Ingredients for Homemade Chili
There are so many ways to make homemade chili, but here’s what you’ll need to make our classic beef chili:
Aromatics: Onion and garlic create the base layer of flavor for this pot of classic chili. Feel free to add double or even triple the garlic if you’re a garlic lover!!
Ground Beef: I love a slightly higher fat content beef for chili because it makes the pot extra rich and it’s more affordable than lean ground beef, but feel free to use the type of ground beef that you like the best.
Beans: We use a combination of kidney beans and black beans in our chili for a little extra color and texture in the pot, but you can also experiment with adding pinto beans!
Diced Tomatoes: Diced canned tomatoes (with their juices) add more flavor and texture to the chili. If you don’t like chunks of tomato, you can substitute with crushed tomatoes, which have a much finer texture.
Tomato Paste: Tomato paste really helps thicken the chili and gives it a super rich tomato flavor, which is the perfect backdrop for all of the chili spices.
Chili Seasoning: We use our homemade blend of chili seasoning, which includes chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Brown Sugar: This is the secret ingredient that helps balance the adicity of the tomatoes and heat from the chili seasoning. A little goes a long way to help balance the flavors without making the chili taste sweet.
How Long Should You Cook Chili?
Chili is one of those dishes that tastes better the longer it cooks (to a point). You’ll want to let this chili simmer for a minimum of 30 minutes, but it’s something that you can leave simmering gently for up to a couple of hours. If you do plan to let your chili simmer for a longer period of time, make sure to put a lid on it so it doesn’t dry out. Check it occasionally to see if it is becoming dry, and if so, add a little water.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.32)
1 yellow onion ($0.49)
2 cloves garlic ($0.32)
1 lb. ground beef ($4.79)
1 15oz. can kidney beans ($1.09)
1 15oz. can black beans ($0.89)
1 15oz. can diced tomatoes ($0.50)
1 6oz. can tomato paste ($0.55)
1 cup water ($0.00)
Chili Seasoning
1 Tbsp chili powder** ($0.30)
1 tsp ground cumin ($0.10)
1/4 tsp cayenne powder ($0.02)
1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
1/2 tsp onion powder ($0.03)
1/2 Tbsp brown sugar ($0.02)
1 tsp salt ($0.05)
1/2 tsp Freshly cracked black pepper ($0.03)
Instructions
Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add both to a large pot with the olive oil and cook over medium heat until they are soft and translucent.
Add the ground beef to the pot and continue to sauté until the beef is fully browned.
Drain the beans and add them to the pot along with the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 cup water, and all of the ingredients for the chili seasoning. Stir until well combined.
Place a lid on the pot and allow it to simmer over a low flame for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally (the flavor gets better the longer it simmers).
Give the chili one final taste, adjust the salt or seasonings if needed, then serve hot with your favorite toppings.
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