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.
Awesome! Thanks!
Glad to hear you enjoyed it Gail!
I been seeing lots of good looking recipes I would love to try them.
So happy you think so Lee! Have fun cooking!
What type of beer do you recommend?
Hi Ali, we use whatever we have on hand at the time. But we do love the softer flavor of a light beer, for a deeper flavor try your favorite dark beer.
1st time hearing of Beer in Chili.
I will have my Son stop at the Lucky Dog and grab a Beer.
I’m going to try the Light Beer first.
Dark Beer, next time I make this Chili.
Then the next time, Chelada Clamato Bud Light (it has Lime and Cilantro in it) it is my favorite, so I don’t keep it on hand – I would drink every last one right away! ;) lol
Chelada Clamato Bud Light sounds yummy!!
I also have to avoid Chelado! I love it! I’d drink it everyday.
Thank you for the delicious recipe :) I substituted the beer with additional broth and it still turned out great!
That’s great to hear Sarah!
This is the greatest & easiest chili. The family loved it. The only thing I omitted was the jalapeño. This will be added to our family favorites.
That is awesome Liz! So happy to hear your family loved it.
Can we somehow substitute the beer?
Hi Natalie, you can substitute the beer for additional beef broth if you would like.
I have not made it but I like it because the ingredients are what I have on hand and it seems that it can easily be doubled for a large crowd. Except I will leave the beer out and use extra broth. Thanks.
Definitely great for feeding a crowd Maria! Enjoy!
I LOVED this chili recipe! I omitted the beer because I didn’t have any on hand. Definitely making this again!
So happy to hear that Anna, thanks for sharing!
Nice recipe but instead of using the broth I like to use can of spicy V-8. I also cook it I like to get i soupy.. stalk of celery stoplight peppers ,onion, Use 4 # ground chuck. Brown burger, drain , can rinse. Cans of beans are put in colander and rinsed thoroughly.
Thank you for your recipe. Like to look at different recipes and go from there. Love to have big chunks veggies. Kids(teen) love it. Thanks again. Scott Parsley
That sounds delicious Scott! Thanks for sharing.
Just made this tonite! Easiest chili recipe I’ve ever made. And delicious! Don’t know how some found it spicy cause I had to amp it up with more cumin and plenty of unseeded jalapeños on top. The beer is a must, as in all my previous chili recipes. Gives a real depth of flavor. This one’s a keeper tho! Half the work of others. Thank you!
I am so glad you enjoyed the chili Patti!
I tried this recipe for a chili cookout we had in our condo complex. This by far is the best chili I have made. Wonderful flavor, liked mixing the chili powder with the meat before browning, this sealed the flavor into the meat. I used a 14oz can of black beans and red beans along with the kidney beans and instead of the beer I used another cup of broth.
I am so glad you enjoyed the chili Diane!
Would this chili work in the crock pot?
Hi Holly, This recipe should be fine in the crock pot. We also have a delicious crockpot chili recipe you may enjoy!
Thank you so much for including nutritional information & serving size!
My daughter is a type 1 diabetic & I’m constantly trying to figure out serving size and carbs. This makes it so easy! Thank you!
Thank you so much Sarah! I hope you find loads of recipes your family can enjoy while you are here!
I love cooking using recipes
That’s great Vivian! Have fun cooking.
Have never used cumin in chili interesting. Will try it soon
It adds a delicious flavor Theresa! Let us know what you think.
I feed a family of 7. I don’t care for chunky chili, another doesn’t care for beans, and a 3rd doesn’t care for ground beef. I made this chili the other night, and all 3 of us cleaned our bowls. 2 of us wanted seconds but my husband had already beaten us to it scraping the pan. He immediately claimed we should make it again next week. I didn’t put in the bell peppers or crushed tomatoes, I did all broth rather than the beer, and I substituted crushed red pepper flakes for the jalapeno, but it was definitely a hit.
So happy this was a hit with your family Crystal! Sounds like you will have to make this again for sure!
I’m not typically a reviewer but this IS the best homemade chili I have ever had! Highly recommend!!
So happy to hear that Morgan! So glad you enjoyed it.
Morgan,
If you don’t mind me asking, what beer did you use?
Darrin
I love making chilli my family loves it
So happy to hear that Shirley, it is one of my family’s favorites too!
What is the best way to cut butternut squash ? Do you peel it first ? It’s so hard to cut.
I explain how I cut a butternut squash in this Roasted Butternut Squash post. Hope it helps Mimi!
Love the recipes cuz most of the ingredients, I have on hand and if need be. I can afford to buy what else I need.
I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes Sara!
What kind of beer did you add/do you recommend for this chili? I am not a beer drinker at all and don’t really know the differences between brews. If you could share the specific name/brand that would be awesome! Thanks.
Hi Marie, Any will work just fine! A darker beer will have a bit more flavor than something light so if I have something darker, that’s what I would usually choose. You can also sub additional broth in place of the beer if you would like as well. It does change the flavor slightly but is still delicious!