This Classic Chili Recipe is near and dear to my heart. It’s the go-to recipe I whip up when it’s just us at home, and I can’t believe I haven’t shared it with you yet. So, let’s dive into this comforting, no-frills chili that’s perfect for cozy evenings.
How to Make This Classic Chili Recipe
Begin by dicing up one onion. In a soup pot over medium heat, sauté the onion in some oil for about 5 minutes. Add a pound of ground beef to the pot. Feel free to swap it out with turkey or ground chicken, and don’t hesitate to double the recipe if you want to freeze extra servings.
Once the ground beef is cooked, you can choose to drain the fat or leave it in for added flavor. Add in the seasoning:
- 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons dried cumin
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: a dash of cayenne pepper for some heat
Include two tablespoons of tomato paste directly into the mix.
Mix everything well, then add 1 1/2 cups of beef broth, one can of petite diced tomatoes, and one can of drained kidney beans. Also, add an 8 oz can of plain tomato sauce.
Bring the mixture to a simmer, then lower the heat to medium-low and let it cook for 25 minutes. This allows all the flavors to meld together, resulting in a rich, delicious chili.
Top it up! I love to add my favorite toppings depending on what I have on hand:
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend)
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Diced green onions
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Sliced jalapeños
- Avocado slices or guacamole
- Crushed tortilla chips or strips
- Salsa or pico de gallo
- Diced tomatoes
- Sliced black olives
This traditional chili embodies the basics—onions, beans, tomatoes, and hearty beef. It’s a flavor-packed staple in our household, and I’m thrilled to finally share it with you.
What To Serve With This Classic Chili Recipe
I love to whip up some Jiffy corn bread to go with this chili. Here are some additional ideas:
- Classic cooked white or brown rice
- Tortilla chips
- Baked Potatoes (chili goes great over the top of these!)
- Corn on the cob
- A garden salad
Make it Healthier:
I’m always looking for new ways to add veggies to my dishes. Here are some ideas to add more nutrients to this dish:
- Try adding some chopped zucchini or carrots while you are browning the ground beef! They are a great addition that taste really good!
- Serve the chili over cauliflower rice.
- Top the chili with greek yogurt vs. sour cream.
Make it Kid Friendly:
I always recommend you adjust recipes based on what your family likes. If your kids or even other family members are weary of this dish here are some swap recommendations to get them trying new things without serving a completely different dish:
- Make it extra cheesey!
- Serve it with tortilla chips for dipping.
- Sauces are always a great way to convince kids to eat something. My kids love anything covered in sour cream, so the more, the better for them!
Swap Ideas:
- As I mentioned earlier, you can swap out the meat for what you have on hand. This dish is originally made with ground beef but you can use ground turkey, or ground chicken as well.
- If you don’t have plain tomato sauce, swap it out for marinara.
- Swap the kidney beans for pinto beans or black beans depending on what you have on hand.
- Make it vegetarian using vegetable broth or water and swapping the meat for a second can of beans.
Shopping Tips:
- Stock up on your favorite meats when they go on sale and freeze them. In this case, ground beef, chicken, or turkey is what you’re looking for.
- Buying dried beans and cooking them from scratch is cheaper than canned. I cook these in bulk and freeze what I don’t use, saving them for next time.
As always, please share your own recommendations on how to make this dish healthier, more kid friendly, swap ideas, and budget shopping tips in the comments!
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Classic Chili Recipe
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
Indulge in the heartwarming simplicity Traditional Chili—a classic that has graced our home for years. Packed with the essential flavors of onions, beans, tomatoes, and hearty ground beef, this recipe is a comforting delight perfect for cozy evenings.
Ingredients
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 pound ground beef (or turkey, ground chicken)
- 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons dried cumin
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: Dash of cayenne pepper for heat
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 can kidney beans, drained
- 1 can plain tomato sauce (8 oz)
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
- In a soup pot over medium heat, sauté diced onions in oil for about 5 minutes.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if desired.
- Incorporate chili powder, cumin, sugar, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne pepper.
- Add tomato paste and mix well.
- Pour in beef broth, diced tomatoes, drained kidney beans, and plain tomato sauce.
- Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to medium-low, and let it cook for 25 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
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