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Our Easy Chili Recipe is the fastest way to get hearty chili on the dinner table – made with beef, beans and tomatoes in a rich tomato sauce.
Featured with this Recipe
Mom’s Cheater Chili Recipe
This chili recipe is a family-loved favorite from as far back as I can remember! It’s my dad’s very favorite meal on cool autumn evenings. My mom made it at least once a week during the fall and winter and always on Halloween night. The best thing about this recipe is its simplicity. No soaking or boiling beans, no long, all-day process. This chili comes together quickly, using a couple of “cheater” ingredients that we always have on hand. It tastes like it’s been simmering all day, but cooks up in no time over the stove-top! Delicious on its own with a side of corn bread, or served over Navajo Tacos or chili cheese fries, this is one chili recipe you’ll hang onto for years to come!
Make it a Crock Pot Chili Recipe
There’s something so cozy about a pot of soup simmering on the stove during colder months, and this homemade chili recipe is no exception! If you have a bit more time you can throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours. The spices and smells permeate the kitchen and warm up even the chilliest of days. But if you’re pressed for time, brown up your hamburger, then add the rest of the ingredients to a pot on the stove and then simmer on low until you’re ready to serve. Best chili recipe ever.
Ingredients in Easy Chili
- ground beef
- onion – diced
- canned chili (any brand works)
- chili beans do not drain
- diced tomatoes – do not drain
- tomato juice
- salt & pepper to taste
Garnishes:
- shredded cheddar cheese
- diced onions
- sour cream
Optional Ingredients
Change up the flavor. Make it your own by subbing out or adding ingredients to your own taste!
- kidney beans
- minced garlic
- green peppers
- red bell pepper
- chili powder
- paprika
- cumin
- cayenne pepper
- crush some saltine crackers or tortilla chips over the top
“Cheater” Ingredients for a Quick, Easy Chili
This ground beef chili recipe cooks up quickly thanks to a can of chili beans (any kind will work great) and a can of pre-made chili (our cheating secret ingredient). You’ll save lots of time by not soaking and cooking chili beans, and I promise you can’t taste the difference! Using a can of chili makes the soup nice and thick, with spices already added. Brown up a pound of ground sirloin or even ground turkey, add a can of tomatoes, and you’ll have a hearty bowl of chili in no time.
What to Serve with Chili
In our family, we like to top a big bowl of chili with diced onions, cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Serve it with a side of our Easy Cake Mix Cornbread. Or spoon it on top of Chili Dogs, Cheese Fries, Nachos, Baked Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, or Navajo Tacos. You can even pour some over our homemade Macaroni and Cheese to made a Chili Mac. You will love how versatile and simple this recipe is!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are making chili from scratch, we prefer beef broth.
Typical spices used in chili include chili powder, garlic, paprika, and cumin.
Read Next: Easy Crockpot Soup Recipes
More Chili Recipes
There are so many variations to a good bowl of chili, you can stay cozy and nourished all winter long! Try a few of our very favorites:
- Crock Pot Chicken Chili
- Texas Chili
- Cafe Zupas Chicken Enchilada Chili
- Creamy Italian Sausage Chili
- Mexican Chili in a Tostada Bowl
How to Make Mom’s Cheater Chili
Mom’s “Cheater” Chili Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 15 ounces chili (any brand works)
- 15 ounces chili beans do not drain
- 1 can diced tomatoes do not drain
- 1/2 cup tomato juice
- salt & pepper to taste
GARNISHES:
- shredded cheddar cheese
- diced onions
- sour cream
Instructions
- In a large pot, add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook on medium heat until beef is browned and onion is soft and translucent. Drain excess fat.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until everything is heated through.
- Top with cheese, onions, sour cream, and any other garnishes you like.
Notes
- To make this in a CrockPot or slow cooker, simply brown the beef and add all the ingredients to the CrockPot and cover. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Spoon some chili over other recipes to make a whole new meal! Some ideas are:
- Chili Dogs
- Cheese Fries
- Nachos
- Baked Potatoes
- Navajo Tacos
- Pour some over our homemade Macaroni and Cheese to made a Chili Mac
It’s the perfect weather here in Utah right now for this recipe! So hearty and flavorful! Simple to through together too!
I sure love a good & easy chili recipe!! I make it monthly! I love to have a variety of toppings out, because my kids love adding different things. It’s a family fav!
You aren’t kidding..what an easy & quick meal! My family loves chili! Adding this to the menu for the week!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Didn’t need to try this recipe. Looks perfect. We call it “Doctored chili”. You can even label it “Dad’s Doctored Chili”. The only addition is sautéed onions and bell peppers. Yes you can “doctor” or “cheat” any can of chili
Love it
Can you explain to us the difference between Chili & Chili Con Carne, Please?
Simply put, chili can be made from chicken, turkey, sweet potato, vegetarian, ground round, corn, beans – there truly are just about endless possibilities.
Chili con carne, however is made with meat; ‘con carne’ translates directly from Spanish to ‘with meat’. 👍🏼
So easy and delicious! Lucky to have some leftovers that we put over hot dogs. We’ll be making this chili again. Thank you!
I’m always up for a good cheat! Cheat meals and cheat shortcuts in cooking! BRING IT ON!! This is delicious.
Nice, quick Chili Recipe. Great for weekday dinners.
This looks good, also quick when one is in a hurry. Can also put in taco shells, or make burritos..
What size cans of tomatoes, & what’s the size cans on the chili beans?
Thanks 🙂
They are all the 15 oz (give or take a few oz. depending on the brand) cans. Hope this helps!
I substitute beef for can of red lentils for a vegetarian version
Can I use pasta sauce instead of tomato juice? Thanks!
Yes, it will give it a different taste and make it a little thicker, but if that’s what you prefer – go for it!
Thank you! =)
This looks so yummy! But how many does it serve? Thanks! =)
This recipe makes 6 servings, approximately 1 1/2 cups per serving. Thanks for asking!
Thank you! =)
Oh and what size can of diced tomatoes??
I just prepared this for dinner to make your Navajo Tacos. I usually make my chili from scratch, but this was a pretty good substitute — I added about 1/2 T. Chili powder and a couple of teaspoons of sugar. The Navajo Tacos were a huge hit! All my college kids are home and I was looking for some recipes that wouldn’t kill the grocery budget. I made your fried bread recipe, too, and there was enough dough for the tacos and elephant ears for dessert. Everyone was very happy. Thanks so much for sharing!
on the recipe for moms cheater chili , are there cans of just chili beans at the store or do i buy red kidney beans ? kinda confused on that. i have never seen just chili beans at the store without the actual chili already in it . or can i buy the chili with the beans already in it to make this recipe?
would love to make this . please help… thanks
They are actual cans of chili… just your favorite canned chili. Hope this helps!
There are cans of just chil beans………they are in the same area of the canned pinto beans, kidney, etc……
That's pretty similar to the kind of chili I grew up on. Now I love making mine from scratch, but the cheater version is still yummy.
Soo yummy!
I am going to taste it now! It smells very well!!! thank for your recipes!
this looks great. I'm going to give it a try. thanks for sharing.
This would be PERFECT over fries… will def have to make it this week for my guy 🙂