Easy Chili Recipe

ByAlicia UpdatedFebruary 23, 2025

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Hearty and comforting, this Easy Chili Recipe is filled with ground beef, beans and the perfect blend of robust seasonings. It’s a one-skillet meal that requires little prep work and can be on the table in under 45 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight meal the entire family will love.

two bowls with chili and sour cream on top

Easy Homemade Chili

Chili is a big deal around my house. It’s not just for winter months either; we love it all year long. This Crockpot Chili is a family favorite that uses some of the same ingredients as this recipe. But there are times when you need to make a last-minute decision on what to cook. That’s where this chili recipe comes to the rescue! Serve it with Homemade Cornbread or these Zesty Ranch Crackers and watch it disappear.

If you’re looking for a great recipe to have at your Super Bowl party or your next get-together, the incredible flavor in this chili will definitely get the party started!

Why we Love This Recipe?

Quick and easy recipe: A few pantry staples and ground beef are transformed into a delicious meal in minutes.

Mild flavor: The chili ingredients in this recipe make a mild chili even the kids can eat.

Great for meal prep: This chili is even better the next day. It last for several days in the fridge making it great for meal prepping for the week.

Key Ingredient List for this Classic Chili Recipe

ingredients on counter: ground beef, bowl with seasonings, chopped onion, olive oil, red kidney beans, crushed tomatoes in can, broth, Worcestershire sauce, sugar

Olive oil: Used to sauté the onions
Onion: Chili wouldn’t be chili without onion. Because they’re sauteed they become sweet and won’t overpower the other flavors in the chili.
Ground beef: This is the main staple in chili. You’ll drain the excess grease off, so you can start with lean ground beef or whatever you find on sale.
Red kidney beans: This recipe calls for canned kidney beans. They give a great texture to the chili.
Tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes is the key to the base for the chili.
Broth: You’ll use beef broth to thin out the chili and give the chili extra beefy favor.
Worcestershire sauce: Gives the chili a sweet, smokey, and slightly salty flavor.
Sugar: A pinch of sugar works to balance out the acidity in the tomatoes.
Herbs and Spices: This homemade chili seasoning blend contains garlic, chili powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper (or make your own homemade chili seasoning)

How to Make the Best Chili Recipe:

four photos of chill being made in large pot: ground beef with onions, added sauce, added seasonings and beans, cooked with ladle

In large saucepan add olive oil and heat for one minute. Place onion and cook on medium heat until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
Add ground beef and break it apart and cook until beef is brown, about 5-7 minutes.
Drain excess grease with spoon.
Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
Reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Simmer up to 45 minutes for a thicker chili.
Store leftovers in airtight container for up to several days in the fridge.

Favorite Toppings for a Basic Chili Recipe

You can customize this chili so many different ways. At your next get-together, set up a chili bar with an array of different toppings so everyone can choose their own.

Sour cream, cheddar cheese, Mexican blend cheese, sliced jalapeno, diced raw red onion and green onion are great options to consider.

Can I Freeze this Chili?

Leftover chili freezes really well. In fact, if you like to long term meal plan, you may want to make a double batch in a large pot or Dutch oven.

Instead of freezing the whole batch in one container, you can divide the chili up into smaller serving sizes in freezer bags. When you need a small serving for one or two just take out a freezer bag and let it thaw overnight in the fridge.

Can This be a Slow Cooker Chili Recipe?

Making crockpot chili is the best way to keep it warm over the course of a few hours, which is perfect for game day or when you are busy doing other things.

To make this recipe in the crockpot, you will need to brown the ground beef in a skillet first then transfer it with the other ingredients to the slow cooker.

Do You Prefer a Spicy Chili?

This is a good chili for the kids because it only has one tablespoon of chili powder in the whole recipe. But if you want to make this more of a 5-alarm style chili you can add a little cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, or hot sauce until you get the amount of heat you prefer.

Ways to Serve with this Quick Chili Recipe

One of the things that makes this the BEST chili recipe is how versatile it is. Because it’s a complete meal, you can simply serve it with tortilla chips or corn chips and a dollop of sour cream.

You can take chili to a whole new level when you serve it over a bed of rice or a baked potato. It’s fantastic poured over homemade hamburgers. And the kids love making chili cheese dogs with this recipe!

large stock pot with cooked chili and a wooden ladle

Easy Homemade Chili Recipe Add-ins and Variations:

Meat: This recipe calls for beef, but you can use any of your favorite ground meat like ground turkey, chicken, or pork. Using a pound of ground beef with a pound of ground turkey is a great combination that is always a hit.
Beans: You can use a variety of beans or a combination of beans in this chili recipe. Next time you can try pinto beans, black beans, dark or red kidney beans. They all work great.
Texas chili: If you have a little extra time, you can make this chili Texas style. Instead of using ground beef, you’ll use small cubes up lean beef like trimmed chuck roast. You’ll sauté the small pieces of beef until brown. Then allow them to simmer in the other ingredients until tender. Traditional Texas chili usually doesn’t include beans, but that’s a personal preference.
Sweet chili: Certain regions of the country are known for slightly sweet chili versions. If you have picky little ones in your family, try adding just a touch of brown sugar with the other ingredients. You can also add a touch of cinnamon to balance out the chili powder.
Seasonings: This recipe makes a really great basic chili. But it is so easy to add other seasonings to give it your own special touch. Add garlic powder, cumin, onion powder or smoked paprika. All are great seasonings that work well in chili.
Peppers: Bell pepper or other green pepper like poblano, serrano or green chiles are wonderful in this recipe.

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Categories:

30-Minute Meals, American, Ground Beef, Main Courses, One Pan, Quick & Easy,

Alicia

Alicia is the creator of Balancing Motherhood, where she shares easy, family-friendly recipes designed for busy home cooks. With over 1,000 original recipes and a background in journalism and photography she ensures every dish is simple, approachable, and delicious. She’s built a community of 800,000+ followers who trust her for stress-free, reliable meal ideas.