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Chili topped with white cheddar cheese served in an individual porcelain bowl

Chili Recipe

Author: Tiffany Aasted, Mornington Lane
This savory, hearty homemade chili recipe beats store-bought canned chili any day of the week.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ - 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • 3 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 4 ounce can diced green chiles add another 4 ounce can if you want a spicier chili
  • 3 14.5 ounce cans tri-bean or three-bean blend rinsed and drained
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 orange bell pepper chopped
  • 1 yellow bell pepper chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped, leave out the green bell pepper if you do not like the bitterness
  • 1 cup cellery finely chopped
  • 32 ounces tomato juice
  • 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried orgeno
  • 4 cloves garlic minced

Instructions
 

  • Brown the ground beef over medium heat.
  • Add the onion and garlic. Cook until the onion is translucent.
  • Deglaze the pan by adding the tomato juice. Stir to combine.
  • Add the diced tomatoes and green chiles. Stir to combine.
  • Add the oregano, chili powder and cumin. Stir to combine.
  • Add the celery and all of the bell peppers. Stir to combine.
  • Stir in the beans.
  • Cook on medium until it bubbles.
  • Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2.5 to 3 hours. Stir occasionally to ensure the ingredients don’t burn to the bottom of the pot.
  • Serve and allow to cool in individual bowls for a few minutes. Note the chili will be very hot.
  • Top with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheddar cheese, chives or hot sauce.

Notes

Variations and Substitutions:
  • Use a white onion instead of yellow.
  • Skip the green bell pepper if you don’t like the bitterness.
  • Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of chili powder for an enhanced chili flavor profile.
  • Give this chili earthiness, by topping it with chives.
  • Make it spicy with your favorite hot sauce.
  • Top with shredded cheddar cheese for a creamy, salty mouthfeel.
 
Storage Instructions:
Chili can be refrigerated for a couple days in a glass container. 
In my experience, you can freeze leftover chili and reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave without any noticeable reduction in taste and quality.
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