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.
Great recipe! Simple enough to throw together but leaves plenty of room for alterations to preference if desired. Got this one bookmarked, thank you!
You’re welcome, yay!
I can’t see the ingredients is that because I hit not allowed?
Hi Doris, we have found that if you are using a “reader view” you may not see the site correctly. Hope that helps.
Hi im trying to add recipe in my fitness pal but I need to know how many servings it makes please
This recipe makes 8 servings. The number of servings is just above the ingredients for all of our recipes, so hope that helps for next time!
Delish. A solid recipe. Didn’t use beer but maybe next time!
Made this last night and we gobbled it down and both had seconds. SO good! A ground pork/beef was on sale, so we used that, extra kidney beans & crushed tomatoes (based on what size cans were available at the store), and Newcastle Brown Ale for the beer (I thought something with a darker, nuttier flavor would be a good complement). Topped with sour cream, shredded medium cheddar & chopped raw onion. Exceeded expectations, and we will definitely be having this again and serving when we entertain! Thank you, Holly!
You’re welcome Bailey, so happy to hear that you love this chili as much as we do!
This recipe looks good! Question if I don’t have green pepper can I use red or yellow pepper.
Sure you can Maricela. It’ll change the taste a little, but still be delicious!
This recipe is absolutely delicious, however, if you’re looking to kick things up a notch, I decided to add some celery and a little chili pepper for some extra spice. I also added some extra cans of tomato with more garlic and it turned out great, this is one of my husband’s favorites as well!
I’ve made a lot of good chilis over the years, and this one was great. My husband said it might be his favorite chili ever–and that is high praise. Accidentally I increased the canned tomatoes by 50 percent and I thought it was a good addition. I did increase the spice after tasting. I suspect the beer added something special. Super yum.
This recipe was delicious I have pinned it because my family loves chili and this was so easy and tasty!
Thanks for great chili!
You’re very welcome Cristina! So glad your family loves this chili!
Love any chili but this one stands out. Thank you for sharing.
What would it be like with elbow macaroni
Elbow macaroni would work in this, I would recommend only using 9.5 oz of beans and doing the other 9.5 oz as macaroni to ensure the recipe still turns out fine. Hope this helped!
I love this chili recipe! I have made it three times and my family Loves it. I have not try it with beer. Was wondering what’s the best kind of beer for this recipe?
I just use any kind I have available Linda! So glad you love this chili!
looks delicious
looks wonderful
OH MY GAAAAAAH! THIS IS DELICIOUS! Can’t wait for leftoverstomorrow!
Delicious to say the least. I gave it a little love and it was a hit all around.
Hello, I am in the process of using your ingredients to make my chili. I have tried so many. So here we go!!! It looks and smell soooooo delicious . Can’t wait to taste. And I’m drinking beer. (Hint hint..lol) So I end up using your recipe just the way you have it.Thank you. I even took a photo for you. Thank you
Hope you loved it!! Be sure to tag @spendpennies on Instagram if you post it so we can see!
Came out great! I used sodium free beef bouillon powder mixed with water to substitute for the broth, I’m on a low sodium diet. Also used chopped turkey bacon as a base along with onions chili powder tomato, beans etc then added ground turkey cooked on the side when it was about 20 minutes away from being done. I added a cap full of liquid smoke to give it a more smoky flavor too! Didn’t use beer.
Absolutely delicious! I can’t the taste. I added the cup of beer and beef broth. 5 plus star’s.
I liked this easy chili recipe a lot! I’m a Texas gal, so pretty much tripled the spices, but that’s just personal preference.
This is definitely a keeper!