We all should have a good primer on how to make the basic pot of homemade chili now that the fall season has officially arrived, so I thought we would like to share that with you.
This particular basic chili recipe on this website has been my favorite for some time now.
I can’t stop eating it. This chili recipe is so flavorful and easy to make that I can’t get enough of it, so I’m not stopping.
It is a great recipe that can be used as a template that can be customized in a number of ways to make it your own.
Check out the suggestions below for ways that Apronese shows you to customize the proteins, spices, liquids, vegetables, and toppings for the perfect meal
It is my favorite way to enjoy chili, as it is always accompanied by fresh jalapenos, cheese, green onions, and crushed tortilla chips.
You Can Customize Your Chili in 5 Different Ways:
1. Change the Protein You Use:
- For reduced costs, add an extra can of beans (pinto beans are great) and a half pound of ground beef
- The recipe for Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lentil Chili can be prepared without beef (vegetarian) by using two additional cans of beans instead of beef.
- If you wish to make your chili without beans, you will need 2 pounds of ground beef instead of 1 pound
- It enhances the flavor of the chili to use Mexican chorizo instead of beef
- If you want to make Weeknight Black Bean Chili, you can also use other ground meat, such as turkey or chicken.
- It’s also good to use chopped up chicken thighs in chili instead of shredded chicken breasts (see Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili).
2. Liquids with Flavor:
- Using tomato juice or vegetable juice (such as V8 juice) instead of water
- Dark beer adds a super earthy flavor instead of water
- By substituting beef broth for water, you give the chili an extra flavor punch, but the chili seasoning will require less salt
3. Spices Can Be Customized as Follows:
- Chili will receive a spicy, smokey flavor by adding a few chipotle peppers
- Instead of just onions and garlic, start the chili with some sofrito
- You can add smokiness without adding any extra heat by using smoked paprika (1 tsp)
- A half-to-one tablespoon of cocoa powder adds extra richness to the chili
- When combined with chili peppers, cinnamon (1 tablespoon) works well
4. Vegetables to Add:
- Add finely diced zucchini and bell pepper to your chili for an extra veggie-licious twist
- With the onions and garlic sautéed with poblano peppers, you get a really great southwest taste.
- Sautéed jalapenos, onions, and garlic make for an extra spicy chili
- Adding frozen corn kernels will add flavor, color, and texture to your dish
- My easy pumpkin chili uses pumpkin purée as a substitution for shredded sweet potato, and it adds a beautiful color and sweet contrast to the dish.
5. Use Fun Toppings:
- Cheddar or Monterey jack cheese
- Sour cream
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Crushed Tortilla Chips
Chili Can Be Freezed?
There is no doubt that chili is one of my favorite foods to keep in my freezer when it comes to stocking up my freezer.
When the chili is cooked, divide it into individual portions, and then let it cool in the refrigerator overnight.
Make sure it is labeled the next day with the contents and date, and then put it in the freezer. You can store your chili in the freezer for up to three months at the most.
When you need to reheat the chili, simply start by letting it warm up in the refrigerator overnight.
Then, you can reheat in a pot over low heat, adding water if needed, until heated through, or you can heat it up in the microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.
Chili: How Long Should It Be Cooked?
If you are looking for something to serve for the holidays, there are few dishes that are as delicious as chili, so it is important to cook this chili for at least 30 minutes.
However, if you wish to leave it simmering for more than two hours, then you would be able to enjoy it as a meal as well.
The lid should always be on your chili if you intend to let it simmer for an extended period of time.
If your chili seems dry, make sure to add some water occasionally, and if it does, you can check if it is becoming too dry. If it does tend to dry out, be sure to add some water if it is becoming dry.
Recipe for the Best Homemade Chili
Probably one of the easiest and most delicious homemade chili recipes you will find online. The recipe is super easy and has plenty of adjustments that you can make to make it your own.
Prep Time: 5 mins/ Cook Time: 45 mins/ Total Time: 45 mins
Servings: 6 (1 cup each)
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)
- 1/2 tsp Freshly cracked black pepper ($0.03)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne powder ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder ($0.03)
- 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar ($0.02)
- 1 tsp salt ($0.05)
Instructions
- It is very important for a finely minced onion and garlic to be added to a large pot along with the olive oil and cooked on medium heat until the onions and garlic are soft and transparent. Then add the ground beef and continue to cook over medium heat until the beef is nicely browned.
- The beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, one cup of water, chili seasoning, and diced tomatoes should all be added to the pot after draining them, along with the diced tomatoes, tomato paste. Using a lid on your pot, put a lid on it and allow it to simmer on a low flame for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally (the better the flavor is, the longer it simmers on a low flame).
- After you have adjusted the salt and seasonings if necessary, give the chili one final taste, and serve it hot with your favorite toppings if desired.
*It is a mild blend of dried chilies, cinnamon, ginger, and other spices. The chili powder that is used is not spicy or hot at all.
Nutritional
Serving: 1 Cup ・ Calories: 413.55 kcal ・ Carbohydrates: 38.73 g ・ Protein: 25.78 g ・ Fat: 17.7 g ・ Sodium: 1114.32 mg ・ Fiber: 10.73 g
The nutritional values shown here are only estimates. Please see our nutrition disclaimer.
You can serve this dish with Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread!
Homemade Chili: How to Make It – Step by Step Photos
The first step is to slice an onion and mince two garlic cloves.
In a large pot over medium heat, place two tablespoons of olive oil and two tbsp of sliced onions and garlic cloves and cook over medium heat, until they become soft and translucent, about 15 minutes.
It is recommended to add one pound of ground beef and continue to cook until it is well done.
Using two 15oz cans, rinse and drain two 15oz cans each of black beans and kidney beans and place them in a pot along with a 15oz can of diced tomatoes, a 6oz can of tomato paste, and one cup of water.
All that needs to be mixed together is just the tomato paste until it is thoroughly incorporated. Doesn’t look much yet, but keep stirring until it does.
To make the chili, add the chili spices to the pot. This recipe I made was for Homemade Chili Seasoning, along with a little brown sugar.
It contains one tablespoon chili powder, one tablespoon cumin, 1/4 tablespoon cayenne, 1/4 tablespoon garlic powder, half of an tablespoon onion powder, one tablespoon salt, half an tablespoon pepper, and half a tablespoon brown sugar.
It is a good idea to add a packet of chili seasoning if you are unable to gather all the ingredients to prepare your own chili seasoning at this time.
As soon as the mixture starts to simmer, cover it with a lid so that it can warm up and allow the flavors to blend and for the natural sugars in the tomatoes to caramelize, which reduces the acidity of the chili.
If you have time, allow for it to simmer a little longer.
Let’s see if we can find some leftovers in our fridge that we can use to top our basic chili in an exciting way so that it becomes not so basic and starts to become something more interesting to serve.
