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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.
Elevate your chili recipe by adding an extra layer of flavor. Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight.
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.
Raw meat and pot of chili are two things that just don't belong together. If the recipe includes any type of ground meat, bacon, chorizo, or cubes of beef, it should always be browned first. Try this: The first order of business before adding anything else to the pot is to brown any meat in your recipe.
A cup of strong, brewed coffee will work wonders for your pot of chili, imparting a deep, roasted flavor that will make the chili taste like it simmered away all day long. For maximum flavor, reduce the coffee along with a blend of tomato paste, aromatic veggies and spices like we do in our Spicy Vegetarian Chili.
Butter smooths out the bitterness and adds its unique richness, making you take another bite without quite knowing why. A dash of sugar and vinegar gives a sweet-sour flavor that also makes the sauce rounder and more satisfying.
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.
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.
Chili is perhaps the ideal slow-cooker dish because its flavor improves with a long, slow simmer. This makes a big batch, perfect for a cold-weather get-together, but if you're making it for a smaller group, the leftovers freeze well.
Ideally, chili should simmer low and slow. This allows some of the liquid to evaporate and results in a thicker consistency and deeper, more complex flavor as the aromatics and spices release their superpowers.
Sautéing onions, garlic, and other veggies first coaxes maximum flavor out of them. So make sure your onions, for example, are soft and translucent before you add your liquid.
Cook vegetables and spices: Add the onions, bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, and salt. Cook until the vegetables have softened, about 7 minutes. Mix in the garlic:Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Cook beef: Add the beef and increase the heat to medium-high.
Many chili recipes call for ground chili powder, which is a mix of dried ground chiles and other spices like garlic and onion powder. But that doesn't mean you should skip using fresh garlic and onions in your chili. They add a depth of flavor the dried stuff can't match.
Although canned chili will already have some seasonings, fresh herbs and spices will add bolder flavor. You can upgrade your chili using ingredients you likely already have on your spice rack, such as chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
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.
The chili contains very little or no grease. Winning chili must look good, smell good and taste good. Because the judging process takes a couple of hours, chili must retain its color, consistency, aroma, taste and afterbite while hot, warm, lukewarm and then cool in a styrofoam judging cup.
Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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