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
The Best Chili Recipe
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 ½ ounces crushed tomatoes 1 can
- 19 ounces canned red kidney beans drained & rinsed
- 14 ½ ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 1 cup beer
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
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Combine ground beef and 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder.
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In a large pot, brown ground beef, onion, jalapeno, and garlic. Drain any fat.
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Add in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 45-60 minutes or until chili has reached desired thickness.
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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
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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.
love this recipe! we did change a little bit. we left out the beer. and we added two cinnamon sticks and a fourth a cup of cocoa powder. Turned out amazing
Amazing Chili recipe!! Thank you for sharing! Because my fiancé has a Gluten allergy, I substituted red wine instead of beer, 1:1 ratio. It came out perfect!
Fantastic
This recipe looks amazing, I can’t wait to try it, but I have a dumb question- you said rinse beans unless using chili beans??? I don’t understand why chili beans are being added to a chili bean recipe..
Hi Gigi, we recommend rinsing the beans before adding them to the recipe unless you are using chili Beans. Which are canned seasoned beans; usually either pinto or kidney beans with added flavors in a chili style sauce.
Lots easy and yummy. Can’t wait for cool weather so I can make this. Thanks for all of your great recipes!
Easy and tasty. I cut the recipe in half and added celery.
Made a few changes and this is a delicious recipe. Going to be our family keeper!
Excellent ! Followed directions to a t. Simple with lots of flavor. Used good IPA beer. Not sure how that impacted this great recipe!
Making this today! What kind of beer should I use?
You can use any type of beer you have on hand. I often use Budweiser.
This was some of the best chili that I have ever eaten! I had some steaks that I needed to use up so I cut them into cubes and used that instead of the ground beef. I used a packet of hot taco seasoning which gave it great flavor and a little extra kick! Right at the end I added a bag of extra sharp cheddar, half a pack of bacon fried hard and crumbled up and a small container of sour cream. I took it to work with some homemade cornbread and my coworkers couldn’t stop talking about it. I got compliments all week! Thanks for sharing, this is definitely going to be my go to chili recipe from now on!
This looks delicious! I plan to make it, but I know we’ll have leftovers, since it’s just my husband and me. Can I freeze half of it to serve another time? Thank you.
Yes, this recipe freezes beautifully!
I keep coming back to this recipe I need to just write it down lol I love this chili