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.
Excellent! Everyone licked their fingers! I use a mini corona and wow, dos that make the difference.
hard to mess up chilli but it’s still possible. lol. Mine came out yummy. I used a pound of black beans instead and added extra beef broth instead of a can of beer. But I’ve tried that before and it came out pretty good, gave it more of a savory taste.
Awesome! I didn’t have a second can of plain diced tomatoes.Endef up using fire roasted diced tomatoes, salsa style.
can i use fresh tomatoes instead
That should work well, Amjad!
great!
Delicious! Will definitely make it again.
I’ve tried many of your recipes and as usual this Chili Recipe is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Thank you for all your Delicious Recipes.
This is some of the best chili I’ve ever had. I made 4 gallons of it and everyone, I mean everyone loved it!
Made this with ground venison and also ground bison. everyone I’ve shared it with loves it. thank you!
definitely adjust the ingredients as fits your pallette. i absolutely love garlic so i double it and i also add soy sauce instead of salt for the extra flavor kick.
This was excellent. I used serrano chili’s as that was what was available in Mexico and a teaspoon of cocoa powder and a little extra garlic and chili flakes. I had to make my own chili powder as that was also not available here but this tasted amazing.
Hello,
Can you do this in a crockpot with the same results?
For crockpot chili, I recommend this recipe here! Enjoy!
delicious!
Making it now, but based on how many of your recipes I’ve made, I’m sure it will be great! I’ve had a chili recipe that I made for years, then my daughter took over and made it better! But now she lives 2000 miles away, and I didn’t write down her changes, or even remember my own recipe! (Only changes in your Chili recipe were ground turkey, and green chilis instead of jalapeños. Just preference)
But, that being said, my favorite way to have chili, thanks to my daughter of course, is over polenta. With Sharp Cheddar Cheese on top of everything. Once we tried that, we’ve only had chili with it!
Highly recommend adding a teaspoon of cocoa powder, it brings out a lot of the beef flavor.
Good
THIS CHILLI IS THE BEST CHILLI EVER IN THE WORLD! I LOVED IT!
Great chili recipe! I browned the ground beef in a little bacon grease and added celery and sweet peppers. Was out of tomato paste so I replaced it with a can of tomato sauce…Delicious! My wife even enjoyed it!Thanks!
any recommendations on type of beer to use?
Any type will do, I often use Budweiser as I often have it on hand.
I like using Sam Adams to deglaze the pot for about 5 minutes before I add the other liquids and remaining ingredients.
Has anyone tried this in an instapot? My friend made it on the stove and it was so good. I wonder if I can replicate it in the IP.
We have this delicious Instant Pot Chili recipe that sounds perfect for you, Cindy!
Recipe is pretty good