One Pot Hearty Homestyle Chili

Chili is one of those foods that just warms my soul. We live in Texas, so it stays above 90 degrees until the end of October. But let me tell you…at the first hint of a Fall breeze, my dutch oven comes flying off the shelf and I immediately start cooking hearty, homestyle chili.

Then because it’s so simple, I usually make it weekly until the weather warms up again in the Spring. It’s the perfect recipe for a gathering of friends, a football tailgate party, or a lazy Sunday afternoon. Here’s how you make it:

One Pot Hearty Homestyle Chili

Start by browning one pound of hamburger with about a half cup of chopped onion and drain the fat. I like to cook the meat right in my dutch oven so that I only have one dish to clean.

I add in one tablespoon of chili powder. My husband likes to add a few more seasonings to his bowl like red pepper flakes and hot sauce, but I prefer mine a little more muted. Feel free to bring the heat if your tastebuds can handle it!

After the meat is browned, it’s really as simple as opening cans and dumping them in. Add a can of chili beans, a can of rinsed kidney beans, a can of tomato sauce, and a can of undrained diced tomatoes.

I let it simmer for about 25-30 minutes while I try to keep my stomach from growling.

I add just a bit of cheese and my favorite toppings – crackers and sour cream. It’s just home in a bowl.

You can pretty easily double the recipe without adding an extra pound of meat if you’re trying to stretch your grocery budget a little further. And if you have any leftovers, you can pour this chili on top of hot dogs to make chili dogs or add some spaghetti noodles to make chili mac.

Here’s a handy printable recipe:

Does your family have any ‘secret’ chili ingredients? Share them in the comments below!