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Homemade Chili Recipe

Homemade Chili Recipe
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★★★★★

5 from 30 reviews

This hearty homemade chili combines lean ground beef, savory pork sausage, and a medley of beans simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce with bold spices. Perfect for a comforting meal, this chili can be thickened to your liking and served with classic toppings like shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream for added creaminess and flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Veggies

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork sausage (e.g., Jimmy Dean)

Liquids and Canned Goods

  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, petite, undrained
  • 4 cups tomato juice
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 2 15-ounce cans pinto beans, undrained
  • 1 16-ounce can kidney beans, undrained

Spices and Sweeteners

  • 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons chili powder
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for desired heat)

Optional Thickener and Toppings

  • Cornmeal to thicken, if desired
  • Shredded cheddar cheese, optional
  • Sour cream, optional

Instructions

  1. Saute onion: Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until softened and translucent.
  2. Brown meat: Add the ground beef and pork sausage to the pot. Cook, breaking the meat into small pieces, until browned and cooked through. Drain and remove excess grease from the pot.
  3. Add liquids and seasonings: Stir in the red wine vinegar and cook for 1 minute. Then add the diced tomatoes (with juice), tomato juice, ketchup, pinto beans, kidney beans, light brown sugar, chili powder, garlic salt, black pepper, paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
  4. Simmer: Bring the chili to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer uncovered for at least 1 hour, ideally up to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. This simmering process thickens the chili and intensifies the flavors. If you prefer a thicker chili, sprinkle in some cornmeal and stir to incorporate during the last 10 minutes of simmering.
  5. Serve: Ladle the chili into bowls. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream if desired for extra richness and flavor. Enjoy hot.

Notes

  • Longer simmering improves flavor and thickness; adjust cooking time to preference.
  • Cornmeal is optional and helps thicken chili without altering flavor significantly.
  • Adjust cayenne pepper to control chili heat level.
  • Use lean meats to reduce fat content.
  • Leftover chili keeps well refrigerated up to 4 days and freezes nicely.

Nutrition

Keywords: homemade chili, beef chili recipe, ground beef chili, easy chili recipe, spicy chili, chili with beans

Find it online: https://topreci.com/homemade-chili-recipe/