This one-pot chili is easy, fast, delicious, and great for enjoying on a cold day when you can't be bothered to make anything more complicated. It's made almost entirely with pantry ingredients, and you can leave out the beef if you want a vegetarian version.
This one-pot chili is the kind of thing you can enjoy in a bowl by itself, slathered on a hot dog, or over some rice or noodles. If you're like me, you'll pile it on top of a cracker with some sour cream, cheese, hot sauce, and pickled jalapeños.
If you're looking for other soup recipes to warm your soul and body, try our One-Pot Pantry Rice and Tomato Soup or One-Pot Cheeseburger Soup with Rice.
Key Ingredients
- Yellow, white, or sweet onion
- Garlic
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Canned dark red kidney beans
- Tomato sauce
- Lean ground beef
- Typical fridge and pantry ingredients and spices:
- Oil
- Honey
- Vinegar. I used apple cider vinegar, but regular white vinegar would work too.
- Chili powder
- Paprika
- Ground cayenne
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried oregano
- Cumin
- Crushed red pepper
- Black pepper
- Salt
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Step 1: Combine the chili seasoning ingredients in a bowl. If you're in a pinch and want to use pre-made chili seasoning, we like Williams Chili Seasoning.
Step 2: Add oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onions and cook them until they're fragrant and softening, about 3 to 4 minutes. Then add ground beef and cook for 6 to 7 minutes or until it's cooked through, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
Step 3: Once the beef is cooked, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add tomatoes, beans, chili seasoning, tomato sauce, and water. Bring the chili to a boil, then let simmer for about 20 minutes.
Step 4: After the chili has simmered, add vinegar and honey and stir. Taste the chili, add more salt if necessary, then serve!
Topping Ideas
- Sour cream or greek yogurt
- Shredded cheddar, colby jack, or pepper jack
- Pickled jalapeños
- Crackers, tortilla chips, Doritos, or Fritos
- Diced onions or green onions
- Avocado
- Limes
- Hot sauce
- Cilantro
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! Our favorite is Williams Chili Seasoning, which I've had luck finding at Walmart. Your favorite store-bought chili seasoning will work too! Usually the seasoning packet tells you how much to add based on the amount of meat you're using. Usually 1 ounce seasons 2 pounds of meat.
Yes! Combine the spices and store in an air-tight container or baggie until you're ready to use them.
Yes! Place it in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge over night and reheat in a saucepan.
One-Pot Chili Recipe
This one-pot chili is easy, fast, delicious, and great for enjoying on a cold day when you can't be bothered to make anything more complicated. It's made almost entirely with pantry ingredients, and you can leave out the beef if you want a vegetarian version.
6
servings5
minutes25
minutes360
kcal30
minutesPrevent your screen from going dark!
Ingredients
1 tablespoon 1 oil (we use avocado oil)
1 1 sweet or white onion, diced
1 pound 1 lean ground beef
3 cloves 3 garlic, minced
2 14.5 ounce cans 2 diced tomatoes, undrained
2 15.5 ounce cans 2 dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 ounce can 1 tomato sauce
3 cups 3 water
1 teaspoon 1 apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
1 teaspoon 1 honey
- For the chili seasoning:
2.5 teaspoons 2.5 chili powder
¾ teaspoon ¾ paprika
½ teaspoon ½ ground cayenne
¾ teaspoon ¾ garlic powder
¾ teaspoon ¾ onion powder
½ teaspoon ½ dried oregano
2 teaspoons 2 cumin
½ teaspoon ½ crushed red pepper
½ teaspoon ½ black pepper
1.25 teaspoons 1.25 salt
Directions
- Combine the chili seasoning ingredients in a bowl.
- Add oil to a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook until they're fragrant and softening, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add ground beef and cook for 6 to 7 minutes or until it's cooked through, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Once the beef is cooked, add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add tomatoes, beans, chili seasoning, tomato sauce, and water. Bring the chili to a boil, allow it to simmer for about 20 minutes, then add vinegar and honey and stir.
- Taste the chili, add more salt if necessary, then serve!
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