This Easy Chili Recipe is my go-to game day dinner! One pot, ready in 30 minutes, and made with a homemade seasoning blend that tastes so much better than anything from a packet.
Every game day in our house starts with a big pot of this chili on the stove! We also have a topping bar set out so everyone can build their own bowl exactly the way they like it. With 8 kids at the table that topping bar is the only way everyone leaves happy.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Just $3.17 per serving — hearty enough to feed a hungry crowd without breaking the budget
- One pot, easy cleanup
- Ready in 30 minutes — faster than ordering pizza on game day
- Homemade seasoning blend — skip the packet and use pantry spices you can actually pronounce
Chili is the perfect Fall Recipe and a family favorite. You might also like Crockpot Creamy Chicken Taco Soup Recipe, Texas Chili Recipe, Chili Con Carne, White Chicken Chili or White Bean Turkey Chili for a delicious twist on classic chili recipe! It’s so good! Check out more Easy Chili Recipes.
Ingredients
- Ground beef — the base of the chili. Mix half ground beef and half ground turkey to save money without sacrificing flavor — nobody will taste the difference
- Kidney beans — adds heartiness and protein. Drain and rinse before adding. Pinto beans, black beans, or chili beans all work as substitutes
- Diced tomatoes — Use a can with green chiles for extra flavor without any extra work
- Onion — diced and cooked with the meat to build a flavorful base
- Chili seasoning — use our Chili Seasoning Recipe for the best flavor or a store-bought packet works in a pinch
- Garlic salt — adds savory depth throughout the whole pot
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
How to Make Easy Chili Recipe
The key to this chili is letting it simmer long enough for the flavors to come together — 30 minutes minimum, longer if you have the time.
Step 1 – In a large stock pot or Dutch Oven, brown your ground beef or ground turkey over medium high heat until no longer pink.
Step 2 – I love to use my Pampered chef mix n chop to break up the meat evenly. We normally do 1 pound of ground beef and one pound of ground turkey. I save money and no one can taste the difference.
Step 3 – Then add in the ½ onion and continue until they are soft.
Step 4 – Next stir in the remaining ingredients. Then bring to a boil on medium high heat.
Step 5 – Next turn to low, add the lid and let simmer (stirring occasionally).
Tips for Success
- Use homemade chili seasoning. Skipping the packet and using your own spice blend takes about 2 minutes and the flavor is noticeably better. You control exactly what goes in it.
- Let it simmer. Thirty minutes is the minimum but an hour makes this chili significantly more flavorful as everything melds together
- Make it ahead. Chili tastes even better the next day. Make it the day before game day and reheat for even deeper flavor
- Set up a topping bar. Put out sour cream, shredded cheddar, Fritos, jalapeños, diced onion, and hot sauce and let everyone build their own bowl. It makes the whole experience more fun and means zero complaints at the table
Chili Topping Bar Ideas
This is how we serve chili every game day! Set everything out in small bowls and let everyone add their own topping.
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Fritos or tortilla chips
- Diced onion
- Sliced jalapeño pepper
- Hot sauce
- Homemade cornbread — for dipping and scooping
- Saltine crackers
- Baked potatoes — serve chili over the top for a complete meal
Variation ideas
- Add cumin, chili powder, or cayenne for extra heat and depth
- Sneak in shredded carrots or chopped celery — the kids will never notice
- Use crushed tomatoes instead of diced for a smoother consistency
- Add a second can of beans for a heartier more filling chili
- Double or triple the batch for a crowd
Storage and Freezer Instructions
Refrigerator
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. The flavor gets even better overnight
Freezer
- Let the chili cool completely then freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating
Reheating
- Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat stirring occasionally or microwave in 60-second intervals until warmed through
Frequently Asked Questions
Kidney beans are our favorite but chili beans, pinto beans, or black beans all work great.
Yes! Drain and rinse before adding to remove excess sodium and improve the overall flavor.
Yes! This recipe doubles and triples easily and the leftovers freeze beautifully for up to 3 months.
More Easy Chili Recipe
This Easy Chili Recipe has been our game day staple for years. If you make it leave a star rating and a comment below. I love hearing what toppings your family loaded on and whether your crowd went back for seconds the way mine always does!
Easy Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 cans diced tomatoes (14 ounces each)
- 1 can tomato sauce (14 ounces)
- 2 cups water
- 4 tablespoons chili seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ onion chopped
- 2 can Kidney Beans (drained and rinsed)
- shredded cheese or sour cream (for serving, optional)
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, brown your ground beef and drain off any excess grease.
- Add in the ½ onion and sauté until the onions are soft.
- Stir in 4 tablespoons chili seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, two 14-ounce cans diced tomatoes, one 14-ounce can tomato sauce, 2 cups water, and two cans kidney beans (drained and rinsed).
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 30-60 minutes (stirring occasionally).
- Serve warm with shredded cheese or sour cream if desired.
This is the first time I made this chili. It was so easy to ma m e and delicious. I,will definitely make it again.
Thank you so much for sharing and for the positive review! I’m so glad you enjoyed this chili recipe!
Made this just for me and I was not disappointed,
Jenny – Thanks for the lovely review! I’m so glad this recipe was a success for you.
can you give crockpot instructions for this chili?
I love this recipe!!! I eat it often and recently I addd a bag of frozen corn in just because I needed to use it and it’s so good!! Highly recommend this chili
Will – Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe and I’m glad to hear that the addition of the corn was delicious. Thank you so much for the positive review!
Absoultely fantastic I love eating 6 sevreings of chile
This chilli recipe is easy peasy and so good! I chose to make the homemade chilli seasoning and I’m glad I did!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Mary! Thank you for the positive review!
I’ve made this recipe several times over the years and it’s always a pleaser.
Woohoo! I love hearing that – Thank you for sharing Casey!
I love this recipe. It’s basic, it’s easy and it’s delicious. I’ll definitely use it over and over.
I’m so glad you enjoy it David! Thank you for sharing!
This sounds great. How can this recipe be adapted to the crockpot?
Yes, we have a delicious crock pot chili recipe too!
These recipes ate easy and awesome!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Sheryl! Thank you so much for sharing!
This is very good! I will definitely cook this again. I added not only 1 can of kidney beans, I had added 1 can of Mexican pinto beans. And I did not have a tomato sauce but I added a can of tomato paste and added more water and it turned out delicious!
Everyone loves this chili recipe! We think it’s the best chili ever.
Made this for dinner family loved it and so easy to make will definitely make again
Quick and easy to make. Doubled the beans with both black and kidney and it was delicious.
What size cans of diced or crushed tomatoes? 14 oz or 28 oz?
I used 14 oz cans for this recipe. Thank you!
What size cans of diced or crushed tomatoes? 14 oz or 28 oz?
Very easy and really good!! My 11 and 12 year olds loved it and they don’t like beans and one doesn’t like tomatoes lol. Used Fritos, sour cream and cheese to top it. Making it for the second text tonight per the request of the kids!! Thank you for a great recipe.
Made this for dinner. My children loved it 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
So easy and delicious!!!