This easy chili recipe is a favorite at our house. We love to eat it on game nights, cold winter nights, weekends, you name it. This basic chili recipe can be changed to suit your taste. I got my inspiration from The Pioneer Woman chili recipe and adapted it to my family’s preferences and you can too!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Ground beef: I recommend using lean ground beef for a healthier meal
- Onion and garlic: this combo is a must to flavor the ground beef
- Tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste: give a rich tomato flavor to the chili
- Spices: chili powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, cayenne, and a pinch of cinnamon make it irresistible
- Masa harina: is used to thicken the chili. It is a special corn flour used to make corn tortillas. Look for the brand Maseca
- Kidney and pinto beans: these are my beans of choice, but you can use your favorites, just make sure you drain and rinse them well
- Jalapenos: I like to add chopped fresh jalapenos, but green chilies work perfectly too
- Toppings: you can use your favorite toppings, we like sour cream, shredded cheese, and chopped green onions
How do You Make Good Homemade Chili?
To make a great chili beans recipe, follow these simple steps:
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the meat along with the diced onion and minced garlic until there is no pink left on the meat
- Mix in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes (with juice), spices, chopped jalapenos, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 mins
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, dissolve 2 ½ tablespoons of masa harina in ¼ cup water. Mix it into the chili and simmer until thickened. You can add more if you want a thicker chili
- Add the drained and rinsed beans and cook for 5 more minutes or until the beans are heated through. Serve with your favorite toppings
Chili toppings:
The best chili bean recipe is the one with your favorite toppings. This is a list of our favorite toppings:
- Shredded cheese (Cheddar, Pepper Jack, or your favorite cheese)
- Chopped green onions
- Chopped red onions
- Chopped jalapenos
- Tortilla Chips
- Sour cream
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Lime juice
- Freshly diced tomatoes
- Sliced black olives
- Cubed avocado
What Goes Well with Chili for Dinner?
I usually start the meal with a Chicken Tortilla Soup Crockpot recipe, or The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup, which my kids simply love!
I also make my Garlic Butter Rice Recipe and scoop the chili on top. A loaf of freshly baked Italian Bread Recipe is also a must to sop up the delicious sauce. For dessert, The Best Lazy Man’s Peach Cobbler is an easy and fast alternative.
Storage:
This easy chili beans recipe is a great make-and-freeze meal. Store it in an airtight container or freezer bag and in the freezer for up to 3 months. It also keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days if stored in an airtight container.
The Best Classic Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cp onions, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
- 1- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (with juice)
- 1½ tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 ½ tbsp masa harina
- ¼ cp water
- 1- 15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1- 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- Toppings: chopped green onions, sour cream, shredded cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the meat along with the diced onion and minced garlic until there is no pink left on the meat
- Mix in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes (with juice), spices, chopped jalapenos, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 mins
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, dissolve 2 ½ tablespoons of masa harina in ¼ cup water. Mix it into the chili and simmer until thickened. You can add more if you want a thicker chili
- Add the drained and rinsed beans and cook for 5 more minutes or until the beans are heated through. Serve with your favorite toppings