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Easy Homemade Chili Recipe

Easy Homemade Chili Recipe
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★★★★★

4.7 from 9 reviews

This Easy Homemade Chili recipe features a hearty blend of ground beef, pork sausage, beans, and tomatoes simmered in a rich mixture of spices and tomato juice for a comforting and flavorful meal. Perfect for weeknight dinners, it offers robust flavors with a customizable thickness and optional toppings like shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork sausage (I use Jimmy Dean)
  • 1/4 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 Seasonings

  • 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more if you want it spicier)

Optional Ingredients

  • Cornmeal (to thicken, if desired)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for topping, optional)
  • Sour cream (for topping, optional)

Instructions

  1. Saute the onion: Heat the 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 the onion is softened and translucent.
  2. Brown the meat: Add the ground beef and pork sausage to the pot. Use a meat chopper or wooden spoon to break the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Continue cooking until the meat is browned evenly, then remove and discard any excess grease.
  3. Add vinegar and remaining ingredients: Pour in the red wine vinegar and cook for 1 minute to let it infuse. Then add 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 to the pot.
  4. Simmer the chili: Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the chili simmer gently for at least one hour, up to three hours, stirring now and then until it thickens and flavors develop deeply. If you want an even thicker chili, stir in a small amount of cornmeal during simmering.
  5. Serve: Ladle the chili into bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream, if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your comforting homemade chili!

Notes

  • Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to control the spiciness level.
  • Simmering longer intensifies flavors and thickens the chili naturally.
  • Use lean meats to reduce excess grease and fat.
  • Cornmeal can be added gradually to avoid over-thickening the chili.
  • Serve with crusty bread or over rice for a complete meal.

Nutrition

Keywords: easy chili recipe, homemade chili, ground beef chili, pork sausage chili, slow simmer chili, hearty chili

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