Each spoonful of this easy stove-top chili recipe is bursting with layers of flavors and tender meat. This recipe will leave you and your family craving more.
Get ready to make a chili that will totally elevate and change your chili game.
Looking for more cozy and comforting soup recipes? Try our Cheesy Potato Soup or Easy Black Eyed Peas with Cabbage!
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Reasons Why You'll Love This Recipe
It’s an easy chili recipe to make
It's great for game day
It has an amazing depth of flavor
It's the perfect comfort food
It's a great meal for a large and hungry family
It tastes even better the day after you make it
Key Ingredients
Diced tomatoes: This recipe calls for canned tomatoes, but feel free to dice whole tomatoes. Also adding a few diced jalapeno peppers will add some extra spice to your chili.
Kidney beans: Pinto beans, black beans, and chili beans are other alternatives to kidney beans.
Tomato sauce: Tomato paste can be used in addition to tomato sauce.
Spices: Adding cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes will increase the spice level of your chili.
Ground beef: The best kind of beef is lean beef but 80/20 ground beef will do just fine. Just be sure to drain excess fat. You can use ground chicken as well as lean ground turkey instead of ground beef.
Step-By-Step Instructions
In a large dutch oven or large pot, add lean ground beef and cook it over medium heat. Use a spatula or meat breaker to break up the ground beef as it browns.
Drain the oil and then add in the chopped onion as well as the spices. Stir and cook them all for a couple of minutes or until the onions begin to turn translucent.
Next, add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water, and stir. Cover and simmer the pot of chili over low heat for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Serve your beef chili in a bowl with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream on top. Feel free to top it with your favorite chili toppings. I usually add a few shakes of hot sauce to it for a bit of heat.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
We prefer using ground chuck that's 85% lean. You can also use 80/20 ground beef. Just be sure to drain excess oil before adding in the rest of the ingredients.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container, or freezer bag and place them in the freezer for 3-4 months or fridge for 3-4 days.
Substitution and Addition Ideas
You can use taco seasoning as well as homemade chili seasoning.
Instead of diced tomatoes, you can use salsa.
Recipe FAQs
What is chili?
Chili, is a spicy, thick stew made with ground meat, tomatoes, beans, and spices. Chili is sometimes called chili con carne.
Can I use a slow cooker to make chili?
Yes, you can use a slow cooker to make chili instead of cooking it on a stovetop. You can also cook this hearty chili in an instant pot.
What can I serve this chili with?
Some sides to serve your chili with are Fritos, tortilla chips, homemade cornbread, and baked potatoes with cheese.
What other veggies can I add to my chili?
A green bell pepper, diced jalapeños, cilantro, green onions, carrots, celery, and sliced avocados.
What can I put my chili on?
Chili tastes great on just about everything. A few places that you can put it are on nachos, corn chips, baked potatoes, tater tots, French fries, and inside hotdogs buns.
What goes well with chili?
A few great options include cornbread, tacos, bread sticks, rice, and much more.
Armed with this recipe you'll be able to create chili that you will enjoy and impress anyone fortunate enough to try it. So, why not let your creativity flow as you grab your apron and ingredients and master the ultimate chili recipe, one bowl of chili at a time.
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Recipe
Easy Stove Top Chili
Equipment
- Dutch oven
- Meat breaker
- Spatula
- Knife
- Can opener
Ingredients
- ½ cup red onions
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 ounce tomato sauce
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ cup water or more
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pound ground beef
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven or large pot, add lean ground beef and cook it over medium heat. Use a spatula or meat breaker to break up the ground beef as it browns.
- Drain the oil and then add in the chopped onion as well as the spices. Stir and cook them all for a couple of minutes or until the onions begin to turn translucent.
- Next, add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water, and stir. Cover and simmer the pot of chili over low heat for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Serve your beef chili in a bowl with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream on top. Feel free to top it with your favorite chili toppings. I usually add a few shakes of hot sauce to it for a bit of heat.
Notes
Sugar: We used white sugar in this recipe but brown sugar can also be really good for this
recipe. Salt and pepper: Add salt and pepper to taste. Water: You can use beef broth or chicken broth instead of water. Spices: Adding cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes will increase the spice level of your chili. Ground beef: The best kind of beef is lean beef but 80/20 ground beef will do just fine. Just be sure to drain excess fat. You can use ground chicken as well as lean ground turkey instead of ground beef.
Eva Filer says
This recipe was so flavorful. I loved how it was more liquid than I am used to in my chili. Extra flavor to soak up with some cornbread. Thanks for the great recipes (as always)!
Comfort Food and Drinks says
Thank you Eva! We're so glad you enjoyed it!