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Home » Recipes » Soup » Basic Chili Recipe

Basic Chili Recipe

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Here’s my Basic Chili recipe that can be adapted to make it your own. This easy chili recipe is quick enough to make for a weeknight dinner!

spooning up some delicious chili with a ladle

Warm up with a bowl of chili and a slice of skillet cornbread on the side! There are a million different ways to make an easy chili recipe and everyone has their preferences as to what they want in their chili. Some want just the meat and beans while others want all of the things! This basic chili recipe from my mom is perfect for those who the simple, easy chili. For those who want more, I’ve included lots of suggestions and ideas to make this chili in various ways.

adding the spices to the meat

Put the ground beef, minced onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper in a skillet.

Would other meats work in this easy chili recipe?

Yes, you can swap out some or all of the ground beef in this easy chili recipe for another meat. A different meat choice can not only switch up the flavor of the chili but also make it healthier in some cases. Here are a few suggestions:

  • add some ground pork sausage
  • use ground chicken
  • try ground turkey
  • skip the meat and add more beans instead
browned hamburger meat in a pan

Brown the ground beef and drain the grease. Set aside.

adding tomato soup to the chili beans

Put the chili beans, tomato soup, and water in a large pot.

What can I add to this basic chili recipe?

I started off with this basic chili recipe that can be enjoyed as is or it can be easily adapted to what your family likes. Here are some ideas for additional ingredients:

  • Beans: pinto beans, chili beans, kidney beans, black beans
  • Vegetables: tomatoes, corn, carrots, onions, celery
  • Peppers: bell peppers, jalapenos, chile peppers
  • Spices: cumin, oregano, chili powder, paprika
adding the browned beef to the mix

Add the browned beef and stir to combine.

cooking the soup in a dutch oven

Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Would this basic chili recipe work in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can make this basic chili recipe in a slow cooker instead of on the stovetop. Brown the ground beef as directed in the instructions. Then, put everything into a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on high for 3 – 3 1/2 hours or low for 6 hours, until heated through.

a ladleful of chili

Then, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until ready to serve.

Can you freeze chili?

Yes, chili is one of those things that freezes well! Store any leftover chili in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Or you can make this easy chili recipe ahead of time and freeze it in individual portions for a quick lunch or dinner.

a topdown view of this scrumptious chili recipe

What toppings go on chili?

Basic chili is good, of course, but adding some toppings takes it to the next level! Here are some popular toppings for chili:

  • chopped cilantro
  • sliced green onions
  • shredded cheese
  • sour cream
  • lime wedges
  • corn chips
  • sliced jalapenos
  • diced avocado
a close-up of the chili

Want more soup recipes? Try these next:

This spicy Corn and Sausage Chowder recipe with potatoes, cheese, and tomatoes is a hearty soup that is perfect for chilly evenings.

Warm up with a bowl of hearty White Chicken Chili topped with shredded cheese and chopped cilantro and served with cornbread.

This Slow Cooker Corn Chowder Recipe with Potatoes and Ham is the perfect comfort food for dinner! It will quickly become a family favorite!

This Slow Cooker Taco Soup recipe is so easy to make and so flavorful. Just brown the meat, put everything in the crockpot to cook, and then just stir!

Continue to Content
spooning up some delicious chili with a ladle

Basic Chili Recipe

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Here's my Basic Chili recipe that can be adapted to make it your own. This easy chili recipe is quick enough to make for a weeknight dinner!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tbsp minced onion
  • 1 tsp worchester sauce
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp coarse ground black pepper
  • 2 cans chili beans in mild sauce
  • 10.75 oz can condensed tomato soup
  • 1 1/4 cups water

Instructions

  1. Brown ground beef with the minced onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Drain and set aside.
  2. Put the chili beans, condensed tomato soup, and water into a large pot. Stir to combine.
  3. Stir in the beef mixture. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until ready to serve.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • CucinaPrime Set of 4 Stainless Steel Soup Ladle 2oz, 4oz, 6oz, 8oz
    CucinaPrime Set of 4 Stainless Steel Soup Ladle 2oz, 4oz, 6oz, 8oz
  • Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven. White Enamel Dutch Oven (Oyster White)
    Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven. White Enamel Dutch Oven (Oyster White)
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 297Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 668mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 3gSugar: 8gProtein: 24g

Nutrition data is calculated automatically by Nutritionix and isn't always accurate. I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Each individual’s dietary needs and restrictions are unique to the individual. You are ultimately responsible for all decisions pertaining to your health.

© The Gunny Sack
Cuisine: American / Category: Soup
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Comments

  1. Annette Boersma says

    March 11, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    I made this tonight & it was delicious. Even the kids who were sure they wouldn’t like it, did! It turned out light & moist…I even thought I could have added a little more cornmeal. The one thing I did notice when making it is that in the ingredients list it calls for allspice, but in the directions it says nutmeg. I went ahead & used the allspice & think that is probably the right one, but I wanted to let you know so it could be corrected. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Shirley says

      November 14, 2015 at 8:35 am

      Same as Annette – is it allspice or nutmeg? I did the allspice since I saw that first.
      Looks wonderful – mine is in the oven so haven’t tasted it yet. Thanks.

      Shirley

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        November 14, 2015 at 8:57 am

        Sorry! Didn’t see these questions for some reason. It’s allspice, but if you don’t have any on hand you can use nutmeg or even more cinnamon instead. Enjoy! ~Tonia

        Reply
  2. Martha says

    November 13, 2014 at 11:02 am

    just made your cornbread, it tastes yummy but yours looks so much thicker than mine. Did you double the recipe? I was either thinking that or a smaller pan.

    Reply
    • Tonia says

      November 13, 2014 at 8:14 pm

      Hi Martha,
      I used an 11×7 pan to make this cornbread. What size was your pan?
      ~Tonia

      Reply
      • Martha says

        November 15, 2014 at 4:27 pm

        I used 11×7, but it barely covered the bottom of the pan

        Reply
  3. Maria says

    March 3, 2012 at 3:01 am

    Yum that looks wonderful, the cinnamon sounds like a great flavor combination with the Chili! Your photography is beautiful!

    Reply
  4. Stephanie @ henry happened says

    March 2, 2012 at 2:19 am

    that cornbread looks yum! Everytime I make a batch it ends up like a brick, not sure what I’m doing. Cinnamon sounds like a great addition!

    Reply
  5. Anne @ Domesblissity says

    February 29, 2012 at 9:57 pm

    Won’t be long and I’ll be looking for recipes like this Tonia. Looks so hearty.Anne xx

    Reply
  6. {Adventuresindinner} says

    February 29, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    What a perfect dish to have during this last blast of winter.

    Reply
  7. Monica says

    February 29, 2012 at 7:06 pm

    Hi,I am a new GFC follower. I found you on a grow your blog hop. I would love for you to stop by my site and return the favor and follow me back as well. If you are interested also check out our current giveaways. We have something for everyone right now.Thanks a lot!http://www.chunkyandmonkeymd.com

    Reply
  8. Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted says

    February 29, 2012 at 6:49 pm

    Gorgeous foodie pic & I have never heard of cinnamon cornbread but sounds good to me. Pinning for sure!

    Reply
  9. Rachel {BubblyNatureCreations.com} says

    February 29, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    That cornbread looks delicious… I would have never thought about cinnamon!!!! Yummy!!!

    Reply
  10. Devon Riesenberg says

    February 29, 2012 at 5:28 pm

    YUM!I’ve never thought to make cinnamon cornbread with chili but I must try this 🙂 Chili is one of my favorite foods of all time, how did you end up liking it?

    Reply
  11. Tonii says

    February 29, 2012 at 5:13 pm

    Oh my goodness Tonia…that looks amazing!! My kids LOVE cornbread, but they will go crazy over this stuff. Thank you so much for sharing, I will be making this within the week!! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says

    February 29, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    This looks fabulous!

    Reply
  13. Lindsay @ Delighted Momma says

    February 29, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    Looks delicious and your pictures are beautiful!

    Reply

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Tonia LarsonHi, I'm Tonia, a lover of food and photography! Fill a gunny sack with ingredients, tie on an apron and let's get cooking!
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