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 onion and sauté until the onions are soft.
- Stir in the chili seasoning, garlic salt, the cans of diced tomatoes, cans of tomato sauce, water, and cans of 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.
I use different beans, I use a can of each, Red, Black and great white. Sometimes if I’m stretching the budget, I will add uncooked long grain rice after everything is done. I add 1 cup of unsalted beef broth and 1 cup of rice then cover and simmer until the rice is done. stir and serve. but that’s just me…
David – Thanks for leaving a comment and all of your tips and variations! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This is close enough to my normal recipe that i know it’s going to be fabulous!!
Tracey – Thank you so much! I appreciate you leaving a comment!
Chili recipes are the start of the Fall Weather. And I like easy, I’m definitely making this. Thank you
Vernessa – You’re very welcome! We love chili season too!
My husband has wanted me to make chili for dinner for awhile…. just couldn’t seem to find a good recipe till I tried your Easy Chili recipe!!! I love how easy it was to make and now he wants me to make this recipe every week!!!
Thank you for sharing so many easy and delicious recipes!!!!!????
Linda – You made our day! Thank you for your kind comment and feedback. Have a wonderful day!
How about avocado as topping
Susan – That’s a yummy idea!
My family loves chili beans and I love a good quick recipe. Can’t wait to try these.
I am a Vikings fan and last weekend they played their arch rivals the Green Bay Packers. I make this Chili and it went over well. I made corn bread and had several toppings they could choose toas they wished. Thank you for this recipe.
Diane – You’re so welcome! Love that for Game Day!
This seems very easy! I agree chili tastes better the next day, but with all the yummy smells while cooking, it would be hard not to eat it the same day! Looking forward to making this soon!
Deborah – Thanks so much. I hope you enjoy!
Quick, easy, and good. I split the pot and add jalapeños to half to add a kick for those who want it.
Ooh yes! I love how easy this looks to make!
Patti – It is super easy! I’m excited you plan to try it.
We love Eating On A Dime recipes!!! We love chili!!! Thanks for helping us make dinner delicious!!!
Susie – Thank you SO much. I’m so glad we have become part of dinner time. It truly means a lot!
Super easy and super yummy!
Looking forward to making this, we love chili in this household. I just had surgery recently and this will be the perfect start to get back to cooking!!
This looks like a hearty easy chili to make!,
Susan – Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy it.
My family and I love this chili! I love how it’s so easy to make and doesn’t take long at all to cook!
Brooke – That’s wonderful to hear. Thank you so much for sharing.
This is really good and easy. I put black beans, pinto beans and red kidney beans in mine.
Very good, and we do put cheese on each bowl.
Gwen – Thank you so much! Your feedback means so much!
Looks like a winner and chili season is here!
Cher – Thanks so much! Love chili season too!
Great recipe, fast, easy, delicious! I love all the variations too.
Tammie – Thank you so much. I’m glad the variations were helpful.
I just love chilli !!! Know matter what kind it is. Look forward to this week of chilli. Yummy.
This chili is wonderful. I did use pinto beans as that is our family favorite bean. The homemade chili seasoning is a winner also! I will make this again and again. We did have some leftovers which I reheated the next day for lunch and the chili was even better! This is an all-time favorite chili recipe from now on.
Brenda – Thank you so much for your feedback and comment. It means so much and I’m glad it’s now part of your rotation.
Very yummy recipe. Love it, so do all my friends and family.????????
Not sure why all the question marks are in this .. sorry
Looks so easy and delicious!! Love the option to make your own seasoning. ??
Susan – Thanks so much! I appreciate your comment!
I will try this recipe for my family when the weather is cooler because they enjoy chili. I enjoy your chicken chili but for the family I am going to make this one.
Will certainly give this recipe a try later in the fall. Thanks
You’re welcome! This chili is perfect for a cool fall evening. I hope you enjoy it!
i made this with ground turkey and bush’s chili beans and left out the onion since my family fusses about onion in almost anything. we ate it with corn chips, sour cream, shredded cheese and jalapenos. quick, easy and definitely a keeper.
I am going to make this. Looks easy and delicious!
I love your easy-to-follow recipes and I am anxious to try this one. The homemade seasoning makes this especially interesting. (Your corn on the cob is my go-to for several years now)
Thanks!
Thank you, Lori! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the corn on the cob recipe. I hope you love this chili just as much!
I love how simple this recipe is!
Thank you, Taylor! Simple and delicious recipes are always my favorite!
Love Chili, can’t wait to try this quick and easy recipe.
I just bought ingredients today to make chili and I’ve been looking for an easy, delicious recipe! This one looks like it checks all the boxes! Thanks!!
I will have to try this recipe, hubby loves chili lol. I will use my home grown tomatoes too. ?
I hope you and your husband love it! Homegrown tomatoes would be delicious in this chili.
This is the 2nd time I used this recipe. This is my go to recipe when I want to eat chili. Will definitely make it again.
Mary – Wahoo! I’m so glad you made it again and loved it!
This is the second time I used this recipe. It is delicious and easy to make. Will definitely make again.
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!!!