5 from 1 vote

Who doesn’t love a nice cozy bowl of chili on those chilly days? This quick and easy homemade chili recipe is simple, filling, and perfect for busy weeknights. Whether you make it in the crockpot, Instant Pot, or on the stovetop, this family favorite chili recipe is packed with flavor and comes together with simple pantry ingredients. It’s also a great dump-and-go recipe for those extra busy days when you just need an easy dinner idea with minimal prep.

I usually make my chili in the crockpot or Instant Pot because it makes dinner time so much easier. There’s just something comforting about tossing everything together and letting it simmer until the house smells amazing. Plus, chili is one of those meals that tastes even better the next day.

I’ll admit, growing up chili was never one of my favorite meals. Honestly, I thought it was way too spicy. Then, when I was first married, I made chili for dinner one night and once again thought it was too spicy for my liking. So the next time I made it, I decided to cut back on the chili powder a little bit. And let me tell you—that made all the difference for me. It still has a little kick, but it’s mild enough that I actually enjoy eating it now.

That’s one thing I love about this easy chili recipe—you can easily adjust the spice level to fit your family’s tastes. If you love spicy chili, simply add extra chili powder or even some jalapeños. If you prefer a mild chili recipe like I do, the seasoning is just right.

This chili recipe has become a family favorite over the years. Anytime we have a family gathering on my husband’s side and we’re doing a baked potato bar, I’m usually asked to bring the chili. I’d say that’s a pretty good sign that this recipe is well loved.

One of my favorite things about homemade chili is how versatile it is. You can serve it in a bowl with your favorite toppings, spoon it over baked potatoes, or even use it for chili dogs or nachos. It’s hearty, comforting, and feeds a crowd, which makes it perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or game day parties.

Favorite Chili Toppings and Sides

What is chili without toppings? Plain chili is good, but adding toppings and sides makes it even better.

Some of our favorite chili toppings include:

Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Green onions
Crackers or tortilla chips
Avocado slices
Fresh dice tomatoes

And of course, you can’t go wrong serving chili with:

Cornbread
Baked potatoes
A simple green salad

What you’ll need for this Quick and Easy Homemade Chili:

This homemade chili recipe uses simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry and fridge:

Ingredients:

Hamburger
Kidney Beans
Pinto Beans
Tomatoes: Fresh or canned work great.
Onion
Celery
Green Chilies: I normally use canned
Tomato Sauce
Cumin
Chili Powder
Salt
Pepper
Water

I usually like to use fresh tomatoes when I make this chili because I love the flavor they add. But canned tomatoes work great too, especially during the winter months or anytime you need dinner to come together quickly. Either option tastes delicious in this recipe.

Hamburger is one of those ingredients my family uses all the time. I keep it stocked in my freezer because it works for so many easy dinner recipes. Whenever I find hamburger on sale, I like to stock up. Sometimes I’ll even cook a large batch ahead of time and freeze it so dinner comes together even faster on busy nights. If I happen to score a really amazing deal, I’ll even bottle some for food storage.

Tips for the Best Homemade Chili

Let the chili simmer longer for even better flavor.
Make it ahead of time because leftovers taste amazing.
Freeze leftovers for an easy future dinner.
Adjust the chili powder to fit your spice preference.

This quick and easy homemade chili recipe is one of those comforting meals that brings everyone to the table. It’s warm, hearty, simple to make, and perfect for cold weather. Whether you serve it for a cozy family dinner or at a gathering with friends, this mild chili recipe is always a hit.

Instructions:

Cook Hamburger and Drain the fat if not already using pre-cooked.
Dice the onion, celery, and tomatoes*, and green chilies* (*If not using canned)

Into the bowl of your crock pot or Instant pot. add in the hamburger, onions, celery, tomatoes, and green chilies.

Open cans of kidney, and pinto beans without draining the cans. Add into the crockpot or instant pot

Add in the tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and water.

If using the crockpot: give everything a quick stir and cook on low for 6-8 hours. or high for 4-6 hours
if using the Instant pot: Give the surface a quick stir. (I have found the beans sink to the bottom and burn if they are on the bottom.) Set the Instant pot to custom, high pressure, 18 mins, and make sure the vent is sealed.
When chili is done scoop into your favorite bowl, top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

5 from 1 vote