Chili is such a polarizing dish.
Popular? Yes. But everyone has strong opinions as to what makes the best chili….
Beans or no beans? Tomato or no tomato? Spicy or mild?
And that’s just the beginning…
But at the end of the day, debates aside, chili is one of my favorite ways to serve a crowd, especially when time is short.
It’s easy to get paralyzed by the myriad of possible chili ingredients. But over the years I’ve perfected this simple recipe that uses the simplest of ingredients, and it’s a hit every time.
It’s taken me a while to write it down since I usually adjust it depending on what I have in my pantry (you might remember that this is the same reason why it took so long for me to share my Home-Canned Tomato Sauce recipe)…
So please consider the following list of ingredients for my chili as more of a “suggestion” than a rule.
Love Soups and Stews? Check out my other favorites:
- Rustic Sausage Potato Soup
- Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup
- Healthy Cheeseburger Soup Recipe
- Best French Onion Soup Recipe
- Creamy Tomato Garlic Soup
Simple Crowd Pleasing Chili Recipe
- 2 lbs ground beef (Need a good source of grass-finished beef? We can help!)
- 4-5 cups cooked pinto or black beans (see notes)
- 2-3 cups of tomato sauce (see notes)
- 2-3 cups of water or broth (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes or cayenne for spice
Instructions:
- Brown the ground beef, drain the fat.
- Combine all of the ingredients in either a slow cooker or a large pot.
- Cook on low for a few hours, stirring occasionally. Taste as it simmers and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings (we love sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese).
- I cook my beans ahead of time in my instant pot.
- I usually use homemade broth (here’s my tutorial) if I have it on hand. It will affect the saltiness, so be careful adding additional salt later.
- I usually use my home canned tomato sauce, but store-bought is fine.
Simple Crowd-Pleasing Chili
A simple and versatile chili recipe that will please your whole family.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 4–5 cups cooked pinto or black beans (see notes)
- 2–3 cups of tomato sauce (see notes)
- 2–3 cups of water or broth (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes or cayenne for spice
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef, drain the fat.
- Combine all of the ingredients in either a slow cooker or a large pot.
- Cook on low for a few hours. Occasionally taste and adjust to your liking.
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings (we love sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese).
Notes
- I cook my beans ahead of time in my instant pot.
- I usually use homemade broth (here’s my tutorial) if I have it on hand. It will affect the saltiness, so be careful adding additional salt later.
- I usually use my home canned tomato sauce, but store-bought is fine.
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More Beef Recipes:
- Homemade Corned Beef
- Cheeseburger Salad (An Easy Winter Meal Idea)
- Homemade Beef Stock
- Slow Cooker Beef Roast with Sweet & Salty Sauce
- French Dip Sandwiches
Thank you so much for the recipe. I made it today and just came here to say that it was delicious!