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 is bar none the best chili I’ve ever made and I’m a 61 yr old foodie!
I’ll tell you the only thing I did different in case it helps anyone- I didn’t have crushed tomatoes so I used a can of diced and a can of tomato sauce (made double batch) and when I built it to cook I thought it was too thick so I added more water but I shouldn’t have because it loosens up when it starts cooking! So I had to cook a little while longer to evaporate my mistake. I have found a seasoning I love that’s called onion butter by fire smoke society I put it in loaded baked potato soup last night and it was the best I’ve made and I put it in this chili, everyone LOVED THIS CHILI- I served it with shredded cheddar and sour cream and corn chips
Thank you for the recipe!
Easy and delicious chili. I am saving this recipe.
This will be my go to recipe for chili. For me and my family it was absolutely delicious. I used black beans and ranch style bean and beef bone broth. Just a couple of pinches of knorr’s granulated chicken stock, other than that the recipe was spot on. Next time I will use beer. Thanks for such a delicious recipe.
i have tried a few different recipes! none i liked. this one was amazing!!! i added extra jalapenos! ❤️
This recipe is sooooo goooood!!!! Kids loved it too!! Thank you for sharing!! :D
How would this be if I left out the beer? I don’t have any on hand
The beer does add a delicious flavor but you can replace it with additional beef broth if you would like.
How was it without the beer? I added it and am a little concerned, because I don’t usually care for food where I can taste beer or wine.
This chili was great as instructed but I added some cayenne and extra chili powder and that was the extra kick it needed. Will definitely be my go to chili recipe. This will thicken up a lot, just how chili should be!
I didn’t eat it because I am a vegetarian, but my family said it lacked flavour. It was described as “okay”.
Thanks for trying our recipe, Nicole. Sorry that it wasn’t what they expected.
Same. I was curious about adding beer (but did follow the recipe) and used a little less of the chili powder than what was called for, but I am not sure – the chili lacked flavor for me as well. It was a bit of a miss.
If you do use less seasonings than called for, the chili will lack flavor.
An easy, delicious recipe! I added some plain unsweetened cocoa powder and cinnamon, and used maple syrup instead of brown sugar. Recommend it highly!
Yay!!! I finally found a chili recipe that is SO good!!! Thanks for sharing!!! It will be a keeper!
Made this many times. Always a huge hit! Love it!
Was very easy. The amount of heat/spice was just enough for us. Nice afterburn. I deff have a light hand on salt. Had to keep adding. Also not sure if 1 tbsp of paste was enough. Will see if it thickens and sets by tomorrow. Overall very good. Will deff make again. Thank you for sharing.
Made this today it was delicious can’t wait to have it for lunch tomorrow.I did add a extra tablespoon of chili powder and cooked bell peppers with ground beef.I used chili flakes instead of jalapeños.
Was very easy. The amount of heat/spice was just enough for us. Nice afterburn. I deff have a light hand on salt. Had to keep adding. Also not sure if 1 tbsp of paste was enough. Will see if it thickens and sets by tomorrow. Overall very good. Will deff make again. Thank you for sharing.
Turned out amazing
My grocery store never has any jalapeños in stock. Do you have any suggestions for a substitute? Making this for my 5 month anniversary tonight :)
You can use canned green chiles or a pinch of red pepper flakes if you are still looking for some heat. Happy anniversary Rhiannon, I hope you have a great dinner!
What kind of beer do you use?
You can use any type of beer you have on hand. I often use Budweiser.
Followed the recipe to a T, but the result was rather bland. I used some of the leftover chili for chili dogs and they were the best I’ve ever eaten.
So glad you enjoyed it as leftovers, Jan! That is a great way to use it.
I worried about this myself! So I left the fan in! Shhh! lol
Made tonight! Also added a tbsp of cinnamon. Turned out wonderful! Needed to add more salt though then what I originally put in
I love this sh*t. first recipe I found and been using it every since. use black beans instead
I made this for our Sunday school chili cookout contest and I got 1st place!!! Thanks for a great recipe!
Ahhh! So happy to hear that, Jennifer. Congratulations!
Really good recipe. I skip the beef broth and use a dark beer and a little brown sugar. 2 cans of kidney beans.
pretty lit recipe i tryed it and it tasted very yummy in my tummy