beef. It added nothing in terms of flavour. Thus, the remaining 1 tbsp of chili powder was not enough to spice it up. Chili is known as a bowl of red and it did not have that bright red colour to make it visually appealing. I can imagine most of this ending up in the fridge for 5 days then in the bin.
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t love this recipe as much as we do Jack. Thank you for trying it.
Has anyone made this in the crockpot? If so, what setting and how long?
For crockpot chili I recommend this recipe here! Enjoy!
So good! I added extra beans.
This was so easy to make and tasted great. READ recipe and obviously tweaked to my spice level but deserves a five star. The whole pot was eaten and I have to make it again for our Game night..
Can you make this using only 1 lb of meat (not a fan of too much meat) and add extra tomatoes and of beans instead? What measurements would you suggest adding of each item?
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure Patsy, but that should work just fine. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
If you’re using 1 pound of ground beef, then cut the amount of ingredients in half. It should come out great.
if using dried garlic, how much would I use to be the equivalent recipe need? Likewise, if using dried onion flakes? We are not much on garlic and onion, so a little goes a long way with Us.
To substitute 4 cloves of garlic I would use approximately 2 teaspoons of garlic flakes. I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure but to substitute dried onion flakes I would use about 3 tablespoons. I hope this helps
Was visiting my sister who made this delicious chili! It on my stove simmering and looking good!
Amazing!