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.
Followed directions exactly except I had leftover beef brisket so I chopped it up and added some. It was fantastic. Will definitely be making again!
Can this be made and simmer in the crockpot? If so, for how long?
I use this Crock Pot Chili recipe.
I want to try this but with less meat. if I drop to one pound, can I substitue a can of black beans?
I haven’t tried it but I can’t see any reason that wouldn’t work. Let us know how it goes.
Happy New Year Holly. first off let me say that I have been making many of your recipes for years and they never disappoint. Everyone I have made has been five star, with the first being the jalapeno poppers. They are crowd pleasers.This chili recipe is amazing, I’ve made it many times with no changes.
Today I made it with leftover prime rib roast from New Year’s Day and I used one of the prime rib bones in with the chili and let it cook in the pot the whole time. I also used the leftover Au Jus from the roast as some of my beef broth. I used a can of hominy in replacement of one of the cans of beans.It turned out spectacular as usual. Thank you for all your recipes and have a happy and safe year.
would it be good without the beer?
Yes, the beer can be replaced with additional beef broth.
I didn’t like the beer flavor, I’ll omit the beer next time and use beef broth
Could you use jarred jalapeño if no fresh ones are available?
Absolutely!
I cant have any alcohol. so would you recommend a non alcoholic beer. or would it taste better with the extra broth instead?
I like the flavor the beer adds, so I would add a non alcoholic beer. But extra broth would be good too!
Thanks! Starting a pot of chili rn!
delicious as is but i used extra homemade stock instead (watching carbs). i also like more beans so two cans. but this time i am using fire roasted for half of my tomato product and little less beans. used ur homemade chili powder as well. thank you!!
Great recipe! I unused a mixture of ground turkey and ground pork. I didn’t have any tomato paste so I added some nutritional yeast to help thicken the chili.
I used four cans of Rotel and 2/3 of a small can of tomato paste. I doubled the garlic, and added more chili powder, smoked paprika, some pepper flakes, used Better Than Bouillon beef base, red bell peppers because it’s what I had, and one can each of kidney and pinto beans. I also added some leftover bacon, chopped.
Great base for making it your own!
Outstanding! All I changed was adding a second can of black beans (I do so love my beans). The chili recipe I typically use is quite labor intensive, with braising short ribs, rehydrating beans and chiles, grinding spices. It’s good and complex, and yeah people rave, but honestly? Sometimes I just want chili to be chili without so much work and expense. And this is a superb example of classic chili. Nice and simple to prepare and gives everyone in your family that wonderful hygge feeling, enjoying a warm bowl around the dinner table.
It’s earned a spot in my recipe binder.
That is so kind of you to say, Scott! Thank you for trusting our recipe.
love it.
I made this chili for my family and it was a hit .I won’t make it any other way, Thank you.
I want to make this recipe but prefer chili to be on the “soupier” side — any suggestions? Add more broth? Tomato juice? Kindly let me know :)
I would suggest extra beef broth.
What kind of beer do you use ?
I often use Budweiser but any type will work.
This is the best chili recipe EVER!
thank you for the information
Delicious! The beef broth adds flavor-have made it several times!
This was my first time making chili and this turned out amazing! The only thing I recommend is adding more cumin and chili powder. And for beer, I used Guinness!