This seriously easy 5-ingredient chili recipe is pure comfort food in one bowl! And best of all, it's made with just 5 pantry staple ingredients and takes 25 minutes!
The spicy flavor from the tomato sauce enriched with kidney beans, tender ground beef, chili powder, and green chilis is a winning combination the whole family will love.
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
Forget spending hours over the stove to make chili or waiting all day for it to cook in a crock pot. This 25-minute masterpiece oozes with the same flavor and pleases everyone all the same!
With just a few pantry ingredients and less than $10 spent, you can feed a large family with a sumptuous chili that you can whip up in no time using a single stovetop pan. It's full of flavor and has those soft chili beans and spicy tomato flavors you're accustomed to tasting.
The spice level is also easily adjustable to your liking by reducing the amount of chili powder to be kid-friendly or increasing it to be dad friendly!
It's the perfect dinner recipe to whip up after a busy day at work and can even be prepared in advance and microwaved on the spot to save even more time for busy moms.
And if you want something quick and easy for dessert to pair with the delicious chili, check out our easy dessert recipes. You'll find everything from energy bars, easy fudge recipes, cookie recipes, and more.
🍽 Key Ingredients
All you need is a few pantry ingredients to make this delicious 5-ingredient chili recipe and one stovetop pot.
Ground beef - Use lean ground beef to give the chili that rich, beefy flavor. Chuck beef is a great option, as it has a ratio of 80/20.
Onion - The onion is an essential part that adds flavor to the beef.
Canned tomatoes with green chiles - You'll also need three cans diced tomatoes with green chiles to provide the spicy tomato flavor.
Canned beans - Black beans or kidney beans will work in this recipe. The beans are another essential ingredient in chili recipes to give it texture and flavor.
Chili powder - Just a few spoons of chili is all that is needed to add that extra layer of spice.
Substitutions
Beans
Pinto beans are also a good substitute for black or red kidney beans.
Ground beef
If you don't want to use beef for this recipe, you can substitute it for ground sausage, ground chicken, or ground turkey.
🔪 How to make
You'll be surprised at how tasty this 5-ingredient chili recipe is to make and how easy it is to whip up. Just follow the instructions below and the helpful cooking tips to get started.
Preparations
- Open and drain the two cans of beans.
- Dice the white onion.
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Set a large pot over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef for 5 to 7 minutes until browned, stirring frequently.
Tip: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked beef to a plate, leaving 1 tablespoon of the beef fat in the pot.
Step 2
Add the diced onion to the pot and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until soft.
Step 3
Add the 2 cans beans, cooked beef, and diced tomatoes with chiles into the pot and turn the heat down to medium-low.
Step 4
Simmer the sauce for around 10 minutes until fragrant and thickened slightly.
Step 5
Remove from the heat and spoon into bowls. Top with shredded cheese, chopped green onions, sour cream, or tortilla chips.
💭 Cooking tips
Using turkey or chicken
If you opted to use ground turkey instead of beef, cook it in the pot with a tablespoon of olive oil to help it brown.
Thin sauce
Some cans of diced tomatoes come with watered-down tomato juice that will need to be cooked longer on medium heat to make your chili thicker. The longer your chili cooks, the thicker it will become, so keep your eye on it until the consistency is to your liking.
📖 Variations
This 5-ingredient chili recipe is the easy version that uses minimal ingredients to create a delicious chili in 25 minutes, but if you want to give it some extra flavor, we have a few variations for you.
Roasted green chilies
Use a can of fire-roasted green chilis and a can of diced tomatoes instead of 2 cans of tomatoes with green chilis for a smokey-flavored chili.
Sweetened chili
Add some sweetness to your chili with a tablespoon of brown sugar. Add the sugar to the chili at the same time as the cooked beef, beans, and tomatoes.
Chili with chorizo
Cooking 1 chopped chorizo with the ground beef will give your chili an extra meaty texture and add extra spice and flavor to the sauce.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Can I make this chili in a slow cooker?
Yes, slow-cooker chili is just as easy to make in the crock pot. Simply brown the ground beef and onions in the pot, then drain the liquid and transfer the meat and remaining ingredients to your slow cooker. Turn the machine on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
What can I use instead of diced tomatoes?
If you don't have any diced tomatoes on hand, you can substitute them with a can of tomato soup or tomato sauce. These will both work to give your chili the same consistency and flavor. Just add an extra ½ cup of water if using tomato soup.
Can I make this chili ahead of time?
This 5-ingredient chili recipe is perfect for making ahead of time! Simply cook the chili according to the instructions, then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
Any leftover 5-ingredient chili is great for using on other recipes, like tacos and enchiladas, and it's perfect for storing in the fridge or freezer to make it last longer.
Fridge - Store your chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer - Freeze your chili in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Reheating - When you're ready to eat, simply reheat your chili on the stove over medium heat until it's hot. You can also reheat it in the microwave, in 30-second increments, stirring after each one until it's heated.
🍳 Related easy recipes
Chili is always a family favorite during the fall and winter. For more ideas try one of these delicious meals below. Including my easy cheeseburger casserole.
👪 Serving size
This 5-ingredient recipe will provide 4 to 6 servings, and the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to suit your needs.
This chili recipe is perfect for home cooks on a budget and those after-work evenings, as it takes just 25 minutes to prepare.
📋 Recipe
Easy 5 Ingredient Chili (30-Minute Meal)
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 1 small White onion - diced
- 3 (15 oz.) cans Diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 2 (15 oz.) cans beans - drained (black beans, kidney beans)
- 2 tablespoons Chili powder
Instructions
Preparations
- Open and drain the two cans of beans.
- Dice the white onion.
Cooking instructions
- Set a large pot over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef for 5 to 7 minutes until browned, stirring frequently. Tip: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked beef to a plate, leaving 1 tablespoon of the beef fat in the pot.
- Add the diced onion to the pot and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until soft.
- Add the 2 cans beans, cooked beef, and diced tomatoes with chiles into the pot and turn the heat down to medium-low.
- Simmer the sauce for around 10 minutes until fragrant and thickened slightly.
- Remove from the heat and spoon into bowls.
- Top with shredded cheese, chopped green onions, sour cream, or tortilla chips.
Karina Stone
I made this recipe with ground chicken and it works out well. Very flavourful and easy to make especially when you always have a busy week like me. I stored in the fridge for two more meals. Thanks!