Easy chili recipe with canned beans, ground beef, onions, and tomatoes. This recipe is simple and basic with pantry ingredients. It’s the perfect classic chili to put on the table on a busy weeknight!
I love chili of all different kinds, don’t you? I like the spicy Chili Without Beans that my family prefers, but I also like this classic chili recipe with beans. And I love this vegetarian chili with sweet potatoes. And chicken chili. And Wendy’s and my Mama’s version.
This chili recipe is about as basic as it gets: ground beef, onion, pepper, tomatoes, and beans. And it’s easy to make—the whole pot comes together in about an hour. You can make it as spicy as you want or make it a little more kid-friendly.
Chili with pork and beans
I don’t particularly care for kidney beans, so I like to use Campbell’s Pork n’ Beans. I prefer Campbell’s because they have a light tomato sauce instead of the watery liquid that usually accompanies pork n’ beans. You don’t even need to drain these beans, just dump the can right into the pot.
And in case you think you don’t like pork and beans, they’re just navy beans that have been cooked in a little tomato sauce with some pork. The perfect kind of chili beans!
Chili ingredients
The ingredients for this chili recipe are pretty basic and you probably have all of them in your pantry.
- Ground beef – I like to use round or lean beef
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Green pepper
- Diced tomatoes – these won in a blind taste test from America’s Test Kitchen!
- Tomato paste – make your own with this easy tutorial for Homemade Tomato Paste.
- Campbell’s Pork and Beans
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Dutch oven
How to make the chili recipe
Step 1. In large Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the ground round. When meat is nearly done, add olive oil and allow to heat. Add the chopped onion and green peppers to the browned meat. Stir and cook about five minutes, stirring frequently.
Cook’s Tip: If you use a leaner ground beef, you won’t even need to drain it!
Step 2. Pour in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and water. Stir to mix well and add chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir again to mix well and bring the beef chili to a boil.
Step 3. Then turn it down to a simmer and add the beans. Stir gently and cook about 45 minutes on medium-low, stirring frequently.
You could also cook this chili in the crock pot and have it ready when you get home. It’s simple, versatile, and great for the whole family. Enjoy!
This easy chili recipe will become a staple in your menu rotation because it comes together quickly and please the whole family. You can tweak it with spices or use ground turkey instead of beef, or chili beans instead of pork n’ beans.
More from Southern Food and Fun
If you’ve tried this chili recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And please join the Southern Food and Fun Facebook group to get all the Southern Food and Fun recipes.
Classic Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground round beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped white onion
- 1 cup chopped green pepper
- 1 28- oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 2 cans water, from the tomato paste
- 1 19 1/2- oz. can Campbell’s pork and beans, undrained
- 1 tablespoon chili powder, add more if needed
- ½ tablespoon ground cumin, add more if needed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In large Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the ground round. When meat is nearly done, add olive oil and allow to heat. Add onion and green peppers to meat. Stir and cook about five minutes, stirring frequently.
- Pour in tomatoes, tomato paste, and water. Stir to mix well and add chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix well and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer and add beans. Stir and cook about 45 minutes on medium-low, stirring frequently.
- Serve with grated cheese, chopped onions, frito chips, sour cream.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published December 15, 2014, and on November 23, 2019, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.
More Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love:
How would you recommend making this in a crock pot? I’d love to try it!
I haven’t made this chili in a crockpot but I’m sure it would be great!
I made this recipe as written except I doubled it. Everyone raved about it. Fantastic recipe. Thk you.
Thank you so much!
I made this recipe exactly as is except I doubled it. I made jalapeños cheddar cornbread to go along it. It was fantastic!! Everyone at the potluck could not get enough and wanted more. WHen it was gone people were groaning that there was no more. I’ve been told I have to bring these dishes all the time now. Thank you for a great recipe and a way to use up all the cans of pork and beans I have in my pantry.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Do you have a good recipe for meatless chili? Thank you!
This is one of my favorites! https://southernfoodandfun.com/slow-cooker-vegetarian-chili-sweet-potatoes/