This quick and easy chili recipe is a hearty, comforting bowl of goodness that’s ready in under 30 minutes! This one-pot meal is packed with tender ground beef, hearty beans, a rich tomato base, and just the right amount of spice from our easy homemade chili seasoning. Best of all, it tastes even better the next day — if you have any leftovers!
Why We Love This Easy Chili Recipe
For a long time, the only chili recipes we could find required hours and hours of cooking time. Whether it was on the stovetop or in the slow cooker, the chili always required a slow simmer for at least 4-6 hours. But what about when you don’t have time to simmer but you still want to make a delicious and easy chili?That got us thinking, can you make an easy chili in under an hour? You sure can, and here’s what makes it so amazing:
- So Easy: This recipe goes to show that you can do a lot with just 30 minutes and a short list of ingredients. That rich flavor still develops and you’ve made it in a fraction of the time!
- Versatile: There are so many ways you can customize this recipe! Scroll down to our “Cook’s Tips & Variations” sections for some inspiration.
- One Pot: Less mess to clean up when it’s all said and done? Yes, please!
- Kid-Friendly: We have some pretty picky eaters at our dinner table. Thankfully, no one ever turns down a big bowl of this stovetop chili recipe!
Looking for more easy chili recipes? Try out these other reader favorites: hot dog chili, crockpot mexican white chili, and instant pot white chicken chili!
Key Ingredients
Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this simple easy chili recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!
- Olive Oil: Avocado oil also works well.
- Yellow Onion: White or sweet onions will also work.
- Ground Beef: We used ground sirloin 90% lean. You can also use ground turkey or even ground chicken!
- Tomato Sauce: We like to use unsalted so that we can adjust the level of salt ourselves.
- Chili Seasoning: You can use store bought or our favorite homemade chili seasoning!
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: You can add more if you like it spicy.
- Chili Beans: We love Bush’s chili beans, they add a great layer of flavor to your chili!
How to Make This Easy Chili
You’ll have dinner on the table in 30 minutes! Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions.
- Sauté the onions and garlic in a dutch oven. You want to be sure that you cook them to be soft and translucent but not browned.
- Then add the meat. Break up the meat while it cooks so that there are not any large chunks.
- Add the seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, water, and tomato sauce. And then let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Add the beans. Then simmer for an additional 10 minutes before serving.
Cook’s Tips & Variations
- Try different beans. You can use pinto, white chili beans, black beans, or kidney beans.
- Use another ground meat. You can also use leaner ground turkey or chicken and save some calories!
- Use chicken or beef stock instead of water. This will make the flavor richer.
- Add some heat. If you aren’t feeding little ones, you can add more heat by adding more chili powder, chipotle peppers, or cayenne pepper.
- Deglaze with water if needed. If you notice that the beef, onions, and/or garlic start sticking to the bottom of the pan, add a little water. When the water hits the hot pan it will help release the stuck-on pieces of food and add more flavor to the dish.
- You can thin it out. If it gets thick add a little water or beef broth, especially after storing it in the refrigerator.
- Use lean meat. The chili tends to get greasy when you use meat that has a higher fat percentage.
What to Serve with Easy Chili Recipe
- Toppings! Shredded cheese, chopped onions, sour cream, jalapeños (fresh or pickled), cilantro and sliced avocados are all great options.
- Cornbread: Classic cornbread, cheesy jiffy cornbread and sweet potato cornbread are all awesome sides.
Quick Easy Chili Recipe on Stove Top
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons chili seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 27 oz can chili beans (do not drain or rinse)
Optional Toppings:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped onions
- Sour cream
- Jalapeños
- Cilantro
- Avocado
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or large deep sided pot add oil and sauté onion for 2 minutes, add garlic and sauté 2 more minutes.
- Add ground beef and simmer over medium heat, break up any large pieces of meat (if there is a lot of grease from the meat drain it before going further).
- Add tomato sauce, chili seasoning, salt and red pepper flakes, continue simmering 20 minutes.
- Add chili beans, stir and simmer 10 more minutes.
- Serve warm with all your favorite toppings.
I made this today, and it was delish! I added a can of Rotel, both a red and a green pepper and a can of garbanzo beans.
Best chili I’ve ever made. Delicious!
Excellent recipe, really easy and great for a couple, we really enjoyed this dish, easy to customize and personalize to your liking.
I don’t see the water ingredient and I’m frustrated
Sorry Kristen, that is frustrating. Add the water when you add the tomato sauce. We will update these instructions. Thanks for letting us know.