Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (2024)

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With this Quick Chili Recipe, you and your family can enjoy chili in less than 30 minutes! I love making this recipe for a quick weeknight meal on a chilly Fall or Winter evening.

Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (1)

This quick chili recipe is simple to make and packed with flavor!

We call this the BEST chili recipe because well…. it is amazing. This easy quick chili recipe is super simple, but we love it. You don’t need any crazy ingredients for an amazing chili and this recipe proves exactly that.

First you want to start with our homemade chili seasoning. Skip the packets and make this instead! I promise you will love the flavor and you will be so happy that you can pronounce all the ingredients.

You might also like Crockpot Creamy Chicken Taco Soup Recipe for a delicious twist on classic chili recipe! It’s so good!

Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (2)

What ingredients for quick chili do you need?

  • 2 pounds of ground beef or turkey
  • 2 cans of diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (14 oz) of tomato sauce
  • 1 can of water (might need two if you want it thinner)
  • 4 tablespoons of chili seasoning (you can make your own -recipe to come- or use a half of a packet of chili powder)
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic salt
  • ½ onion chopped (can be frozen)
  • 2 cans of kidney beans (you can use yours from the freezer) -if you use beans from the freezer, you will need to add salt (canned beans have a ton of salt)
  • shredded cheese or sour cream to serve (optional)
Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (3)

How to make chili fast?

In a large stock pot, brown your ground beef or ground turkey over medium high heat until no longer pink.

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.

Then add in the ½ onion and continue until they are soft. Next stir in the remaining ingredients.

Then bring to a boil on medium high heat.

Next turn to low, add the lid and let simmer (stirring occasionally).

Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (4)

How long should you cook this fast chili recipe?

Allow the chili to simmer for 30 minutes up to an hour to let all the flavors combine. I prefer for a minimum of 30 minutes for the flavors to marinate together. It takes amazing and is ready in half an hour!

Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (5)

What to serve with Chili

I love serving this recipe with sour cream, shredded cheese, Fritos, Saltines, or our Homemade cornbread recipe or our Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe.

Check out our What to Serve with Chili post for more ideas.

You can easily double or triple this easy chili recipe.

We double and triple it all the time. It is great to make for a crowd and the leftovers freeze great for a quick and easy dinner for your family.

Variation ideas:

This quick and easy homemade chili recipe is very versatile and you can easily change it up to make it work for your family.

The easiest way to change up this recipe is to use your favorite type of beans instead of kidney beans. I have made this recipe with pinto beans and black beans and both were delicious!

Use your favorite type of beans and it’ll bring that flavor to this chili recipe.

Also, if you like spicy foods, I recommend that you add 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to this chili recipe and it’ll add a little heat to this recipe.

How to Freeze Chili

Freezing Chili is very easy. Check out Can You Freeze Chili for more tips and tricks.

Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (7)

Print this easy chili recipe:

Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (8)

Review

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Easy Quick Chili Recipe

4.92 from 59 votes

Make this easy quick chili recipe. We call it the amazing chili, because it is that good. Make this easy chili recipe with beans or without beans.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings 6

Cuisine American

Course Main Course

Calories 562

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef or turkey
  • 2 cans diced or crushed tomatoes 14 oz cans
  • (1) 14 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 can water (might need two if you want it thinner)
  • 4 tablespoons chili seasoning (you can make your own -recipe to come- or use a half of a packet)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/2 onion chopped (can be frozen)
  • 2 cans of kidney beans (you can use yours from the freezer -if you use beans from the freezer, you will need to ad salt (canned beans have a ton of salt))
  • shredded cheese or sour cream to serve (optional)

Instructions

  • In a large stock pot, brown your ground beef or ground turkey. 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.

  • Add in the ½ onion and continue until they are soft.

  • Stir in the chili seasoning, tomatoes, water, and beans.

  • Bring to a boil.

  • Then turn to low, add the lid and let simmer (stirring occasionally).

  • Simmer for 30 minutes up to an hour to let all the flavors combine.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

This recipe is a crowd pleaser! You can easily double or tripe this recipe to feed how many ever you have coming over.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 562kcal, Carbohydrates 34g, Protein 36g, Fat 31g, Saturated Fat 11g, Cholesterol 107mg, Sodium 1421mg, Potassium 1397mg, Fiber 12g, Sugar 9g, Vitamin A 2745IU, Vitamin C 19.2mg, Calcium 135mg, Iron 7.8mg

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Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (9)

If you love cornbread as much as I do, you have to try thisHomemade Cornbread Mix Recipe.

Try these other easy chili recipes:

  • Crockpot Chili Recipe
  • Crock Pot Pumpkin Chili Recipe
  • Crock Pot Chipotle Chili Recipe
  • Copycat Wendy’s Chili Recipe
  • Slow Cooker Vegetable and Beef Chili Recipe
  • One Pot Tex-Mex Chicken Chili
  • Cincinnati Chili Recipe
Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (10)

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About the Author

Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (19)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Quick and Easy Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making good chili? ›

Rumi Spice's top tips for making chili:
  1. Brown the Meat.
  2. Don't Forget Vegetables.
  3. Elevate with Extra Flavor.
  4. Only Add Flavorful Liquids.
  5. Opt for Dried Beans.
  6. Season Early and Often.
  7. Add Some Acidity at the End.
  8. Top It Off.

What are the ingredients in chili? ›

Chili, also referred to as chili con carne is a hearty beef stew made with spices, peppers, meat, tomatoes, and beans (in some cases). Most homemade chili recipes are made up of the same basic ingredients like ground beef, onion, spices, beans, and some type of tomato product.

How many hours should you cook chili? ›

How long should you cook chili? 8 hours on low heat yields the best results. Of course, if you're pressed for time, 5-6 hours on high heat works too, but the meat won't be as tender.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What gives chili the most flavor? ›

Here are some of the most common (and most effective) flavor boosters to add to your chili recipe.
  • Fish Sauce. ...
  • Worcestershire Sauce. ...
  • Coffee or Espresso Powder. ...
  • Chocolate. ...
  • Sweet Spices. ...
  • Peanut Butter. ...
  • Molasses. ...
  • Marmite or Vegemite.
Aug 23, 2021

What is classic chili made of? ›

INGREDIENTS
  1. GROUND BEEF – I love using organic lean ground beef but any beef will do. ...
  2. YELLOW ONION – These are a little sweeter than a white onion.
  3. DICED CELERY – This is the best secret ingredient that makes this taste like homestyle chili.
  4. PINTO BEANS.
  5. RED KIDNEY BEANS – You can use any kind of beans, light or dark.
Oct 26, 2022

What is traditional chili made of? ›

As purists would have it, traditional red (chili con carne) hasn't changed much over the years. It still consists of meat, red chili peppers, and spices—no beans, rice, pasta, or other fillers, aside from vegetables, according to ICS criteria.

Is tomato paste necessary for chili? ›

Tomato sauce is not a strong a taste as tomato paste. Also, sauce will increase the liquid content of your chili ever so slightly. Tomato paste has a more full, rich, tomato taste and smell. Using either one is appropriate, but you will need to tweak your seasonings to suit your personal tastes, anyway.

Why do you put butter in chili? ›

Butter smooths out the bitterness and adds its unique richness, making you take another bite without quite knowing why. A dash of sugar and vinegar gives a sweet-sour flavor that also makes the sauce rounder and more satisfying.

What is chili magic? ›

Where there's chipotle smoke, there's chili fire. Bush's® Chili Magic® Campfire Style brings tender pintos together with smoky chipotle and green bell peppers for quick, unforgettable chili any night of the week.​

Does Wendy's put sugar in their chili? ›

Chili Concentrate: Chili Sauce (Water, Tomato Juice, Tomatoes, Calcium Chloride, Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Corn Starch, Dried Chilies, Spices, Flavor Enhancer [Dextrose, Salt, Yeast Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Modified Corn Starch], Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Xanthan gum), Beans (Pink Beans, Red ...

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

Do you drain beans for chili? ›

However, canned beans are soaked in a canning liquid that can throw off your dish's seasoning and texture, so it's best to drain and rinse your beans before pouring them into your pot of chili. Canning liquid can also water down and dilute the flavors of your chili.

Which beans go in chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

Why do you put brown sugar in chili? ›

The brown sugar gave it a sweet/tangy flavor that reminded me of BBQ-sauce! Th chili was so good - it was hard to stop eating it! I did had some extra veggies (1 cl. garlic, 1 celery stalk, 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, 1 hot pepper) and used a can of diced tomatoes rather than tomato juice.

How does Martha Stewart make chili? ›

Add chili powder, cocoa, and tomato paste; cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes more. Add tomatoes, broth, and cooked beef. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, until thickened slightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; serve with sour cream and chives.

Why would you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

Should you simmer chili covered or uncovered? ›

Chili can be cooked uncovered or covered, but both are preferable. Chili cooked uncovered will thicken and reduce in liquid, making it a more hearty dish. When covering your chili, you will keep the heat in and prevent it from boiling over.

References

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