Easy Chili Recipes -  A chili recipe is something like a beef stew recipe. Many are good, some are bad and they're all a little different. But one thing they do have in common is that everyone thinks they have the best chili recipe.  Below is an easy chili recipe that is not only simple and easy to make, but it's very good. It can also serve as a starting point for many different chili recipe variations. By itself it makes a great tailgating recipe. You can mix and match the different ingredients until you find the one you like the best. But even with the different variations, each one is still an easy chili recipe.

I would also like to point out that this chili recipe contains beans. I know the chili purists will not like this, but it helps make this chili recipe easy and good.

Whatever you do for any kind of cooking, make sure you have fresh, good quality ingredients. Nothing spoils a good recipe faster than trying to save a buck on cheap, poor quality ingredients.

Let's get started.

The first thing to remember is that all the amounts are approximate. I might list three tablespoons of something but that's just a suggestion. Use more or less of whatever it is until you find what you like.

 

 

Easy Chili Recipe

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 to 2-1/2 hours
Total time: 1 hour 30 min to 3 hours

Ingredients

• Shortening or vegetable oil: 1 or 2 teaspoons
• Good quality lean ground beef or ground sirloin: 1-1/2 to 2 pounds
• Chopped white onion: 1 large
• Good quality chili power: 3 heaping tablespoons - I like Gebhardt's brand.
• Paprika: 1 tablespoon
• Garlic powder: 1 teaspoon - (NOT garlic salt)
• Cumin: 1 teaspoon (omit if you don't like cumin)
• Salt and black pepper: to taste
• Ranch Style Beans: 1 large can (about 25-32 oz) **
• Pinto beans: 1 large can (about 25-32 oz)
• Kidney beans: 1 small can (about 15 oz) (optional)

Chili Recipe Variations

Here are some other things to try. It adds a little to the difficulty level but not too bad. Try one at a time or all at once. Experiment! Have fun with it!

• Add a 15 ounce can of whole tomatoes when you add the beans. Smash them up some with a fork first.
• Add or substitute top sirloin steak to/for the ground beef. Cut it up into small pieces
• Add some chopped up fresh garlic. 2 or 3 cloves should do it. Or even 6 or 8 if you like garlic.
• Kick up the heat with some ground red pepper (cayenne) or a couple of chopped jalapenos
• Add a beer. Not light. Not flavored.
• Try a tablespoon or so of Worcestershire sauce.
• A couple of chopped chipotle chilies (without the sauce if you are using canned) will add a nice smokey flavor as well as a little heat.

** The main ingredients listed on a can of Ranch Style Brand beans are as follows: Pinto Beans, Water, Tomato Puree, Salt, Chili Peppers, Sugar, Paprika, Vinegar and some other spices. So if you can't find Ranch Style Brand beans, substitute a similar chili bean or add a little bit of some of the ingredients.