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Easy Chili

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  • Prep 30 min
  • Total 30 min
  • Ingredients 9
  • Servings 4
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Whether you’re cooking for your family, your roommates or yourself, everyone needs a go-to chili recipe! This one is super easy and kid-friendly (read: not too spicy), and it comes together in 30 minutes with ingredients you probably keep in your fridge and pantry.
By Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated Aug 23, 2023
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What’s in chili?

The answer to this question varies depending on where you live in the United States. But there are a few things everyone seems to (mostly!) agree on: Its base is a thick sauce made with chile peppers of some kind, onions, canned tomatoes and plenty of cumin. It’s always red. (Okay, only sometimes! We really love our recipe for Creamy White Chicken Chili.)

When it comes to the rest of the recipe, people have BIG feelings. Should it include beans, beef or (gasp!) both? Here at Pillsbury, we fall into the latter category: why not include all the protein? So we’ve created a simple, classic recipe that comes together quickly and provides a delicious base for all your favorite toppings.

How should I serve chili?

The best part of chili might be the toppings. We love to pile on the cheddar cheese, sour cream and green onions. Want some crunch? Tortilla chips or saltine crackers are great with chili. Even better: Corn chips! They make amazing chili scoops. And, if you put out little bowls of all these goodies, folks can build their perfect bowl of chili.

Since we’ve kept the spice in the recipe to a minimum, you may also want to put some hot sauce on the table. There’s already Sriracha in the recipe, so you could go with that or, for a bright note, a vinegar-based Louisiana hot sauce is always nice.

Is chili good for entertaining?

Chili is great for all occasions! If it’s a busy weeknight, chili is a one-pot weeknight wonder. And it makes amazing leftovers — the flavors only get better! So you can pack some for lunch too.

That said, we’d definitely make Easy Chili for a game day or movie night gathering. It’s simple yet hearty and comforting, and people are always excited to see a warm bowl of chili with all its yummy toppings.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean (at least 80% lean) ground beef
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
  • 1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (19 oz) Progresso™ kidney beans light red, undrained
  • Sour cream, sliced green onions, shredded cheddar cheese, if desired

Steps

  • 1
    In 3 or 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain.
  • 2
    Stir in remaining ingredients except sour cream, green onions and cheese.
  • 3
    Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring occasionally.
  • 4
    Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • 5
    To serve, ladle chili into bowls; top with sour cream, green onions and shredded cheese.

Tips from the Pillsbury Kitchens

  • tip 1
    This Easy Chili recipe is very flexible! If you don’t have beef or prefer poultry, you can sub in a pound of lean ground turkey for the ground beef. Similarly, pinto, black or even cannellini or Great Northern beans can be subbed in for the kidney beans.
  • tip 2
    We like to use Sriracha in our chili because its garlicky complexity complements the other seasonings in the recipe. It also has a subtle enough heat for kids and spice-averse adults. If you don’t have any Sriracha on hand, you can sub in sambal oelek or make your own with a 3-to-1 ratio of hot sauce and ketchup. In a pinch, ¼ teaspoon of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes will also work — add more if you like it spicier. Not hot enough for you? Feel free to use more of either the chili powder or Sriracha sauce.
  • tip 3
    Spice not your thing? Serve a bowl of chili with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheese to help balance out the spice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to add oil to the pan?

You actually don’t need to add any: the beef has enough fat in it to keep the meat from sticking to the pan.

What’s the best chili recipe?

Chili may be one of the most debated dishes out there, and there are many ways to make it. We know one thing is certain: every version is delicious. Looking to find your perfect chili? Check our chili collections — from Buffalo Chicken Chili to Grands!™ Biscuit Bowls with Chili, there’s something for everyone!

Nutrition Information

460 Calories, 17g Total Fat, 40g Protein, 35g Total Carbohydrate, 9g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
460
Calories from Fat
150
Total Fat
17g
26%
Saturated Fat
6g
32%
Trans Fat
1/2g
Cholesterol
100mg
33%
Sodium
900mg
38%
Potassium
480mg
14%
Total Carbohydrate
35g
12%
Dietary Fiber
9g
38%
Sugars
9g
Protein
40g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
40%
40%
Vitamin C
8%
8%
Calcium
15%
15%
Iron
40%
40%
Exchanges:
1 1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 4 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • Satisfy your post-work dinner cravings with this quick, easy chili recipe. Made with ground beef, assorted spices, Progresso™ kidney beans, diced tomatoes and sriracha sauce, this chili comes together in 30 minutes, and it has just enough spice to wake up your taste buds. Learn how to make chili with our kitchen-approved method.
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