Stovetop Chili Recipe (2024)

Stovetop Chili is an award winning recipe that everyone will be clamouring for. It’s thick, spicy and loaded with hearty goodness.

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This stovetop chili recipe is perfect for any occasion. Whether a potluck, family dinner or a game day treat, this chili will be the hit of the day. Filled with so much flavor and hearty goodness.

If you are a fan of Mexican inspired dishes, check out this link.

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What We Love About The Best Chili on Earth Recipe

Easy chili recipe on the stove is so quick but never lacks in incredible seasoning and flavor impact.

40 Minute Meal: This classic chili recipe is 10 minutes or prep and only takes thirty to cook.
Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge.
Family Friendly: You can add spices and toppings to make it family friendly.
Adaptable: Can make it low-carb or dairy free, etc…
Makes Great Leftovers: Use this chili to top a baked potato, rice or salad the next day.

Ingredient Notes for Best Chili Recipe

Ground Beef: Ground Turkey or Ground Chicken all work well.
House Seasoning blend: Find the recipe here.
Chili Seasoning Mix: Store bought is fine or make this recipe, it is the perfect blend of cumin, chili powder etc.
Brown Sugar: A secret ingredient to add a little sweet to balance the spice.
Chili in Adobo
Butternut Squash: diced
Kidney Beans and Black Beans: Two of the best beans for chili.

Equipment Needed for Stovetop Chili

Dutch Oven
Measuring Spoons

How to Make Butternut Squash Chili

These are the basic steps for makingEasy Chili Con Carne Recipe.Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and nutrition information.

STEP 1: BRIEF INSTRUCTION

First, in a large pot, add ground beef, onion, bell pepper, garlic and House Seasoning blend and cook over medium high heat until meat is no longer pink and then drain excess fat from meat.

STEP 2: BRIEF INSTRUCTION

Next, stir chili seasoning mix, brown sugar, chili in adobo and flour into meat mixture; Cook for 2 minutes and then add crushed tomatoes, squash, kidney beans, black beans and corn; Stir until combined.

STEP 3: BRIEF INSTRUCTION

Finally, reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until squash is fork-tender. Lastly, serve with your favorite chili toppings such as cornbread, tortilla chips, avocado, shredded cheddar cheese or cilantro.

Prep and Storage Tips Bean Chilli Con Carne

HOW TO MAKE THIS GROUND BEEF CHILI RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME

Cook the chili beef ahead of time and keep in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator and precut all of your toppings.

HOW TO STORE THIS BEAN CHILLI RECIPE

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container or bag.

HOW TO FREEZE THIS EASY QUICK CHILI RECIPE

Chili freezes well, store any leftover chili in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

HOW TO REHEAT THIS CHILI MIX RECIPE

Warm on the stovetop in a pot on the stove or microwave. If too thick add a little beef broth to thin it out.

Frequently Asked Questions about this Quick Chili Recipe

HOW TO MAKE THIS STOVETOP CHILI RECIPE HEALTHIER?

Truly this is a very healthy recipe, however you can use ground turkey and low fat cheese as toppings to make healthier.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE DIFFERENT SEASONINGS?

Of course, add a little cayenne pepper or your favorite hot sauce.

CAN THIS STOVETOP CHILI RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

Indeed, adjust the recipe card below to make the chili recipe how you want.

WHAT MAKES GREAT SPICY CHILI?

Chili shines when all the flavors have a chance to meld and combine and come together. Salt, paprika, oregano etc all enhance the flavor of the chili.

Expert Tips for Making This Award Winning Chili Recipe

Add different Beans: Pinto beans make a great addition to this chili.
Short cut tip: Make this chili in the crockpot. Crockpot Chili cooks this recipe low and slow and that is always a good.
Variation tip: Serve this chili over rice or beans for even a heartier meal.
Alternate ingredient: Sweet potatoes, white potatoes can replace the squash.
Dietary consideration tip: Replace sour cream with greek yogurt and use a low fat or fat free cheese as toppings for stovetop Chili.
Bread Bowl: Instead of a regular bowl, serve the Chili in Bread Bowls to make a delicious meal.

What to Serve with Stovetop Chili

Cilantro Lime Rice
Air Fryer Garlic Breadsticks
Cheddar Bay Biscuit

Did you try this recipe?
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4.98 from 40 votes

Stovetop Chili

Yield: 8 servings

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 30 minutes minutes

Total: 40 minutes minutes

Stovetop Chili is an award winning recipe that everyone will be clamouring for. It’s thick, spicy and loaded with hearty goodness.

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Equipment

Ingredients

▢ 1 ½ pounds ground beef
▢ 1 sweet onion, diced
▢ 1 bell pepper, diced
▢ 4 cloves garlic, minced
▢ 2 teaspoons House Seasoning blend
▢ 3 tablespoons Chili Seasoning Mix
▢ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
▢ 2 teaspoons chili in adobo
▢ 2 tablespoons flour
▢ 29 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 can
▢ 2 cups butternut squash, diced
▢ 15.5 oz kidney beans, 1 can
▢ 15.5 oz can black beans, 1 can
▢ 15.25 oz can corn, 1 can

Instructions

In a large pot, add ground beef, onion, bell pepper, garlic and House Seasoning blend and cook over medium high heat until meat is no longer pink.
Drain excess fat from meat.
Stir chili seasoning mix, brown sugar, chili in adobo and flour into meat mixture; Cook for 2 minutes.
Add crushed tomatoes, squash, kidney beans, black beans and corn; Stir until combined.
Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook for 30 minutes or until squash is fork-tender.
Serve with your favorite chili toppings.

Expert Tips

Add different Beans: Pinto beans make a great addition to this chili.
Short cut tip: Make this chili in the crockpot. Crockpot Chili cooks this recipe low and slow and that is always a good.
Variation tip: Serve this chili over rice or beans for even a heartier meal.
Alternate ingredient: Sweet potatoes, white potatoes can replace the squash.
Dietary consideration tip: Replace sour cream with greek yogurt and use a low fat or fat free cheese as toppings.
Bread Bowl: Instead of a regular bowl, serve the Chili in Bread Bowls to make a delicious meal.

Estimated Nutritional Information

The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!Follow Me: @ItsAKeeperBlog or tag #itisakeeper

Author: Christina Hitchco*ck

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible for the average American.I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above.I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.

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FAQs

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

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What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

Cocoa Powder

Chocolate might not be the first thing you think of when you're making a batch of chili but it pairs perfectly with peppers. Adding just a teaspoon or two of unsweetened cocoa powder like we do in our Instant Pot Chili (pictured above) will make your go-to recipe rich and flavorful.

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How long should I let chili simmer on the stove? ›

How long should you simmer chili on the stove? The chili can cook on a high simmer with the lid off for 30-45 minutes, or up to 2 hours on a low simmer with the lid on. The longer that you simmer a chili, the more flavorful it will be, because it allows the spices and seasonings to develop further.

Read On ›

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

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What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

Read On ›

Does sugar make chili taste better? ›

Now for the piece de resistance: 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar. The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy.

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Is Chilli better in crockpot or stove? ›

Chili is perhaps the ideal slow-cooker dish because its flavor improves with a long, slow simmer. This makes a big batch, perfect for a cold-weather get-together, but if you're making it for a smaller group, the leftovers freeze well.

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Does chili get better the longer you cook it? ›

A low and slow cook time—at least an hour total—is key for drawing out the most flavor in a pot of chili. Yes, a quick chili is most welcome on weeknights, but it won't have quite the same results. A slow cooker works wonders, but if you're short on time, try a pressure cooker.

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Do you simmer chili with lid on or off? ›

For quicker-cooking chili like this recipe, don't cover the pot. You want the liquid in the chili to reduce, and leaving the lid off is crucial. If you're simmering the chili for a longer time, partially cover the pot to prevent the liquid from evaporating too quickly.

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Does chili need tomato paste? ›

Tomato paste is a great way to add bonus tomato flavor, and thickness, to a chili recipe. To get the best flavor it needs to be browned. Add a couple tablespoons (or a whole can if you want a thicker soup base) directly to the pan after cooking the meat and onions.

Get More Info ›

What does adding cinnamon to chili do? ›

But it also skews sweeter with the addition of warm baking spices like allspice, nutmeg — and cinnamon. Like bagels or pizza, chili is one of those foods that fosters rabid defenses of its regional variations.

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What does paprika do for chili? ›

Think of paprika as the gentler, sweeter cousin of hot chili peppers. It enlivens your favorite dishes with fruity notes and a toasty red color without ever taking over the show.

Find Out More ›

What makes the best chili meat? ›

You can really use any meat for chili, but here are the cuts that are most popular for classic chili:

Ground beef (80/20) ...
Ground sirloin (90/10) ...
Brisket. ...
Short ribs. ...
Tri-tip sirloin. ...
Work with your butcher to get multiple textures. ...
Use multiple animals to add depth. ...
Go for grass-fed and grass-finished beef.

More items...

May 11, 2021

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Why add vinegar to chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

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How does Martha Stewart make chili? ›

Add chili powder, cocoa, and tomato paste; cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes more. Add tomatoes, broth, and cooked beef. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, until thickened slightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; serve with sour cream and chives.

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How do you make chili taste more meaty? ›

In a pot of chili, just a few strips of bacon add a smoky, meaty depth. And it's not just the bacon itself that adds flavor, it's the bacon fat, too. Before you start your recipe, cook 3 to 4 strips of thick-cut bacon until they're as crispy as you like.

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