Easy Chili Recipe - The Best Homemade Chili Recipe (2024)

Brittany Kline | Updated January 2, 2024 Recipes

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What is better in the winter than a good Homemade Chili Recipe? From super bowl parties to chili cook-offs… chili is woven into the fabric of American winter culture. And for good reason; it’s AWESOME and there are so many variations.

And if you’ve been searching for a good “standard” type chili that everyone will like, look no further! This is it. And it’s EASY! My mom cut this recipe out of a newspaper in the early ’90s, and it’s been our ‘family chili’ recipe ever since. There might be a few ingredients you are not used to seeing in chili, like cinnamon and chocolate chips (a Cincinnati chili influence), but trust me – they work!

This recipe is very similar to myCrockpot Chili Recipe, but there are minor differences and this homemade chili recipe is designed to be made on the stovetop. Which means it can beready to eat sooner.

And like I said – this is easy.

Chopping the onions is probably the hardest part.

One of the most important steps is to cook the onions as the ground beef cooks. Add a bit of salt at this step to soften the onions.

After the onions are soft and the beef is cooked, add the garlic and cook for another couple of minutes. Drain the beef, and then add everything else except for the kidney beans and simmer for an hour or so. And yeah – even add those chocolate chips and cinnamon (you will thank me).

Homemade Chili Recipe

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Author: Brittany Kline

Ingredients

2 lbs. hamburger or turkey
1 can of red kidney beans rinsed (15 oz)
1 can crushed tomatoes 28 oz
1 can of water 28 oz
1 large onion minced
2 cloves of garlic minced or pressed
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional - depends on how spicy you want it
1 1/2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp chocolate chips

Instructions

Over medium heat, cook ground meat in a large pan with the minced onion until browned. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Drain the meat.
In a large sauce pan or stock pot over medium heat, add meat (with the onions and garlic) and mix with all other remaining ingredients except the kidney beans.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until you've reached the desired thickness (or if using a slow cooker, cook on high for 4 hours).
Add kidney beans and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
Top with shredded cheese & sour cream and serve with a side of cornbread.

Interested in a similar Crockpot-friendly version? Here’s my Crockpot Chili Recipe that is even easier!

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