4.60 from 5 votes

The Best Chili Recipe

My family says this is the BEST chili recipe ever! It’s hearty, comforting and flavorful. Made with ground beef, veggies, kidney beans and spices.

Chili in a pot with a ladle.


I remember coming home from school when I was a kid and my mom having a big pot of chili cooking on the stove. I was a picky kid, but I loved her chili. Give me a piece of buttered bread to dip in and I was a happy kid.

Chili is one of those meals that brings comfort. Everyone has a different way to make it even though the recipes are often similar. Some use different beans and types of meats. I typically use ground beef, but I have made it before with ground chicken and ground turkey.

This chili recipe is well-loved in my home. My fiancé’s parents often come over for dinner and they always enjoy it. His mom said it was “thick and delicious”. I like my chili nice and thick and not runny like a soup!

Ingredients

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    So what’s in the “best chili ever” (in my opinion, of course!)…check out the ingredients.

    • Lean ground beef
    • Onions
    • Green peppers (see my tips on how to easily cut a bell pepper)
    • Red peppers
    • Sliced mushrooms
    • Crushed tomatoes 
    • Red kidney beans
    • Red wine vinegar
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Chili powder 
    Ingredients to make chili.

    I got the idea for adding red wine vinegar to my chili recipe after trying out Presidential Chili, President Obama’s family recipe. I really love the flavor it adds!

    This recipe has six tablespoonfuls of chili powder so it does have a bit of a kick to it. You could reduce the amount if you think that might be too strong for you. Matty doesn’t like spicy foods and found it to be ok for him though.

    How to Make

    • Step One: Add ground beef, onions, green pepper and red pepper to a large pot. Cook over medium heat until the ground beef is cooked and vegetables are softened.
    Steps to make chili.
    • Step Two: Add the rest of the ingredients (minus the garnishes) to the pot. Stir to combine. Cover.
    • Step Three: Reduce heat to a simmer on low heat. Cook for 1 hour.
    • Step Four: Ladle into bowls and top with sour cream and cheese, if you like.
    Steps to make chili.
    Chili in a pot with a ladle.

    Chili Garnish Ideas

    Eating plain works, but sometimes you want to snazz up your chili a bit.

    • Sour cream
    • Shredded cheddar cheese
    • Corn chips
    • Chopped avocado
    • Crushed tortilla chips
    • Sliced green onions

    Helpful Kitchen Tools

    These kitchen tools will help you make this recipe.

    This post contains affiliate links.

    Chili in a pot with a ladle.

    What goes well with chili for dinner

    Can you freeze chili

    Yes! Chili freezes really well. Store it in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. I love making extra batches to freeze so we can enjoy it for a few dinners over the coming months.

    Chili in a bowl with toppings.

    Homemade Chili Recipes

    Try my other chili recipes:

    Chili in a bowl with toppings.

    What is your favorite homemade chili recipe?

    4.60 from 5 votes

    The Best Chili Recipe

    Created by Stacie Vaughan
    Servings 8
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
    My family says this is the BEST chili recipe ever! It's hearty, comforting and flavorful. Made with ground beef, veggies, kidney beans and spices.

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 ½ lb lean ground beef
    • 1 yellow onion diced
    • 1 green pepper diced
    • 1 red pepper diced
    • 1 can sliced mushrooms 8oz can, drained
    • 2 cans crushed tomatoes 28oz cans
    • 1 can red kidney beans 16oz can, drained and rinsed
    • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp pepper
    • 6 tbsp chili powder
    • Sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese for garnish, if desired

    Instructions

    • Add ground beef, onions, green pepper and red pepper to a large pot. Cook over medium heat until the ground beef is cooked and vegetables are softened.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients (minus the garnishes) to the pot. Stir to combine. Cover.
    • Reduce heat to a simmer on low heat. Cook for 1 hour.
    • Ladle into bowls and top with sour cream and cheese, if you like.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 494mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Course Soups
    Cuisine American
    Keyword chili, The Best Chili Recipe

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