Easy Homemade Chili
The BEST Homemade Chili recipe made with ground beef and pork sausage, beans, and bold spices. Simmered low and slow for maximum flavor, this hearty chili can be made on the stove, in the slow cooker, or Instant Pot.
Equipment
- Meat chopper or wooden spoon
- Large pot
- Ladle
- Knife
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork sausage (e.g., Jimmy Dean)
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, petite, undrained
- 4 cups tomato juice
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 15 oz cans pinto beans, undrained
- 1 16 oz can kidney beans, undrained
- 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons chili powder
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more for spice)
- cornmeal, optional for thickening
- shredded cheddar cheese, optional topping
- sour cream, optional topping
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add ground beef and sausage. Cook, breaking apart into small pieces, until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in vinegar and cook 1 minute. Add diced tomatoes, tomato juice, ketchup, beans, brown sugar, and all spices. Mix well.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer over medium-low for at least 1 hour (up to 3 hours), stirring occasionally. For thicker chili, add cornmeal.
- Ladle into bowls and serve with optional shredded cheddar and sour cream.
Notes
⭐ Yield: About 20 cups chili (serves ~8, about 2.5 cups each).
⭐ Tomato Juice Swap: Mix 2 cups tomato sauce with 2 cups water.
⭐ Meatless Version: Omit meat and double the beans.
⭐ Spicy Version: Add extra cayenne, jalapeños, or hot sauce.
⭐ Add Bacon or Veggies: Try bell pepper, celery, butternut squash, or pumpkin.
⭐ Slow Cooker: Cook onion and brown meat first, then cook all in slow cooker 5–7 hrs low.
⭐ Instant Pot: Brown meat and onion on sauté, add everything, pressure cook 20–30 mins.
⭐ Storage: Refrigerate 3–5 days or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat.
⭐ Tomato Juice Swap: Mix 2 cups tomato sauce with 2 cups water.
⭐ Meatless Version: Omit meat and double the beans.
⭐ Spicy Version: Add extra cayenne, jalapeños, or hot sauce.
⭐ Add Bacon or Veggies: Try bell pepper, celery, butternut squash, or pumpkin.
⭐ Slow Cooker: Cook onion and brown meat first, then cook all in slow cooker 5–7 hrs low.
⭐ Instant Pot: Brown meat and onion on sauté, add everything, pressure cook 20–30 mins.
⭐ Storage: Refrigerate 3–5 days or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat.