Easy Chili Recipe in 30 Min
We love a good bowl of chili. But for us, the best beef chili recipe is one that is simple and un-fussy. When the cravings are strong, this easy chili recipe in 30 minutes is satisfying and hearty. Chili doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be flavorful and yummy.
Easy Chili Recipe
When we talk about making a simple chili it’s all about using ingredients that are readily available. Our un-fussy easy chili recipe in 30 minutes does just that. It’s ready to eat from start to finish cooking time. Now if you slow in chopping onions or garlic, you might need to add another few minutes of prep time. Other than that, all the magic happens in one pot with ingredients that you should have in your pantry.
Different Ground Meats for Chili: Beef, Chicken, Turkey
We’ve made this simple recipe for chili using ground beef for so long. But lately, we’ve been exploring other ground meat options. For a healthier and lower calorie attempt, we’ve made this with ground chicken and on another occasion with ground turkey. They both turned out great! We didn’t miss out on too much flavor because there’s enough seasonings to give the savory flavor. So if you’re a fan chicken or turkey, make a batch of chili chili or turkey chili. You’ll be happy with the results.
Video: Easy Chili Recipe
Tips on Making The Best Chili
- For a classic beef version, using lean ground beef like 90% will be less fatty but you’ll still have flavor. Our spice combination adds great flavor even if you’re using lean beef. Some folks like using a higher fat content beef for flavor so that still is great too. Use what ever percentage you like.
- Don’t skimp out on the spices. This is what gives the chili tons of flavor. We love lots of flavor.
- Add extra chopped veggies to make it more vegetable friendly. Chopped bell peppers, carrots, celery, corn, and kale are great add-ons.
- If you like your chili to be spicy, add about 1/4 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper. Taste the chili and add more if you like.
- For a more intense tomato flavor, add a couple tablespoons of tomato paste.
- What about the beans? If you don’t like beans, leave them out. We do like some beans in our chili.
- All easy chili recipe details are in the recipe box below.
Easy 30 minute Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb. (454 g) lean ground beef (85-90% lean) (or whatever ground meat you like – chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, etc.
- 1 Tablespoon (14.79 ml) olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion , diced
- 4 cloves (4 cloves) garlic , minced or crushed
- 30 ounces (850 g) tomato sauce , (two 15oz. cans or @ 4 cups) crushed, diced or regular depending on what texture you want
- 15 ounces (425.24 g) canned beans (black, pinto, cannellini, etc…), drained and rinsed
- 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) chili powder
- 2 teaspoons (9.86 ml) ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) dried oregano leaves , or chopped fresh oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) Kosher salt , or to taste
- fresh cracked black pepper
Optional Toppings:
- grated cheese
- sour cream
- diced red onions
- sliced green onions
Instructions
- Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and after the oil is heated, stir in the ground meat.
- Sauté the meat until browned, about 3 minutes, breaking it up into small chunks as you cook.
- Stir in the onion and garlic. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or until onions are softened.
- Mix in the tomato sauce, beans, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat to maintain a simmer.
- Simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste for seasoning and add more salt, pepper, or other seasonings if desired.
- Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Video
Nutrition Information per Serving
What are some good chili topping ideas?
We LOVE toppings! When it comes to finishing off a bowl of chili, it’s always about the toppings. Here’s some classic and interesting ideas to add to the top of your bowl.
- sour creme or creme fraiche
- shredded cheddar cheese. we love the flavors of sharp cheddar.
- minced white onions, green onions, red onions or even pickled onions
- chunks of creamy avocado
- drizzle of crispy homemade chili onion crunch
- potato chips or your favorite crackers all crushed and placed on top
- here’s the interesting history of chili
Different Ways to Serve this Easy Chili Recipe
Simple chili in a bowl with your favorite toppings is always comforting. Add a crusty slice of bread or crackers on the side and it’s a complete meal. But if you’re looking for alternative ways to serve this classic dish, here’s some delicious ideas:
- On pasta! Choose any type of pasta that you like. Even a simple chili spaghetti is great.
- Add a few big spoonfuls to hot dogs and make chili cheese dogs.
- Loaded chili cheese fries are always a favorite.
- With cornbread. A classic for a reason, it is delicious!
- On baked potatoes!
- Chili nachos anyone? This is fantastic and a great game day appetizer dish to share.
- Add it to hamburger buns or soft bread loaves and make a loose meat sandwich like a sloppy joe. But this time, it’s a chili “sloppy joe”
- If you have leftovers and want a quick meal or snack, chili cheese quesadillas are fantastic.
We tried this out today and it came out really great. It’s was such a great tasting chili that didn’t take long to do.
A fantastic recipe that everyone we knew really enjoyed! It was super simple and way better than any chili i’ve had at restaurants.
Thanks for this chili recipe. It’s so good.