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Family-friendly meals made easy!
Make everyday family moments count, with easy recipes that everyone will love. Join our email community to receive tested recipes and tips.
Make everyday family moments count, with easy recipes that everyone will love. Join our email community to receive tested recipes and tips.
Whether you’re cooking for family, roommates or yourself, everyone needs a quick, easy chili recipe on hand! This one is super simple and kid-friendly (not too spicy), and it comes together in just 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry.
This classic dish originated in the Americas and has been influenced by multiple cultures and cuisines over the years, so there are a variety of recipes out there. But what about everyone can agree on is that the base of a good chili is a thick sauce made with chili peppers of some kind, onions, canned tomatoes, and plenty of cumin. If you ask us, our easy chili recipe is one of the best because it brings those tasty ingredients (along with savory beef and beans) together quickly to create a delicious dish ready for all sorts of toppings, from cheddar cheese to green onions.
Another great thing about chili is that it’s a one-pot family favorite that’s perfect for so many different occasions. Have a busy day with the family? Chili is a weeknight wonder, and it makes amazing leftovers—so that’s tomorrow’s lunch covered, too. The flavors just get better overnight! You’ll also catch us making this quick and easy chili for game days, movie night gatherings and any other get-togethers that call for a hearty, comforting meal that’s sure to satisfy.
Once you see how simple it is to make a batch of this tasty chili, you’ll be serving bowls for lunch and dinner left and right! Ready to learn how to make homemade chili that will have the whole family coming back for seconds? Get the scoop with our quick overview, then read on for the full ingredients list and step-by-step instructions.
First, cook your lean ground beef and chopped onion. Don’t forget to drain off the excess liquid before moving on to the next step—you don’t want your chili to end up too watery!
Get some mouthwatering flavors going with chili powder, cumin, salt, and Sriracha. A can of diced tomatoes brings even more flavor and gives this easy chili recipe that classic red coloring. Want to amp up the spice? Add more chili powder or more Sriracha, tasting as you go.
Ready for your chili to become chili? Bring things to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer while stirring occasionally. An extended simmer time (we let our chili bubble for about 10 minutes) allows this dish to thicken into a hearty, flavorful meal.
This is where you can stay classic or get extra creative with the toppings! Cool things down by topping your chili with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream, add crunch with crushed tortilla chips and fresh green onions, or break out a bowl of corn chips and eat this chili scoop by yummy scoop.
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to the consistency of their chili. Some like a thick stew, while others like a thinner, almost soupy dish. If your Easy Homemade Chili is looking a little too watery for your taste, there’s plenty of time to thicken it up before you serve it. Here are a few tips to try.
Keep Simmering : If you’ve followed our full easy chili recipe and your dish is still too watery, continue simmering the chili over low heat. This will allow more liquid to evaporate, naturally thickening the chili.
Add Tomato Paste: Stir in a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste. This concentrated paste will not only add flavor but also help thicken your chili.
Make a Slurry: Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water to create a slurry. Slurries are used to thicken a variety of dishes! Slowly pour the slurry into the chili while stirring continuously. Simmer for a few more minutes until the dish reaches your desired consistency.
Toppings Galore: Complete this quick and easy chili with family-favorite toppings like crushed tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, and green onions. If you’re hosting guests and serving chili for dinner, you could even set up a makeshift chili station with all the fixings so that everyone can build their own bowl with their favorite toppings.
Cornbread: You can’t go wrong with the classic pairing of chili and cornbread. The tender cornbread adds a delicious texture and nice flavor alongside this savory dish.
Side Salad: Serving a big pot of chili for family dinner? Round out the meal with a simple side salad dressed with a nice tangy vinaigrette. And when you’re ready to add yet another fantastic dish to your weeknight dinner rotation, try one of our quick and easy dinner recipes .
Baked Potato: Add a hearty accompaniment with a hot baked potato. This is a great way to switch up your usual chili lunch or dinner—top the potato with chili, cheese, sour cream and green onions for a filling meal.
Coleslaw: Creamy coleslaw provides a cool, crunchy contrast to the warmth and slight spice of this Easy Homemade Chili. Serve it alongside chili for a satisfying lunch. For more midday meals, check out our other favorite lunch recipes.
You can never have too many favorite chili recipes. Whether you keep things traditional or switch up the protein and sauce, this dish is just too easy and fun to customize! Explore more of our beef chili recipes, or try one of these standouts for something different.
Spicy Texas Chili: If this easy chili recipe is a touch too tame for you, kick the heat up several notches with our Spicy Texas Chili. Chili powder, jalapeño, and cayenne pepper pack a flavor punch!
White Chicken Chili: Traditional chili is red, but this Creamy White Chicken Chili might have you rethinking your definition of the dish. Shredded chicken, cannellini beans, sour cream, and plenty of pepper Jack cheese come together for a creamy, comforting meal that’s ready in half an hour.
Chicken Enchilada Chili: Get a flavor fiesta going in your slow cooker with our Slow-Cooker Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Chili. This recipe takes just 10 minutes of prep and will have your kitchen smelling extra yummy as things get cooking.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 32% |
| Trans Fat | ½g | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 100mg | 33% |
| Sodium | 900mg | 38% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 35g | 12% |
| Dietary Fiber | 9g | 38% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | 9g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 40g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 40% |
| Potassium | 480mg | 14% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 40% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 30% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 25% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 45% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 25% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 50% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 35% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
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