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My Homemade Chili Recipe takes just 35 minutes to make from start to finish! It uses simple ingredients and is low in fat, packed with protein and fiber, and so delicious! This is the best chili recipe you will ever make!
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Homemade Chili Recipe
My family and I love beef chili recipes, but so many of them can take all day to make! Sometimes, when you're in a hurry for comfort food, you just need an easy, quick chili recipe to work with. That's where my homemade ground beef chili recipe comes in!
This is a simple chili recipe with so much flavor. It uses classic, easy ingredients for chili, complete with ground beef and a mix of pinto and black beans. It's hearty and full of protein for a meal that'll fill you up and keep you going.
The best part about my hamburger chili recipe is it takes just 35 minutes to make in only one pot. It really could not be any easier than that!
This is the easiest chili recipe I have ever made!
Stacy on Pinterest
Chili Recipe Ingredients
- beef broth or chicken broth, no salt added
- onion chopped
- bell pepper seeded and chopped
- cloves garlic minced
- ground beef
- dried oregano
- dried cumin
- chili powder
- ground black pepper
- cayenne pepper
- pinto beans canned, no salt added, rinsed and drained
- black beans canned, no salt added, rinsed and drained
- diced tomatoes canned, no salt added
- Optional: shredded cheese and cilantro for garnish
How to Make Chili
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm up the broth. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the pot, stirring occasionally until the vegetables soften.
- Add the ground beef. Using a wooden spoon, gently break down the meat until the beef is in small pieces and cooked through.
- Stir in the spices for the homemade chili seasoning, beans, and tomatoes.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cover for 20 minutes.
- Top with cheddar cheese and cilantro if you like. Serve this classic chili recipe with cornbread!
Homemade Chili Recipes Tips
- Prepare the ingredients, such as measuring out spices and chopping the veggies, before you start cooking.
- Make sure to chop the onion and bell pepper into a relatively similar size and shape so that the vegetables will soften at the same time.
- I find this chili mild to medium spicy. You can add more heat as you desire.
- Spruce up this simple chili with additional toppings at the end. I like to add shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, tortilla chips, and Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is a delicious low-fat, high-protein substitute for sour cream.
- You can serve it on top of greens (like spinach), over rice, or in a lettuce wrap.
- Check out my favorite Chili Seasoning.
- This recipe also works well with ground turkey.
Homemade Chili FAQs
For this recipe for chili with ground beef, you do not have to drain the fat from the beef.
My homemade ground beef chili recipe is even better after it's been stored and reheated. Allow it to cool, then store in a freezer-safe container or freezer-safe bags portioned into individual sizes. Label with the freezing date and store for up to 4 months. When ready to reheat, thaw overnight, then heat on the stove in a pan.
My ground beef chili will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator stored in an airtight container.
Beef Chili Recipe Variations
- This chili recipe is also an amazing base to make Chili Mac and Cheese
- Add more spice: If you want, you can add more spice to your homemade chili recipe by adding jalapenos or another sliced pepper of your choice.
- Try different beans: I like pinto and black beans, but you can use your favorite beans for chili, like kidney beans.
- Add or swap out vegetables: Making homemade chili is a great way to use in-season vegetables. You can add veggies like zucchini and corn to your chili if you like. I've also added sweet potato and regular potatoes and it turned out great!
- Like a little kick to your chili, you can add some hot sauce!
Chili Toppings
- shredded cheese
- sour cream or Greek yogurt
- sliced green onions
- cilantro
- crackers or tortilla chips
- diced avocado
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📋 Recipe
Homemade Chili
Equipment
- Large pot capable of holding at least 3 quarts
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- ¼ cup beef broth or chicken broth, no salt added
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper seeded and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef or lean
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried cumin
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 14 ounce pinto beans canned, no salt added, rinsed and drained
- 14 ounce black beans canned, no salt added, rinsed and drained
- 28 ounce diced tomatoes canned, no salt added
- Optional: shredded low-fat cheese and cilantro for garnish
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm up the broth. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the pot, stirring occasionally until the vegetables soften.1 onion, 1 bell pepper, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ cup beef broth
- Add the ground beef. Using a wooden spoon, gently break down the meat until the beef is in small pieces and cooked through.1 pound extra lean ground beef
- Stir in the spices, beans, and tomatoes.2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried cumin, 1 Tablespoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 14 ounce pinto beans, 14 ounce black beans, 28 ounce diced tomatoes
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cover for 20 minutes.
- Top with cheese and cilantro if you like. Serve and enjoy!Optional: shredded low-fat cheese and cilantro for garnish
Notes
- Prepare the ingredients, such as measuring out spices and chopping the veggies, before you start cooking.
- Make sure to chop the onion and bell pepper into a relatively similar size and shape so that the vegetables will soften at the same time.
- I find this chili mild to medium spicy. You can add more heat as you desire.
- Spruce up this simple chili with additional toppings at the end. I like to add shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, tortilla chips, and Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is a delicious low-fat, high-protein substitute for sour cream.
Nutrition
» About Me
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Joy says
Can you use ground turkey instead of ground beef in this recipe?
Em Beitel says
Hi Joy! Yes, definitely! Ground turkey should work just fine. Ground turkey takes longer to cook than beef, so it will take longer to brown, but otherwise it will work beautifully. Enjoy!
George says
Sounds very good .I like trying different things to make homemade chili .I add all kinds of different things to my chili when I make it. I also like to add some deer meat with my small amount of beef win I make it .I would like to get one of your cookbooks please let me know how to. I am a disabled veteran and a retired person who likes to cook rather in side or out side and to tell you the chili that I make a lot is always made out side and it turns out (great) .We'll thank you for your time and keep up the good cooking.
Em Beitel says
Hi George! Thank you so much for your comment and for your service! Your chili must be delicious! You can get our digital cookbooks free to download from our newsletter when you sign up (you can do so easily here: newsletter sign up [link]). We send out recipes every week through email and you can reply with any questions you have, too. If you have any trouble or don't receive the cookbooks, please let me know (or reply to the sign-up email) and I will be happy to send them over to you.