Simple & Easy Classic Chili. This is a classic chili just like mom makes! It is a recipe that is packed with good things: ground beef, beans lots of veggies. Make it for a big, easy dinner for 2 with lunch for the next few days. Or use it as your next family meal. I love a classic chili with all the toppings on the table, everyone grabbing for more chips. A simple and easy recipe means a simple and easy blog post - so let's get into it.
Simple Ingredients
Not only is chili pretty easy to make, but it's also easy to substitute ingredients and make it your own. Instead of the homemade spice mix, grab your favorite packet for a short cut. You can use any bell pepper or even add spinach at the end of the simmering for extra veg. I love to use a good grass fed ground beef, but I have made this chili with all types of meat. It works perfectly as a turkey chili.
To make the most FLAVOR, we work in layers. Start by cooking your onions & peppers with salt. The cooked down onions add lots of flavor to the simmering liquids. Garlic & tomato paste are your next layer. The garlic cooks quickly (and this step smells amazing). Next is the ground beef and all of your seasonings. And finally: the liquids. I hope I made this sound as easy as it is. Use your favorite beans! My mom always used red kidney beans and this chili reminds me so much of chili nights at my house that I had to go with them.
When you make this simple & easy classic chili, please share your thoughts in the comments and give a rating. Or you can follow me on Instagram @quartersoulcrisis - I love connecting with you there and seeing your creations.
📖 Recipe
Simple & Easy Classic Chili
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tbs avocado or olive oil
- 2 green bell pepper , cut into ½ inch cubes
- 1 large red onion, chopped
- 3 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbs tomato paste
- 1 lb 85% ground beef or ground turkey
- 2 ½ tbs chili powder
- 1 ½ tbs ground cumin
- ½ tbs smoked paprika
- 1 tbs garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon chili flake/red pepper flake*, more if you like it spicy!
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes*
- 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz can kidney beans
- ½-1 cup beef broth, depending on how thin you like it
- 1 tbs salt
Instructions
- Prep & Cook Veggies: First chop pepper, onion & mince your garlic cloves. In a large sauce pot or dutch oven, warm the olive oil on medium heat. Add chopped onion with a pinch of salt & cook about 5 minutes until beginning to soften. Add green pepper and cook another 5 minutes. Next add minced garlic and cook about 1 minute (until fragrant & a little golden). Lower heat if things are browning too quickly. Add tomato paste and mix until everything is coated & smells yummy. if things are sticking to the pan, add a splash of beef broth to lift things & combine all the spices.
- Cook Ground Beef: Break up ground beef or turkey & add into the pot. Cook stirring often until ground beef is mostly cooked through. Add spice mix: 2 ½ tbs chili powder, 1 ½ tbs ground cumin, 1tsp oregano, ½ tbs smoked paprika, 1 tbs garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon chili flake*, ¼ teaspoon black pepper. 3 tsps kosher salt. Stir until well combined.
- Add Liquid: Next add whole peeled tomatoes. Crush with your hands or a wood spoon. Fill the emptied can with ½ cup water and swirl around to clean out can. Add to pot. Add kidney beans & beef broth. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 25-30 minutes*, stirring occasionally. Taste & adjust seasonings to your liking. If it is very tangy/acidic, add 1-1.5tbs sugar.
- Serve warm with shredded cheddar, sour cream & green onion. (extra sour cream for me!!)
Sounds yum! When you make this over campfire, how would your steps go? Since turning down heat to simmer cannot be done the same way.
Hi! Awesome question! When I make this over campfire, I make sure I have a nice hearty oven mitt and I shift the pan! If the fire is very high heat/big flames in the center, I will let it bubble there a little, and then pull it to the edge to stir it and let it sit for a minute. Often, we set our fires up more on one side than another to make cooking easier. It won't be as meticulous as when making it at home and having total control, but that's what camping is for am I right?! Feel free to ask any more questions!
Made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious! Had to play around with the heat of the stove a little bit and added a bit of spice with a ghost pepper seasoning I had, but other than that, followed the recipe pretty much to a tee! Also noticed the recipe doesn't mention when to add the broth, but just added it when I added the tomatoes and beans, and it turned out just fine! Would make again! 🙂
thanks so much!! I am a baby about spice so I am glad you added some more for yourself 🙂