Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (2024)

Homemade beef chili cannot get any easier than this! Made from only 4 ingredients you can achieve the same hearty chili many recipes aim for minus all the ingredients and spices. Want to know how?

Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (1)

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Well, if you didn’t know bottled or jarred goodies like salsa are already plenty seasoned and include spices like chili powder already in them so why add the additional spices when you can just dump a jar of prepared salsa? The choice is yours but if you can cut time in the kitchen, why not? It’s really that EASY! And the best part, this beef chili is so versatile since you can eat it as a bowl of rich hearty chili or use it as a taco base for salads, tacos, and oh the ideas!

Beef Chili Recipe

This beef chili recipe is designed for a slow cooker but nothing a stovetop can’t do. If you use a slow cooker it will develop flavors in a slow manner, which is how I recommend it. However, simmering this over the stove-top is possible but since the cooking time will take much faster over a stove, the liquid may have to be adjusted to the desired consistency as the liquid is more prone to evaporating this way.

Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (2)

Ingredients for the EASIEST Beef Chili:

  • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
  • 2 (15 oz cans) red kidney beans
  • 1 (24 oz jar) ANY brand jarred salsa
  • 1 cup tomato juice

How to make the best Beef Chili?

Step 1:

For crockpot owners, brown the ground beef and transfer to a slow cooker. Add in the beans along with the salsa and tomato juice. Turn on low for 4-6 hours. If using dried beans that have been soaked per package instructions then increase cooking time to 6-8 hours on low.

Step 2:

For stove-top users, brown the ground beef and add in canned drained beans instead of soaked dried beans (cooking time will take much faster with canned beans.) Add in the salsa and tomato juice and simmer 30-45 minutes adding more tomato juice if too thick.

Tip:

Canned drained beans will shorten the cooking time for both methods. If using dried beans soak per package instructions prior to using.

Note: Since jarred salsa or tomato juice varies from brand to brand season beef chiliaccording to taste.

How can I make my beef chili heartier?

Adding a chunky kind of salsa or a small can of tomato paste will make for a heartier and thicker beef chili.

Tips for making Beef Chili:

TIP 1: Addin some fresh vegetables like freshly diced tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, or celery for a more signature taste.

Tip 2:Add more flavor or heat by adding spices like chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic salt, ground cumin, or sugar. These kinds of spices can all enhance the flavor of your beef chili. Start by 1/8 teaspoons and gradually build up the flavor with a spice you think you would enjoy in your chili.

Can Beef Chili be frozen?

Beef chili can be frozen. Once the beef chili is completely cooled pour into quart-sized freezer bags and freeze laying flat.

To reheat pop the frozen chili out of the zip-lock bag and place it into a pot. Crank the heat up to medium and heat the beef chili up until hot and bubbly.

Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (3)

Chili toppings include:

  1. Cheddar cheese- (Monterey Jack, Colby,questfresco,and mild cheddar cheese are all good choices and should melt beautifully.)
  2. Sour cream- (diluting sour cream with a tablespoon of milk with make for a thinner consistency making it easy enough to dollop over foods.)

  3. Tortilla chips-(Frito’s, Nacho Doritos, and Restaurant style Tortilla chips make great crunchy garnishes.)

  4. Shredded Iceberg Lettuce- Make things more Taco style by layering this beef chili over a bed of iceberg lettuce or into tacos.

  5. White rice- Cook jasmine or basmati rice to serve as a side or garnish.

Buffet Themes:

Throw a taco buffet for a Mexican style theme with a side of soft tacos or crunchy tortilla chips. Or make it a Festive Chili buffet by laying out the first three topping ideas along with green onions and fresh herbs. Allow guests to layer up there topping into a bowl!

More Recipes to try:

  • One-Pot Chili Recipe
  • Fluffy Cornbread Recipe
  • Zuppa Toscana Olive Garden Copycat Recipe

Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (4)

PrintRate

Beef Chili Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 people

Author: Alyona's Cooking

Homemade beef chili cannot get any easier than this! Made from only 4 ingredients you can achieve the same hearty chili many recipes aim for minus all the ingredients and spices. Want to know how?

US Customary - Metric

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Step 1: For crockpot owners, brown the ground beef and transfer to a slow cooker. Add in the beans along with the salsa and tomato juice. Turn on low for 4-6 hours. If using dried beans that have been soaked per package instructions then increase cooking time to 6-8 hours on low.

  • Step 2: For stove-top users, brown the ground beef and add in canned drained beans instead of soaked dried beans (cooking time will take much faster with canned beans.) Add in the salsa and tomato juice and simmer 30-45 minutes adding more tomato juice if too thick.

  • Tip: Canned drained beans will shorten the cooking time for both methods. If using dried beans soak per package instructions prior to using.

Notes

Note: Since jarred salsa or tomato juice varies from brand to brand season beef chili accordingly.

2. For thicker and heartier chili add 3 oz of tomato paste and opt for a chunky style salsa.
3. If using dried beans instead, use 1/2 of a 1lb bag for this recipe. Soak according to package instructions before adding to the recipe. Cooking time will take longer with soaked beans unless you separately cook the beans first.

Nutrition per serving

Serving: 8gCalories: 313kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 20gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 660mgPotassium: 755mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 545IUVitamin C: 7.8mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 3.7mg

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Categories

  • Beef
  • Main Dish

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4 comments

  • Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (5)

    • Camilla

    My husband is not a fan of beans overall but in this recipe he was like wow i want more !

    • Reply
    • Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (6)

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      So glad to hear, Camilla!

      • Reply
  • Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (7)

    • Esther

    Absolutely delectable and easy to make. Thank you, for this astonishing recipe. I will certainly be making this again.

    • Reply
    • Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (8)

      • Alyona Demyanchuk

      Thank you Esther, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      • Reply

Show more

Beef Chili Recipe (ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS!) (2024)

FAQs

What secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

Stir some puréed pumpkin into your chili just after sautéing your aromatics (onions, garlic, etc...) and before adding any liquid. This will deepen and sweeten its flavor, making it a great balance for all the chile peppers and heat.

What is the secret to best chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What does traditional chili contain? ›

'chili with meat or meat with chili'), also spelled chilli con carne or chile con carne and shortened to chili or chilli, is a spicy stew of Mexican origin containing chili peppers (sometimes in the form of chili powder), meat (usually beef), tomatoes, and often pinto beans or kidney beans.

What is the best liquid for chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

How to add depth of flavor to chili? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

Why do you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

What is a Texas chili? ›

What primarily distinguishes Texas chili from other chili recipes you might find is a lack of beans, but it also doesn't feature any tomatoes. It is, largely, a ground beef dish that's seasoned with a spicy chili paste made of dried peppers.

What is Texas Roadhouse chili made of? ›

This Texas Roadhouse chili is made of ground beef, onions, garlic, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, tomato sauce, and spices. Some of the spices include chili powder, garlic powder and onion powder.

What is real Texas chili made of? ›

The original chili was made with dried beef pounded together with suet and dried chiles into a sort of pemmican-like dry mix intended to last a long time and be quick and nutritious for cowboys to rehydrate and stew up out on the range. These days, we've got refrigerators and fresh meat. So we use them.

Should I saute onions before adding to chili? ›

Sautéing onions, garlic, and other veggies first coaxes maximum flavor out of them. So make sure your onions, for example, are soft and translucent before you add your liquid.

What state does not put beans in chili? ›

Beans in chili? Not if you're from Texas! While some people claim that chili can be made with a variety of ingredients—including beef and bean chili, chipotle chicken chili, or dare we say veggie chili—anyone from the Lone Star State would argue that traditional chili simply does not contain beans.

What to add to chili for more flavor? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

How do you darken chili flavor? ›

Drop in some chocolate.

We're all about adding some cocoa to your chili, especially in the early stages of cooking when you're blooming your spices, but I like to drop a few pieces of dark chocolate into the pot too.

What makes can chili taste better? ›

Professional chefs shared their favorite ways to turn a can of chili into a tastier option. Cocoa, beer, and cinnamon are ingredients that'll boost the flavor of your dish. Fresh toppings are an easy way to add new flavor and texture to the premade meal.

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