Easiest Chili Of Your Life

When you need a hearty, comforting, high protein dinner that feeds the whole family, this easy homemade chili is a great option. Made with ground beef or turkey, three kinds of beans, corn, and a flavorful tomato base, it’s filling, simple to prepare, and perfect for leftovers.

This family-size chili is easy to customize with your favorite toppings and can be made ahead for busy weeknights. Serve it with cornbread, crackers, or rice for a satisfying meal everyone can enjoy.

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20–50 minutes (dep. how long you want to let it simer)
• Total Time: 30–60 minutes
• Servings: 8–10
• Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

Meat and Beans

• 2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15-ounce) can chili beans, including their sauce
• 1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained

Tomato Base and Vegetables

• 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup beef broth, chicken broth, or water (use bone broth for extra protein)

Seasonings

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, but recommended)
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar (optional)
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Optional Additions and Toppings

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Sour cream
• Sliced green onions
• Cornbread or crackers, for serving

Instructions

1. Brown the Meat

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef or turkey over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. If using diced onion and bell pepper, add them to the pot once meat is mostly browned and cook until softened. Drain excess grease if necessary.

**For extra flavor if desired, cook a slice of bacon, remove, and cook the beef in the bacon grease.

2. Add the Tomato Paste and Seasonings

Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, to bring out the flavor of the tomato paste and spices.

3. Add the Remaining Ingredients

Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth or water, kidney beans, black beans, chili beans with their sauce, and corn. Stir everything together until well combined. Add the brown sugar if desired.

4. Simmer the Chili

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Partially cover the pot and simmer for 20–45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will be, but on a busy night, serving after a 10 min. simmer will still be fine.

For thicker chili, remove the lid during the last 10–15 minutes of cooking. Add a little extra broth or water if the chili becomes thicker than you prefer.

5. Taste and Serve

Taste the chili and adjust the salt, pepper, or chili powder as needed. Ladle into bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, or green onions. Serve with cornbread, crackers, or rice.

Tips for the Best Homemade Chili

• Choose your meat: Ground beef gives the chili a richer flavor, while ground turkey is a lighter alternative.
• Keep it family-friendly: Start with 1½ tablespoons of chili