The Best Ground Beef Chili | Easy Stovetop Recipe (2024)

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The Best Ground Beef Chili | Easy Stovetop Recipe (1)

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.

The Best Ground Beef Chili | Easy Stovetop Recipe (2)

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.

The Best Ground Beef Chili | Easy Stovetop Recipe (3)

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:

  1. Following the same instructions as the stovetop recipe, saute your onion and brown your ground beef.
  2. 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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The Best Ground Beef Chili | Easy Stovetop Recipe (4)

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

  1. In a large skillet, add the olive oil and chopped onion. Cook for 2 – 3 minutes.
  2. Add the ground beef to the skillet with the onion and cook for 5 – 7 minutes, until browned. Drain the grease from the skillet.
  3. In a large pot, combine all ingredients, including the cooked onions and ground beef. Stir well to mix.
  4. Bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer uncovered for 20 – 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American
The Best Ground Beef Chili | Easy Stovetop Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

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.

How do you make homemade chili taste better? ›

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.

How long should chili simmer on the stove? ›

How long should I cook chili on the stove? Total cook time will take about 30-45 minutes.

What not to put in chili? ›

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.

What adds the most flavor to chili? ›

Peppers: For many people, chili isn't chili without some heat. To add some, experiment with dried ancho peppers or chipotle peppers (often sold in adobo). If you'd like to add flavor without much heat, anaheim peppers are wonderful.

Does Wendy's put sugar in their chili? ›

Chili Concentrate: Chili Sauce (Water, Tomato Juice, Tomatoes, Calcium Chloride, Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Corn Starch, Dried Chilies, Spices, Flavor Enhancer [Dextrose, Salt, Yeast Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Modified Corn Starch], Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Xanthan gum), Beans (Pink Beans, Red ...

Why do you put butter in 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.

What is chili magic? ›

Where there's chipotle smoke, there's chili fire. Bush's® Chili Magic® Campfire Style brings tender pintos together with smoky chipotle and green bell peppers for quick, unforgettable chili any night of the week.​

How to make chili taste richer? ›

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.

What does tomato paste do for chili? ›

The tomato paste adds color and rich flavor to our chili. Now we have our flavorful base, you are going to finish the chili with pureed tomatoes, beef broth (or chicken broth), and beans. Beans make this chili hearty — I like pinto beans or kidney beans.

What is the best liquid for chili? ›

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.

Is Chilli better in crockpot or stove? ›

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.

Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

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.

Do you drain beans for chili? ›

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish.

What makes the best chili meat? ›

You can really use any meat for chili, but here are the cuts that are most popular for classic chili:
  • Ground beef (80/20) ...
  • Ground sirloin (90/10) ...
  • Brisket. ...
  • Short ribs. ...
  • Tri-tip sirloin. ...
  • Work with your butcher to get multiple textures. ...
  • Use multiple animals to add depth. ...
  • Go for grass-fed and grass-finished beef.
May 11, 2021

Why would you put vinegar in chili? ›

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.

How does Martha Stewart make chili? ›

Add chili powder, cocoa, and tomato paste; cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes more. Add tomatoes, broth, and cooked beef. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, until thickened slightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; serve with sour cream and chives.

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