Easy Chili Recipe

This easy chili recipe is a classic comfort food perfect for a cold winter! It’s a hearty, flavorful dish made with beans, ground meat, and a variety of spices, and it’s typically served with toppings like cheese, sour cream, green onions, and chopped cilantro.

Chili is also a versatile dish; it can be made with meat such as ground beef, chicken, or turkey or be a vegetarian by adding tofu.

Is Chili Healthy?

One of the main benefits of chili is that it’s a good source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, zinc, and vitamin B.

Chili can be a healthy dish, depending on how it is prepared! That depends on the type of meat used and the amount of added toppings.

To make chili a healthier choice, you can try using leaner cuts of meat, such as ground turkey or chicken, and limiting the amount of added toppings like cheese and sour cream. You can also add more vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, and corn, to increase the nutrient content of the dish.

Easy Chili Recipe Ingredients:

There are many different ways to make chili, but one of the most classic versions is made with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and a blend of chili spices.

• Ground Beef: I used a (90/10) meat-to-fat ratio. However, you may use ground chicken, turkey, or tofu.
• Onions: adds taste and are a good source of vitamins.
• Tomatoes: Add a thick and creamy texture to the chili; I used three different kinds of tomatoes; fresh diced tomatoes, a can of crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste.
• Beans: I used black beans; however, you can use kidney or pinto beans.
• Broth: chicken, beef, or vegetable broth.
• Extra virgin olive oil.
• Chili powder, ground cumin, and paprika: for seasoning.
• Sugar: To offset the acidity of the tomatoes.
• Salt and Black pepper to taste.
• Cayenne pepper (Optional): for some heat.
• Garnish: Shredded cheddar cheese and chopped cilantro

How to Make this Classic Chili Recipe?

1. Brown the ground beef. Start by heating the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, and cook the diced onions for 5 minutes until soft. Add the ground beef and brown it until cooked through.
2. Season the beef with spices. Add the salt, black pepper, chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper (Optional). Stir until well combined.
3. Add the Beans. Rinse and drain the beans.
4. Add the Tomatoes and Sugar. Add the fresh diced tomatoes, a can of crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste.
5. Add the broth and Simmer. Add the broth, boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low and let the chili simmer for at least 30 minutes, or until it has thickened, and the flavors have combined.
6. Serve. Remove from heat and let the chili rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve the chili hot, topped with your favorite toppings like cheese, sour cream, green onions, and chopped cilantro. Serve it with a side of cornbread.

Important Tips:

• What is chili powder? Chili powder is a blend of dried and ground chili peppers as the base ingredient, as well as other spices such as cumin, garlic powder, oregano and paprika.(1)
• Adding the cayenne pepper is always optional.
• Feel free to add any kind of vegetables such as green bell pepper, zucchini, carrots or corn to give the dish more nutrition value.
• It is important to add the sugar in this recipe, as it helps offset the acidity of all kind of tomatoes used.

How To Serve?

It’s delicious on its own, but you can top and serve it with:

Topping: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, and chopped cilantro.

Sides: cornbread, pasta, rice, baked potatoes, or nachos.

Storing and Reheating:

• Storage: Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
• Freeze: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. 
• Reheat: Rewarm in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave.

For More Delicious Recipes:

Easy Meatball Vermicelli Soup

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

Creamy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Creamy Four-Cheese Mac And Cheese