Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Recipe (Ready in 30-Minutes!) (2024)

ByJaclyn Shimmel On Updated

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This easiest ever 3-ingredient chili recipe is thick, hearty, packed with flavor, and comes together in only 30 minutes. Serve with your favorite chili toppings for a quick and easy weeknight dinner that is sure to warm up everyone’s bellies.

Chili is one of the best comfort foods for cool weather. I usually make a big batch of beef chili in my crockpot, but when I am short on time I turn to this easy 3 ingredient chili recipe.

It is super quick to prepare and a family favorite throughout the Fall and Winter.

Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Recipe (Ready in 30-Minutes!) (1)

And with only 3 ingredients, this easy weeknight dinner is very economical and budget-friendly as well.

3-ingredient chili is also great for game day and football parties. Try topping your french fries and hot dogs with some of this one-pot chili – so good!

You could even create a chili bar with loads of tasty chili toppings (think shredded cheese, green onions, sour cream, tortilla chips) and let your guests go to town.

However you serve up this quick and easy stovetop chili, it is sure to be a hit.

For another quick and easy meal give my 3-ingredient slow cooker salsa chicken, 5-ingredient reuben pizza rolls or 3-ingredient slow cooker ranch pork chops a try.

Ingredients

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Recipe (Ready in 30-Minutes!) (2)
  • ground beef – I used ground beef but you are more than welcome to swap with a ground turkey or shredded / diced chicken
  • chili beans – A 15 or 16 ounce can, undrained.
  • chili-style diced tomatoes – I prefer using DelMonte Zesty Chili Style Diced Tomatoes or Hunt’s Chili Starter Seasoned Diced Tomatoes In Sauce for Mild Chili, but a can of Rotel will also work.

Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped avocado, sliced green onions, jalapenos, crushed tortilla chips, chives

Variations and Substitutions

  • Switch up the beans: Try the recipe with kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans or any other style of bean you would like.
  • Turn up the heat: Add chili powder, hot sauce, or a pinch of red pepper flakes to give your chili more of a kick.
  • Make it soupy: Prefer soupy chili? Add a small can of tomato sauce.
Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Recipe (Ready in 30-Minutes!) (3)

How to Make 3-Ingredient Chili

  1. Brown ground beef in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Mix in chili beans and diced tomatoes and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 25 minutes.
  3. Serve with your favorite chili toppings such as sour cream, shredded cheese, corn chips, chives, etc..

Storing

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

As an added bonus I always find that chili tastes better the next day as the flavors have had a chance to really meld together.

Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Recipe (Ready in 30-Minutes!) (4)

FAQ

I can’t find any chili-style diced tomatoes. What can I use instead?

If you can’t find chili-style tomatoes you can use a can of plain diced tomatoes (undrained) and spice to your liking with chili seasoning (I recommend 1-2 Tablespoons).

Can I freeze this chili?

Yea! Freeze in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. That in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stove.

Can I make it in my crockpot?

Sure! Simply brown the meat and add to the crock-pot with the can of chili beans and diced tomatoes. Cook on low 4-6 hours or on high for 2-4 hours.

More Chili Recipes

  • The Best Crockpot Chili Recipe
  • Crock pot Chili Mac
  • Chili Cheese Dog Casserole
  • Homemade Hot Dog Chili
  • Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili

Recipe

Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Recipe (Ready in 30-Minutes!) (5)

Recipe

4.70 from 10 votes

3 Ingredient Chili

Author: Jaclyn

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

This easy 3-ingredient chili is thick, hearty, packed with flavor, and comes together in only 30 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 15.5 ounce can chili beans, undrained
  • 1 14.5-ounce can chili style diced tomatoes

Instructions

  • Brown ground beef in a large pot over medium heat, using your spoon to break up the ground beef as it cooks. Drain grease, leaving behind about 1 Tablespoon of grease in the pot for added flavor if desired.

  • Stir in the chili beans and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and allow the chili to simmer for about 25 minutes.

  • Serve warm with your favorite chili toppings (sour cream, shredded cheese, corn chips, scallions, chives, etc).

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 441kcal

Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Recipe (Ready in 30-Minutes!) (6)

Did You Make This Recipe?

Share it with me on Instagram @crayonsandcravings and follow on Pinterest @crayonsandcravings for even more!

Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Recipe (Ready in 30-Minutes!) (7)
Easy 3 Ingredient Chili Recipe (Ready in 30-Minutes!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to really good 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 is the minimum time to cook chili? ›

Cook for a minimum of 45 minutes. If you have the time, it is best if it simmers all day or as long as possible. Serve with sour cream, cheese, cilantro and the remaining bacon.

Can you make chili without cooking meat first? ›

Putting raw ground beef directly into your chili without cooking it separately first can result in several issues, including food safety concerns and undesirable texture.

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.

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 is chili magic? ›

Bush's Chili Magic Campfire Style chili starter brings tender pinto beans together with smoky chipotle and green bell peppers for quick, unforgettable chili any night of the week.

Does Wendy's put sugar in their chili? ›

Chili Concentrate: Chili Sauce (Water, Tomato Juice, Tomatoes, Calcium Chloride, Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Corn Starch, Dried Chilies, Spices, Flavor Enhancer [Dextrose, Salt, Yeast Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Modified Corn Starch], Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Xanthan gum), Beans (Pink Beans, Red ...

Why do you put butter in chili? ›

Butter smooths out the bitterness and adds its unique richness, making you take another bite without quite knowing why. A dash of sugar and vinegar gives a sweet-sour flavor that also makes the sauce rounder and more satisfying.

Should you cook chili covered or uncovered? ›

Chili can be cooked uncovered or covered, but both are preferable. Chili cooked uncovered will thicken and reduce in liquid, making it a more hearty dish. When covering your chili, you will keep the heat in and prevent it from boiling over.

Do you drain beans for chili? ›

However, canned beans are soaked in a canning liquid that can throw off your dish's seasoning and texture, so it's best to drain and rinse your beans before pouring them into your pot of chili. Canning liquid can also water down and dilute the flavors of your chili.

Should you stir chili while simmering? ›

It depends on the cooking method. In the crock-pot/slow cooker I would never stir it or even take off the lid until it should be close to done. In a pressure cooker, the same thing. On the stove top, I stir often because as it thickens, you want to stir to prevent possible scorching on the bottom of the pot.

Do you cook onions or meat first for chili? ›

In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions, garlic, and red pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the beef and increase the heat to high; cook, stirring with wooden spoon to break the meat into ¼-inch pieces, until the beef is browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

Do you brown meat or onions first in chili? ›

Raw meat and pot of chili are two things that just don't belong together. If the recipe includes any type of ground meat, bacon, chorizo, or cubes of beef, it should always be browned first. Try this: The first order of business before adding anything else to the pot is to brown any meat in your recipe.

Is garlic good in chili? ›

Many chili recipes call for ground chili powder, which is a mix of dried ground chiles and other spices like garlic and onion powder. But that doesn't mean you should skip using fresh garlic and onions in your chili. They add a depth of flavor the dried stuff can't match.

What makes the best chili meat? ›

When making chili, former Southern Living Test Kitchen Director, Robby Melvin, recommends using a mix of ground chuck and ground sirloin. "It's the best of both worlds," he says. "You get a balanced lean-to-fat ratio from the chuck and the hearty, beefy leanness from the sirloin."

What is the most flavorful meat for chili? ›

What is the best meat for chili? The best meat for chili depends on the type you're making, but professionals generally use a combination of ground chuck, brisket, short ribs, or diced tri-tip sirloin mixed with bacon and sausage to layer multiple textures and flavors.

Why is my chili not flavorful? ›

Change up the beans. Use black beans, pintos, or a combination of beans to give more flavor. Cook the chili! If you don't cook it long enough (or put in a pressure cooker to speed up the process), it won't taste quite right.

Does sugar make chili taste better? ›

Now for the piece de resistance: 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar. The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy.

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