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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Classic Chili Recipe

    Classic Chili Recipe

    Published: Oct 20, 2019 · Modified: Mar 23, 2021 by Jessica Robinson · This post may contain affiliate links

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    chili in a white bowl, topped with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and jalapeno slices
    bowl of chili topped with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and jalapeno slices

    Homemade traditional chili is made with ground beef, pork, beans, onions, bell peppers, bacon, and chili seasoning.

    beef chili in a bowl, topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese, and jalapeno slices.

    Over the years I’ve perfected my chili recipe and wanted to bring you my BEST Chili Recipe ever! This delicious chili can be made in either your Dutch oven on the stovetop or in your slow cooker.

    chili with beans in a bowl, topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese, and jalapeno slices

    I’ve used canned red kidney beans and black beans in this chili recipe. But, you can use whatever type of beans you prefer. Just be sure and drain the beans first before adding to the pot.

    How to make Classic Chili

    Browning bacon in a red Dutch oven.

    Step 1: Brown the bacon in a Dutch oven over medium to high heat. Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and set on a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.

    browning bacon in a red Dutch oven with wooden spoon in the pot

    Step 2: Drain all but 1 tablespoon or so of the bacon fat. Saute the onions and peppers in the fat, just until translucent.

    cooking chopped onions and bell peppers in a red Dutch oven

    Step 3: Add the ground beef and pork and brown. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Once cooked, drain off any excess fat with a large spoon and discard. Season with salt and ground pepper.

    browning ground beef and pork in a red Dutch oven with wooden spoon

    Step 4: Once the meat is browned, add the remaining ingredients, stirring well to combine. Season again with salt and ground pepper if needed. Place in a preheated 350 degree F oven for about 45 minutes to an hour.

    chili in a red Dutch oven
    Can you freeze Chili?

    This easy chili recipe is perfect for a cold winter’s day, your football party, and is also freezer friendly. Once it cools, pack up in quart deli-containers. (available at your local restaurant supply store or on Amazon)

    If you’re throwing a football party and feeling ambitious, you can try your hand at my Sourdough bread and make it into bread bowls!

    Fore more Dutch oven and slow cooker recipes, be sure and check out Beef Stew recipe, Loaded Potato Soup, Beef Tips with Mushrooms, Easy Pulled Pork, and Boeuf Bourguignon.

    Hearty homemade chili

    Toppings for homemade Chili

    • Shredded Cheddar Cheese
    • Sour Cream
    • Diced Tomatoes
    • Jalapeno Slices
    • Ritz crackers or Oyster crackers

    Looking for more ideas to feed a crowd for your tailgating party? Try Easy Pulled Pork, Honey Buffalo Chicken, and Bacon Cheeseburgers topped with Buttermilk Onion Rings.

    Did you make one of my recipes? Please take a moment to leave a star rating. Also, if you are on Pinterest, please feel free to leave a comment there! Follow A Farmgirl’s Kitchen on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST and YouTube and subscribe my mailing list for ALL the latest recipes!

    5 from 4 votes
    Hearty Chili in a white bowl topped with shredded cheddar cheese, slices of jalapeno peppers, and sour cream
    Print Rate this Recipe

    Classic Beef Chili

    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Homemade Beef Chili is packed full of flavor. Easy to make in either your Dutch oven or slow cooker.
    Course: dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: American, Southern
    Servings: 10 people
    Calories: 843kcal
    Author: Jessica Robinson

    Ingredients

    • 2 to 2 ½ pounds ground round or chuck
    • 1 pound ground pork
    • 8-10 slices bacon cut into 2-inch pieces
    • 2 medium onions diced
    • 1 red bell pepper diced
    • 1 green bell pepper diced
    • 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
    • 1 29-ounce can tomato sauce
    • 1 (12-ounce) can tomato paste
    • 1 (15.5-ounce) can dark red kidney beans (drained)
    • 2 (15.5-ounce) cans black beans (drained)
    • salt and black pepper to taste
    • 3 (1.25-ounce) packets of McCormick original Chili seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ½ teaspoon paprika

    Instructions

    Cooking Chili in Dutch Oven

    • Brown the bacon in a Dutch oven over medium to high heat. Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and set on a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
    • Drain all but 1 tablespoon or so of the bacon fat. Saute the onions and peppers in the fat, just until translucent.
    • Add the ground beef and pork and brown. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Once cooked, drain off any excess fat with a large spoon and discard. Season with salt and ground pepper.
    • Once the meat is browned, add the remaining ingredients, stirring well to combine. Season again with salt and ground pepper if needed. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes to an hour.
    • Serve with crusty French bread slices and top with sour cream and shredded cheese. Top with jalapeno pepper slices if desired.

    Cooking Chili in Slow Cooker

    • Brown the bacon on the stove, in a pan. Drain on paper towels.
    • Place all the ingredients in your slow cooker, including the cooked bacon. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Or cook on high for 3-4 hours. Stir occasionally to mix all the ingredients well. Drain off any fat with a large spoon.
    • Serve with crusty French bread slices and top with sour cream and shredded cheese. Top with jalapeno pepper slices if desired.

    Recipe Notes

    Chili seasoning:
    Rather than buying packets of chili seasoning, if you prefer, BJ’s sells the large container of McCormick’s Chili seasoning. Just follow the directions on the package and measure approximately ¼ cup per pound of meat.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 843kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 53g | Fat: 67g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Cholesterol: 221mg | Sodium: 313mg | Potassium: 924mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 662IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 6mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @AFarmgirlsKitchen or tag #afarmgirlskitchen!

    Disclosure: As an Affiliate Marketer, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click a product affiliate link on A Farmgirl’s Kitchen and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you!  I own every cooking product I recommend and love how they perform.

    « Bacon Cheeseburgers and Buttermilk Onion Rings
    Old-Fashioned Molasses Cookies »

    Comments

    1. Mairi says

      February 08, 2018 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      Oh I love this recipe so much – real delicious, hearty food is where its at. Perfect for getting me through winter. I’m going to save this and try this one at home! 🙂

      Reply
    2. Helena says

      February 08, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      5 stars
      Well, it will be perfect for my Hubbie’s patty. I love bread bowls and your tips are really helpful. Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Britt | Sweet Tea and Thyme says

      February 08, 2018 at 6:06 pm

      Looks so delish! Putting chili in a bread bowl is a great idea; this whole recipe just screams comfort.

      Reply
    4. Lisa | Garlic + Zest says

      February 08, 2018 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve never put black beans in my chili before, but I bet that’s really good. There’s nothing like a bowl of steaming chili on a cold day!

      Reply
    5. Jessica Robinson says

      February 08, 2018 at 4:40 pm

      Absolutely! Go ahead and make the batch of chili. Let it cool, put in quart/pint deli containers and freeze it! That will make quick meals super easy and still homemade!

      Reply
    6. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      February 08, 2018 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great recipe for chili! Nothing beats a delicious homemade chili!

      Reply

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    Jessica Robinson from A Farmgirl's Kitchen

    Welcome!

    I am a home cook who creates wholesome family meals, homemade pies, baked goods and preserves foods using easy to find ingredients. All of my recipes use simple and readily available ingredients.

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