The Best Ever Homemade Chili Recipe

5 from 14 votes
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Learn how to make the BEST homemade chili recipe with ground beef, beans, simple pantry ingredients, and homemade chili seasoning. It’s packed with flavor, protein, & fiber for a cozy, comforting, satisfying meal!

A bowl of chili topped with cheddar

Chili is a classic meal perfect for chilly evenings, potlucks, game days, and when you’re craving a little comfort. Now, you can learn how to make the best homemade chili recipe with simple pantry ingredients and minimal prep.

There’s just a little chopping and sauteing before you can leave it to slowly simmer on the stovetop into a complex, full-bodied, crowd-pleasing meal everyone will love – especially when topped with all their favorite toppings. Optionally serve alongside rice, cornbread, a baked potato, and/or a side salad for a truly satisfying dinner.

A large saucepan with homemade chili

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Homemade Chili Ingredients

  • Ground beef: I prefer using lean ground beef, around 5% fat for this recipe. Ground turkey or ground chicken will also work.
  • Aromatics: This easy recipe relies on onion (yellow or white) and garlic for flavor.
  • Oil: Use a neutral cooking oil, like vegetable oil, avocado oil, etc.
  • Beans: I used red kidney beans and black beans (home-cooked or canned – use low-sodium if preferred), though pinto beans or cannellini beans also work. The beans add heaps of extra protein and fiber for satisfying, filling goodness.
  • Tomatoes: The best chili recipe combines high-quality canned chopped tomatoes (fire-roasted for a subtle smoky flavor), fresh tomatoes (or tomato sauce), and tomato paste for flavor and texture depth.
  • Green chili: I use fresh green chili, though canned diced green chilies work too.
  • Chili seasoning: You can use store-bought or homemade chili seasoning, though I highly recommend the latter since it allows you 100% control over heat and flavor.
  • Dried oregano: If the seasoning doesn’t already include it, dried oregano (best if it’s Mexican oregano) will add a citrusy, herby flavor and depth to this classic recipe.

Spices in Chili Seasoning

I love using homemade spice blend as the best seasoning for chili. This blend of chili seasoning combines chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

Ingredients for chili

How to Make Chili

First, finely dice the onion and tomatoes, slice the chili, and mince the garlic. Also, drain and rinse the beans (if using canned).

If you don’t have pre-made chili seasoning, gather the spices.

Prepared vegetables and spices for chili

Then, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the onions, garlic, and chili, and sauté for 2 minutes.

Add the beef and cook it for 4-5 minutes, using a spatula or wooden spoon to break it into crumbles as it cooks and browns.

Steps for cooking aromatics and ground beef

If you’re using fattier meat, drain any excess fat before moving on to the next step.

Next, add the chili seasoning and dried oregano to the pot and stir well.

For a better flavored recipe, sauté it for a minute to allow the spices to “bloom”.

Stir in the tomatoes (canned tomatoes, freshly diced tomatoes, and tomato paste), stir well, cover, and allow the mixture to simmer for about 20 minutes.

Steps for cooking beef with tomatoes for chili

Stir in the beans and simmer for a further 30 minutes or until the chili reaches your desired thickness and flavor profile.

If it becomes too thick, add a little water or beef broth/vegetable broth.

Leave the chili to rest for just 5-10 minutes, then serve it with all your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Steps for cooking chili recipe

The Best Classic Chili Toppings

Like tacos, this beef chili dish can easily be customized with all your favorite toppings, allowing everyone at your dinner table to build custom chili bowls.

  • Sour cream, or another Mexican crema/Greek yogurt,
  • Cheese – Monterey jack, a Tex-Mex blend, mature cheddar cheese, or crumbly cotija,
  • Fresh herbs – like cilantro, parsley, and/or green onions,
  • Lemon or lime wedges – to add brightness and amazing complex flavor depth,
  • Sliced jalapeño – fresh or pickled,
  • Red onions – finely diced fresh red onions OR pickled pink onions,
  • Chipstortilla chips or Fritos for crunch,
  • Avocado – sliced or diced,
  • Salsa – like Pico de Gallo or another fresh salsa,
  • Hot sauce – like sriracha to drizzle over the top for an extra heat boost.
Homemade chili in a pot with toppings on the side

What Goes with Chili

Enjoy a bowl of this homemade beef chili with all your favorite toppings, or make an even heartier meal with the addition of:

You can also serve it over nachos, in a burrito bowl/burrito, over a baked potato, over mac and cheese, in lettuce wraps, to stuff peppers, etc.

A bowl of chili topped with cheddar

How to Freeze and Reheat Chili for Later

First, allow the chili to cool (no longer than 2 hours), then transfer it to an airtight container/freezer-safe Ziplock bag (spread flat with excess air squeezed out).

Store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months (labeled with a use-by date). Thaw it in the fridge overnight before enjoying it as is or reheating it.

To reheat, I prefer to use low heat on the stovetop, though a microwave will also work (in 30-second increments, stirring in between). Add a little broth/water if it’s a little dry.

Tortilla chips and chili in a bowl

More Beef Recipes

If you try the easiest chili recipe with beans, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!

The Best Ever Homemade Chili Recipe

5 from 14 votes
By: Samira
Learn how to make the BEST homemade chili recipe with ground beef, beans, simple pantry ingredients, and homemade chili seasoning. It's packed with flavor, protein, & fiber for a cozy, comforting, satisfying meal!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients 
 

  • 2 lb ground beef lean, I used 5% lean; ground turkey or chicken also work
  • 9 oz onion 1 large white or yellow
  • 0.6 oz garlic 4 cloves
  • 2 Tbsp vegetable oil or anothr neutral cooking oil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano Mexican oregano works best
  • 30 oz red kidney beans 2 cans of 15 oz each, drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz black beans 1 can of 15 oz, drained and rinsed, or other beans like pinto beans, cannellini, etc.
  • 30 oz chopped tomatoes 1 can of 15 oz
  • 13 oz tomatoes 3 medium or 15oz tomato sauce can
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 0.4 oz green chili pepper 1 medium or canned diced green chilies
  • 4 Tbsp chili seasoning I used homemade

Instructions 

  • Finely dice the onion and tomatoes. Slice the chili. Mince the garlic. Drain and rinse the beans (if using canned). If you don't have pre-made chili seasoning, gather the spices.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the onions, garlic, and chili, and sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Add the beef and cook it for 4-5 minutes, using a spatula or wooden spoon to break it into crumbles as it cooks and browns.
    If you're using fattier meat, drain any excess fat before moving on to the next step.
  • Add the chili seasoning and dried oregano to the pot and stir well.
    For better flavor, sauté everything for a minute to give the spices a chance to "bloom" before moving on.
  • Stir in the tomatoes (canned tomatoes, freshly diced tomatoes, and tomato paste), stir well, cover, and allow the mixture to simmer for about 20 minutes.
  • Stir in the beans and simmer, uncovered, for a further 30 minutes or until the chili reaches your desired thickness and flavor profile.
    If it becomes too thick, add a little water or beef broth/ vegetable broth
  • Leave the chili to rest for just 5-10 minutes, then serve it with all your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Use high-quality ingredients: This easy chili recipe relies on simple ingredients, making it important to use quality for the best overall texture/flavor.
Brown the meat: It’s important to brown it before adding the “wet” ingredients to add rich, slightly caramelized flavor depth to the chili. Drain excess fat so the chili doesn’t end up overly greasy.
The simmering time: Increase the simmering time for even longer (up to 30 extra minutes) for even more developed flavors and thickness.
For a thicker chili: Simmer with the lid off to help it thicken faster. If it still isn’t thick enough, blend some of the beans and liquid and stir them back into the chili.
Make enough for leftovers: (or make it in advance) Chili tastes even better on day two when the flavors are given even longer to meld.
Tweak the seasoning: Including adding more/less of the seasoning, tweaking the spice ratios, and giving it a taste at the end to add any extra seasonings to taste.
When serving a crowd: I love setting up a table with dishes of different toppings for people to choose from to create their desired chili bowl.
Optional add-ins and variations:
  • Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce: (finely chopped) will add a spicy, smoky flavor.
  • Bay leaves:1-2 for extra aromatic depth. Remove them before serving.
  • Vegetables: e., diced red or green bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, celery, or corn kernels, etc.
  • Beer: Just a splash of beer will enhance and add depth and richness to the chili flavor.
  • Worcestershire sauce: Just a splash adds a tangy, umami-rich flavor that complements the flavors in this easy chili recipe.
  • Cocoa powder: Just a teaspoon or so adds a subtle bitter, rich, earthy depth.
  • Coffee/espresso powder: Just a little will work similarly to the cocoa powder, enhancing and adding an earthy, bitter depth but in a more robust way.
  • Smoked paprika: for a subtle smoky flavor.
  • Cinnamon: Just a pinch for warm flavor without spice.
  • An acid: I usually serve it with lime wedges. Otherwise, I highly recommend adding a splash of lemon/lime juice or apple cider vinegar just before serving for a brightened and enhanced overall flavor.
Check the blog post for topping options and serving recommendations!
Course: Main
Cuisine: American, Mexican, Tex Mex
Freezer friendly: 3 Months
Shelf life: 3-4 Days

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 32g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 56mg, Sodium: 193mg, Potassium: 1180mg, Fiber: 13g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1829IU, Vitamin C: 17mg, Calcium: 93mg, Iron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

5 from 14 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. Chris says:

    5 stars
    Wonderful recipe

    1. Support @ Alphafoodie says:

      Thank you, Chris. Glad you liked it!

  2. Margaret says:

    The best chillie ever thank you

    1. Support @ Alphafoodie says:

      Thank you so much for your comment, Margaret! 🙂