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This homemade ground beef chili is a classic, easy recipe loaded with lots of flavor.
What makes this chili recipe different? It’s loaded with plenty of seasoning for a perfect chili flavor. It uses 1/4 cup chili powder along with several other herbs and spices for a result that’s anything but bland!
A bowl of this chili pairs well with chips, crackers, or cornbread. Make it as a quick weeknight dinner or double the recipe and serve it as an easy meal for a big crowd.
Looking for the slow cooker version of this recipe? Check it out here: 3 Step Slow Cooker Chili.
How to Make Ground Beef Chili
This chili recipe is the BEST because it only has 4 steps to make it!
Here’s a quick summary of how to make the chili, but scroll to the bottom of this page for the full recipe.
Step 1
In a large skillet, cook 1 large, chopped yellow onion for 2 – 3 minutes. Then add 1 pound of ground beef and cook for 5 – 7 minutes more, until the beef is browned.
As you cook the beef, crumble it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. The beef should be well-browned and the onion should be cooked through.
Step 2
Add all of the ingredients (listed at the bottom of this page) for the chili to a large pot. This includes the cooked onion and beef, along with beans and seasonings. Stir well and bring to a boil on high heat.
Step 3
Simmer the chili on medium low heat for 25 – 30 minutes, uncovered. Stir occasionally. Serve immediately while it’s still warm.
Can You Make It with Turkey or Chicken?
Yes, you can make this recipe with ground turkey or chicken, but we think that it tastes best with ground beef. It’s still tasty with turkey or chicken, but the flavors taste the boldest when made with beef.
What to Serve with Chili
There are so many good options for what to serve with chili!
Here are some favorites:
Toppings: try topping your chili with sour cream, green onions, cheddar cheese, red onions, or avocados.
Sides: tasty sides for chili include cornbread, crackers, chips, or fries (to make chili cheese fries)
If you’re looking for more chili inspiration, check out this fun Chili Bar from Buzzfeed. They show every chili side & topping you could ever imagine!
How to Make It In A Slow Cooker
This recipe is for stovetop chili, but you can also make it in your slow cooker if you prefer! I love this option for days when I want to make it in the morning & come home to ready-to-eat chili.
Here’s how:
Following the same instructions as the stovetop recipe, saute your onion and brown your ground beef.
Add all ingredients to your slow cooker and stir. Cook on low for 5 – 6 hours.
We also have a very similar & popular recipe for slow cooker chili here: Easy Slow Cooker Chili.
Popular Questions About Ground Beef Chili
What is the best ground meat for chili?
This recipe uses ground beef, preferably 90% lean (but any ground beef will do). You’ll brown the meat and drain the fat at the beginning of the recipe, so you don’t have to worry about extra grease in your chili.
Beef is the most popular ground meat for chili because its flavor pairs well with the hearty beans and tomatoes in chili.
Ground Turkey or Chicken Chili: If you like, you can also substitute ground turkey or chicken. These are both leaner options that still create a delicious chili.
Should I drain the beans?
Yes, drain and rinse the beans before adding them to your chili pot. This recipe calls for one can of black beans and one can of red kidney beans.
Can you make it in a crockpot?
Yes, you can also make this recipe in a crockpot. This is a great meal to let simmer in your crockpot all day and come home to a hot meal. Simply add all the ingredients to your crockpot instead of a large pot. Cook on high for 5 – 6 hours or low for 7 – 8 hours.
The flavors of this chili come from lots of tasting and testing! This recipe nails all of the chili flavor while keeping the ingredient list simple. It can be a weeknight staple or a fun party appetizer with chips. Lots of classic flavor but overly complicated.
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Ground Beef Chili
★★★★★5 from 12 reviews
Total Time:40 minutes
Yield:5
Print Recipe
Description
An easy, delicious homemade chili recipe loaded with ground beef, beans, and plenty of seasoning.
Ingredients
Scale
1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion (large, chopped)
1 lb ground beef
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 tbsp tomato paste
10 oz can diced tomatoes
16 oz can red kidney beans
16 oz can black beans
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup chili powder
2 tbsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne ((optional))
Instructions
In a large skillet, add the olive oil and chopped onion. Cook for 2 – 3 minutes.
Add the ground beef to the skillet with the onion and cook for 5 – 7 minutes, until browned. Drain the grease from the skillet.
In a large pot, combine all ingredients, including the cooked onions and ground beef. Stir well to mix.
Bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer uncovered for 20 – 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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.
Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.
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.
Add diced tomatoes, tomato juice, ketchup, beans, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and cayenne. Simmer: Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring, then reduce the heat and simmer over medium-low heat for at least one hour, or up to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
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.
Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.
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.
Professional chefs shared their favorite ways to turn a can of chili into a tastier option. Cocoa, beer, and cinnamon are ingredients that'll boost the flavor of your dish.
The good news is there are lots of easy ways to thicken up your chili with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry— flour, cornmeal, pureed beans, cornstarch, or even crushed tortilla chips will help do the job, along with some good old extra simmering time.
With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.
Most chili lovers will tell you that this is the ideal cut of meat for stew and chili. Chuck is initially a very tough cut of beef, but when you consider the fact chuck is highly marbled, it turns out this is perfect for the low-and-slow way to cook the perfect Texas chili.
For quicker-cooking chili like this recipe, don't cover the pot. You want the liquid in the chili to reduce, and leaving the lid off is crucial. If you're simmering the chili for a longer time, partially cover the pot to prevent the liquid from evaporating too quickly.
Although the internet abounds with recipes for quick-cooking chilis that take as little as 20 minutes (via MyRecipes), this stewed dish truly benefits from a longer cook time that will gently coax all the flavors out of the meat, legumes, vegetables, and spices in the recipe.
Ground Beef: Provides the hearty meaty base for the chili. Opt for 85% lean; the fat enriches the meat, enhancing the dish's overall flavor and texture. And don't stress about the fat—post-cooking, it's easy to skim off any excess. Baking Soda: Helps tenderize the beef by locking in moisture, making it more succulent.
Introduction: My name is Barbera Armstrong, I am a lovely, delightful, cooperative, funny, enchanting, vivacious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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