Chili Recipe Easy from Scratch

Author: Veruska Anconitano, Award-Winning Food Travel Journalist, Sommelier & Outdoor LoverAuthor information
Veruska
About the author
Veruska Anconitano
Veruska is a a food travel journalist with awards to her credit, such as World Best Food Travel Journalist. She holds a certification as a sommelier and she is also an ardent lover of the outdoors. Aside from this, Veruska is a Multilingual SEO and Localization Consultant and co-owns multiple websites that cater to a global audience.
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This chili recipe is great for cold nights or just when you’re needing a hearty meal. There’s nothing like smelling a nice big chilli recipe from scratch cooking right up in your kitchen (and you can use this amazing tomato sauce for an even better result)!

If you’re looking for the best chili recipe, this one is a true contender. And even though everyone has a certain recipe that they love and adore when it comes to chili, you can’t go wrong with trying this one out.

The great part about making up a giant batch of chili is that it’s good enough to share with those that you love. During the cold, winter months you’ll be happy to have extra chili leftover to enjoy for several days on end.

What is chili con carne?

It’s basically another way of saying chili with meat. It is often spicy but still resembles the same ingredients and prep work as regular chili.

Ingredients for one big bowl

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 jalapeno seeded and finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder divided (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
  • 14.5 oz crushed tomatoes canned
  • 19 oz kidney beans canned, drained & rinsed
  • 14.5 oz diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine ground beef and 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder.
  2. In a large pot, brown ground beef, onion, jalapeno, and garlic in a large pot. Drain any fat.
  3. Add in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 45-60 minutes or until chili has reached the desired thickness.
  4. Top with cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro or other favorite toppings (corn is one of the most chosen toppings).

notes

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour

Total time: 1.3 hours

chili con carne

Can you substitute ground turkey for the ground beef?

Yes, you can. If you’re looking for a lower fat content meat addition, ground turkey is a great option. Just cook it up like you normally would and add it in place of the ground beef in the directions below.

What other types of beans can you add to this chili recipe from scratch?

 Is there ever a wrong bean to add to chili? Maybe…but a great option is to add in black beans. They’re delicious and add in some healthy nutrients to your chilli recipe. And if there are other beans that you like and want to add in, go head! Some people like more beans in their chili than others so the choice is entirely up to you!

What toppings would you serve with this chilli recipe?

Adding toppings onto your chili is so much fun! And honestly, this is entirely up to your own personal taste buds. If you like your chili to be super spicy, you can add in some cayenne pepper or even some hot sauce into the mix. (Just do this to your own bowl so you’re not setting everyone else’s mouth on fire.)

If you’re looking for a creamier version of this best chili recipe, add is some extra cheese and sour cream. Some people even choose to add in some greek yogurt or cottage cheese as well.

Are you ready for this delicious chilli recipe?!

Can you make chili without beans?

Absolutely. If you don’t like the taste or the texture of beans, simply leave them out. It will make your chili a little less thick than normal, but you can always add in other types of vegetables or even more meat if you want.

What vegetables can you add to your chilli recipe?

This is where making chili is so much fun! You can add in anything that you want, really. Think corn, onions, tomatoes…the sky’s the limit. Plus, if you’re really feeling like trying new things, some people even cook up squash and sweet potatoes, blend them up and then add them into their chili to give it a creaminess and sweet taste.

How to store leftover chili

More than likely, you’re going to have some chili leftover. And when that happens, it’s super simple and easy to store. All you need to do is place it in containers with lids and set it in the fridge. Leftover chili is super delicious so it’s a great meal for the next few days for sure.

When it’s time to reheat, all you need to do is put it in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for a short time or add it into a pot on the stove on low heat.

Can you freeze leftover chili?

You can! One of the easiest ways to freeze leftover chili is to add it to a freezer-proof bag or container and put it in your freezer. One tip? Make certain that if you add it to your freezer in a bag, you write on the label what it is and put a date on it as well so you can easily see how old it is, too.

Also, consider freezing the chili into portion sizes instead of all together. That way, you can literally unfreeze a bowl of chili only when you want it rather than having to unfreeze the entire thing.

Just keep in mind that freezing the chili could change the texture a bit as it unthaws as well but it shouldn’t change the flavor or taste. And if you happen to have beans in your chili, they might not be as firm as they originally were when you cooked the chili the first time.

This is one of the best chili recipes that you need to try. While all chili may have some sort of the same ingredients to it, you’ll want to do what you can to alter them some. And this recipe does that for you! Don’t forget to add in the crackers or corn chips, if you like those as well to enjoy with your chili.

And somehow, bite after bite of this chili just keeps getting better and better! Make up a batch of your own chili from scratch today!

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