Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (2024)

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Here are 2 easy chili recipes you’re sure to love! The first one is our regular easy chili recipe with all of the goodies! It’s delicious and easy to prepare. The second recipe is an easy 5 ingredient chili recipe that is less exciting for chili connoisseurs, but perfect for picky eaters. Both recipes are easy to make and perfect to serve for busy days!

Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (2)

This easy homemade chili recipe makes a quick and easy dinner that you can throw together before work or in the morning and let it simmer all day long. Throw together a batch of our Best Ever Cornbread and you’ll have a full meal the entire family will love!

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Easy Homemade Chili Recipe

Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (3)

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  • Author: Tawra Kellam
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Units

1/2 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 (28 oz.) can tomatoes (do not drain)
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
13 Tbsp. chili powder (to taste)
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans (drained) or 2 cups cooked kidney beans (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook and stir ground beef, onion and green pepper in a large 10-inch skillet until the beef is brown and the onion is tender.
  2. Drain.
  3. Stir in tomato sauce, tomatoes (with liquid), salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder and garlic powder.
  4. Heat to boiling.
  5. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
  6. If using, add the beans to the chili and simmer 5 more minutes to warm the beans.

Notes

  • You may add one can of tomato juice to make more chili.

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Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (5)

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5 Ingredient Quick and Easy Chili Recipe

Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (6)

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If you are a chili connoisseur this quick and easy chili recipe may not be for you but if you have picky eaters or children this chili recipe may be a life saver. You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to the size of your family without doing much harm. This is also a perfect recipe to make the day before and just warm up when you need it.

  • Author: Jill Cooper

Ingredients

Units

3 small cans tomato soup*
3 soup cans of water
1/2 to 1 lb. cooked hamburger
Chili powder to taste
Garlic powder and onion powder to taste
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Put everything into a large pot.
  2. Simmer at least 2 hours. It’s better to let it simmer all day if possible.

Notes

  • I usually use at least 2 teaspoons each of chili powder and garlic powder.
    You can add almost anything you want to this basic recipe. Beans work well.
    I like to crumble in some fried sausage for extra flavor.
    You can also use onions.
    I have also replaced the soup with a large can (32-36 oz.) of tomato juice and it is good, too!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (10)Cheryl

    Thanks for posting the link for cornbread. I’m always looking for new recipes to try. I do a very similar chili except I use my crockpot. And the big difference is I use a product called Just Like Round, which is the veggie version of hamburger meat.

    Reply

  2. Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (11)Ja Jones

    Hi, Tawra & Mike,
    You mentioned “Jill’s” Chilli recipe on today’s show of “Tawra’s” Chilli, but I can’t find the recipe. Would you please either send me the link, or tell me the page in the cookbook?

    THANK YOU SO MUCH,
    Jane

    Reply

    • Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (12)Jill

      Here you go Jane. I really love to add a little bit of cooked pork sausage to this for a really yummy flavor. You can add to this what ever you want like adding sauted onions, peppers, celery or any leftover veggies you have that you have been saving in the freezer.Also be careful adding too much salt and a ton of spices at first because if it simmers all day it will thicken so add a little more salt at the end if you need it. Hope this helps. Jill

      Quick and Easy Chili Recipe – Jill’s Chili

      3 small cans tomato soup*
      3 soup cans of water
      1/2 to 1 lb. cooked hamburger
      Chili powder to taste
      Garlic powder and onion powder to taste
      Salt and pepper to taste

      I usually use at least 2 teaspoons each of chili powder and garlic powder. You can also use onions. Put everything in a large pan and simmer at least 2 hours. It’s better to let it simmer all day if possible. You can add almost anything you want to this basic recipe. Beans work well or I like to crumble in some fried sausage for extra flavor.

      *I have also replaced the soup with a large can (32-36 oz.) of tomato juice and it is good, too!

      Here is the link on the website for this same recipe Quick and Easy Chili Recipe

      Reply

      • Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (13)Marcia Carli

        I made your chili recipe Jill and my son loved it! It was delicious!

        Reply

        • Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (14)Jill

          Oh Marcia I am so glad he liked it. It is such an easy recipe and you don’t have to have a bunch of ingredients for it so it helps to save too. Plus I don’t know how old your son is but kids really like this recipe because it doesn’t have a bunch of “lumpy and bumpy”things : ) in it or things like beans although you can add beans if your family likes them.

          Reply

    • Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (15)Andrea Lay

      Has anyone ever put black bean a brown sugar in their chili?

      Reply

      • Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (16)Jill

        I haven’t done black beans (although don’t know why you couldn’t because I would use anything I had on hand) but the brown sugar would do great. I add sugar to things like my spaghetti sauce. People don’t often realize that you can add just a little bit of sugar to savory things and a little bit of salt to sweet things and it really seems to enhance the flavor for some reason.

        Reply

  3. Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (17)Christine

    Adding a cinnamon stick while chili is cooking really deepens the flavor and so does adding an ounce of sweetened chocolate. I usually use both.

    Reply

  4. Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (18)Vinna

    I was wondering if there is anyway that i could buy your cook book without using a credit card , would a post dated cheque or anything like that work , I live in Canada … love watching your shows , love your recipes , Etc;

    Reply

    • Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (19)Jill

      Yes Vinna you can buy the book by check. Contact Tawra and she can let you know how to do it and the amount of postage it will be etc
      Contact Info

      Reply

  5. Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (20)Judy

    I made it and it was delicious. I added cheddar cheese. I’m going to try the cocoa powder next time.

    Reply

  6. Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (21)Nicole

    I made this along with some cornbread tonight for dinner and it was delicious! I will absolutely be making it again soon.

    Reply

    • Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (22)Jill

      Here is a tip Nicole. If you have some liquid smoke – it is usually found by the bar b q sauces in the store- I add a few drops of it and oh my is it good.

      Reply

  7. Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (23)Kat Hilbish

    We’ve made this recipe since 2008 and it is AWESOME. It’s one of those golden recipes that’s a big hit every time we serve it to guests. They think we’re great cooks, but we don’t tell them how easy it is to make.

    Reply

    • Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (24)Jill

      Thanks Kat for letting us know. And thanks for sticking with us for so long. LOL about they think you are great cooks we are the same way – we are just average cooks like everyone else but love simple, easy and good recipes. : )

      Reply

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Easy Homemade Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What are the ingredients in chili? ›

Chili, also referred to as chili con carne is a hearty beef stew made with spices, peppers, meat, tomatoes, and beans (in some cases). Most homemade chili recipes are made up of the same basic ingredients like ground beef, onion, spices, beans, and some type of tomato product.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What are good things to put in chili? ›

You can add chili beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, green pepper, jalapenos, habaneros, serranos, potatoes, hominy, corn, chili powder, cumin, tomato sauce, cayenne peppers, cheese, sour cream, banana pepper rings, soy sauce, Hesheys cocoa powder, peanut butter, and so so much more!

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What does tomato paste do for chili? ›

The tomato paste adds color and rich flavor to our chili. Now we have our flavorful base, you are going to finish the chili with pureed tomatoes, beef broth (or chicken broth), and beans. Beans make this chili hearty — I like pinto beans or kidney beans.

What is classic chili made of? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 pound ground beef.
  2. 1 onion, chopped.
  3. 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce.
  4. 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans.
  5. 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes.
  6. 1 ½ cups water, or as needed (Optional)
  7. 1 pinch chili powder, or more to taste.
  8. 1 pinch garlic powder.
Jan 17, 2024

What is traditional chili made of? ›

As purists would have it, traditional red (chili con carne) hasn't changed much over the years. It still consists of meat, red chili peppers, and spices—no beans, rice, pasta, or other fillers, aside from vegetables, according to ICS criteria.

Is tomato paste necessary for chili? ›

Tomato sauce is not a strong a taste as tomato paste. Also, sauce will increase the liquid content of your chili ever so slightly. Tomato paste has a more full, rich, tomato taste and smell. Using either one is appropriate, but you will need to tweak your seasonings to suit your personal tastes, anyway.

What makes chili taste better? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

What does cinnamon do for chili? ›

Cinnamon. The beauty of ground cinnamon is that it brings a warmth to your chili, without being spicy. It works well with other flavors commonly found in chili (like tomato, cumin and chile powder) so you only need a little bit to achieve the desired balance.

Do you cook onions or meat first for chili? ›

In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil and add the onions, garlic, and red pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the beef and increase the heat to high. Cook, stirring with wooden spoon to break up the meat, until the beef is browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

What makes the best chili meat? ›

The best chili meat is a combination of meats, often a mix of ground chuck, ground sirloin, brisket, diced tri-tip, and/or some bacon or sausage. Do your best to mix smaller pieces with larger pieces to stack textures and make it your own! Happy cooking!

Why is my chili not flavorful? ›

Change up the beans. Use black beans, pintos, or a combination of beans to give more flavor. Cook the chili! If you don't cook it long enough (or put in a pressure cooker to speed up the process), it won't taste quite right.

How do you make chili taste stronger? ›

If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika. Always add a little at a time and remember, those flavors will develop in the cooking process.

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