1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Easy Homemade Chili

Easy Homemade Chili

Featured in Comforting Soups & Hearty Stews.

This hearty chili combines ground beef, tomatoes, beans, and spices simmered until rich and cozy. Adding a pinch of baking soda cuts the tomato acidity, making it smooth and comforting. Ideal for dinner on chilly days, gatherings, or casual game nights—serve it up hot for everyone to enjoy!

Pin it Share it Send it Print it Jump To Recipe
A chef holding a plate of food.
Updated on Sun, 13 Apr 2025 11:06:38 GMT
Easy Homemade Chili Pin it
Easy Homemade Chili | linacooks.com
This Simple Stovetop Chili comes together in just one pot, mixing meaty goodness, kidney beans, and diced tomatoes with a tasty blend of spices. Easy to make and packed with flavor, it's the perfect dish when you're feeling hungry or need something warm and filling on a chilly day.

What You'll Need

  • Ground Beef or Turkey: Makes up the meaty base - go with turkey for lighter fare or beef for richer taste.
  • Green Peppers (diced): Gives you some crunch and mild sweetness that works against the meat's richness.
  • Yellow Onion (diced): Adds nice flavor depth and slight sweetness to the mix.
  • Hunts Diced Tomatoes: Creates the juicy foundation with fresh tomato chunks throughout.
  • Hunts Tomato Sauce: Makes everything thicker and adds bold tomato flavor.
  • Hunts Tomato Paste: Boosts the tomato kick and helps thicken everything up.
  • Water: Thins things out so all ingredients can cook together nicely.
  • Kidney Beans (drained and rinsed): Bulks up the chili and makes it more satisfying.
  • Chili Powder: Gives that signature warm spiciness you can't skip.
  • Garlic Powder: Adds subtle garlic notes without the fuss of fresh cloves.
  • Onion Powder: Makes the onion flavor pop even more throughout.
  • Cumin: Brings an earthy punch with hints of smokiness.
  • Paprika: Adds gorgeous color and mild pepper taste.
  • Chipotle Powder: Kicks in smoky heat that makes the flavor more interesting.
  • Cayenne Pepper: Brings the heat factor - use more or less depending how spicy you like it.
  • Kosher Salt and White Pepper: Balances everything and brings all flavors together.
  • Baking Soda: Cuts down tomato tartness for a smoother taste.

How To Make It

Step 1:
Grab your Dutch oven and cook the chopped green peppers and onions on medium heat until they soften and start turning golden brown.
Step 2:
Throw in all your spices - chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, chipotle powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and white pepper. Keep stirring for about 1-2 minutes to wake up those flavors. Don't walk away or they might burn.
Step 3:
Drop in your ground meat and break it apart as it cooks. Get it mostly browned but don't worry if there's still some pink - it'll finish cooking later.
Step 4:
Mix in the Hunts tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water, and tomato paste. Stir everything really well so the tomato paste gets completely mixed in.
Step 5:
Turn the heat down to medium-low and let everything bubble gently for about 15 minutes so all those flavors can get friendly with each other.
Step 6:
Add your kidney beans and mix them throughout the pot.
Step 7:
Sprinkle in the baking soda and get ready for some fizzing action as it fights the tomato acid. Keep stirring until the bubbling calms down.
Step 8:
Take it off the heat and dish it up hot. Throw on your favorite toppings like cheese, sour cream or green onions if you want.

Enjoying Your Chili

  • Load up your bowl with toppings like grated cheese, a dollop of sour cream, sliced green onions, or diced jalapeños for extra punch.
  • Enjoy it with some crusty bread on the side, a piece of cornbread, or pour it over rice to make it more filling.
  • Save what's left in a sealed container in your fridge and eat within 4 days.
  • Want to save it longer? Let it cool down completely then stick it in a freezer container for up to 3 months. Thaw in your fridge overnight before warming up.
  • When reheating, use your stovetop on medium and add a splash of water or broth if it looks too thick.

Quick Tips

  • Need more heat? Just toss in extra cayenne or throw in a chopped jalapeño while cooking.
  • If you want thicker chili, use less water or let it cook uncovered for the last 10 minutes.
  • The baking soda trick makes tomatoes taste less tangy and more smooth overall.

Pro Chef Advice

  • Rachael Ray loves adding a tiny bit of cinnamon or cocoa powder to make chili taste deeper and richer.
  • Bobby Flay uses different kinds of peppers in his chili for more complex flavors.
  • Guy Fieri says chili tastes better the next day, so make it ahead if you can.

What Makes This Special

  • You'll get bold, rich flavors with just the right kick that'll make everyone ask for seconds.
  • Everything cooks in one pot, so cleanup's a breeze and it's perfect for feeding lots of people or meal prep.
  • The baking soda trick cuts down on tomato sharpness, giving you a smoother, more balanced taste that hits the spot.

Switch It Up

  • Try half beef and half turkey for the best of both worlds, or go all turkey if you want something lighter.
  • Toss in a chopped jalapeño or another bell pepper for extra flavor or spice.
  • Sprinkle some fresh cilantro on top or squeeze lime juice over your bowl for a bright twist.

Easy Homemade Chili

Make this hearty dish with ground beef, beans, and a mix of flavorful spices. Simmer everything in one pot for a quick and satisfying meal.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
45 Minutes
Total Time
60 Minutes
By: Paolina

Category: Soups & Stews

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (6 to 8 bowls)

Dietary: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 2 cups diced green peppers (around 2 small ones).
02 1.5 cups chopped yellow onion (from one small onion).
03 2 pounds of ground turkey or beef.
04 Two 15-ounce cans of kidney beans, rinsed.
05 One 15-ounce can of tomato sauce.
06 Two 15-ounce cans of diced tomatoes.
07 6 ounces of tomato paste.
08 15 ounces of water.
09 3 tablespoons cumin powder.
10 3 tablespoons chili powder.
11 1 teaspoon chipotle powder.
12 2 tablespoons of garlic powder.
13 2 tablespoons onion powder.
14 1 tablespoon smoked paprika.
15 Half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
16 1 teaspoon of ground white pepper.
17 1 teaspoon baking soda.
18 Half a tablespoon of salt.

Instructions

Step 01

Cook the onions and green peppers over medium heat in a big Dutch oven. Stir occasionally until soft and golden.

Step 02

Toss in all your spices, except baking soda, and stir for about a minute or two. Don't let it stick to the pan.

Step 03

Add the ground meat and cook it. Leave it slightly pink so you don't overdo it before other ingredients join in.

Step 04

Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Mix well so it's all blended together.

Step 05

Put the heat on low to medium and let everything simmer gently for around 15 minutes while stirring occasionally.

Step 06

Gently stir in the kidney beans and keep mixing until they’re evenly spread out.

Step 07

Sprinkle in the baking soda and stir. The sauce will bubble up, so keep stirring until the fizz has calmed down.

Step 08

Turn off the heat and serve hot.

Notes

  1. This easy one-pot chili is loaded with spice and a hint of smoky depth for a flavorful meal.
  2. Ground meat, kidney beans, and a mix of seasonings make it a comforting and filling option, especially on chilly days.
  3. Adding baking soda helps cut the tanginess and gives it a smoother, mellow flavor.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large Dutch pot.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 380
  • Total Fat: 18 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 22 g
  • Protein: 28 g