Easy 5 Ingredient Chili Recipe: Your Cozy Comfort Bowl

My trusty five-ingredient chili recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly in one pot, creating a comforting meal.

Weeknight dinners demand simple solutions that satisfy hungry families fast.

Busy home cooks can whip up this delicious dish without complicated techniques or expensive groceries.

Rich spices and quality protein make this chili shine with minimal preparation.

Weekend meal prep becomes a breeze when you can toss everything together quickly.

Jump into this straightforward recipe and savor every delicious spoonful.

Easy 5 Ingredient Chili For Fast, Bold Flavor

• Speedy Weeknight Lifesaver: Whips up a hearty meal in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy families craving a quick and delicious dinner solution.
• Budget-Friendly Comfort: Requires only 5 affordable ingredients, making it an economical choice for home cooks looking to stretch their grocery dollars without sacrificing flavor.
• Kid-Approved Crowd-Pleaser: Delivers a simple, mild chili that appeals to both children and adults, ensuring everyone at the table enjoys a satisfying meal without complex preparation.
• Versatile Meal MVP: Easily customizable with optional toppings like cheese or sour cream, allowing each person to personalize their bowl and make the dish their own.

Five Things For Quick Chili Recipe

• Ground Beef, Sausage: Rich protein source that provides hearty flavor and substance to the chili, with ground beef offering classic taste and sausage adding spicy complexity.

• Onion, Garlic: Essential base ingredients that create deep, savory foundation, with white or yellow onions providing sweet undertones and fresh garlic delivering robust aroma.

• Diced Tomatoes, Chili with Beans: Moisture-rich ingredients that create chili's signature texture, with diced tomatoes adding bright acidity and canned chili beans contributing authentic southwestern flavor and protein.

Five Ingredient Chili Cooking

Step 1: Brown the Meat

Heat a large pot over medium flame.

Crumble ground beef or sausage into the pot, cooking until no pink remains.

Carefully drain away any extra grease to keep the chili from becoming too oily.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

• Diced onions
• Minced garlic

Stir and cook until onions become soft and slightly translucent, releasing their sweet fragrance throughout the kitchen.

Step 3: Blend Tomato Goodness

• Diced tomatoes
• Chili beans

Stir everything together, ensuring the beans and tomatoes are evenly distributed throughout the meat mixture.

Step 4: Simmer and Develop Flavors

Allow the chili to bubble gently on low heat.

Let it cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

This slow cooking helps blend all the delicious flavors together.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

Ladle the steaming chili into bowls.

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Chopped green onions
• Sour cream
• Crispy tortilla strips

Enjoy your hearty, comforting meal right away while it’s piping hot!

5-Ingredient Chili – Pro Notes

• Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a pinch of smoked paprika to intensify the chili's rich, savory taste.
• Swap ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian alternative.
• Adjust heat by using mild, medium, or hot chili beans, or add diced jalapeños for extra kick.
• Let the chili cook longer on low heat to develop deeper flavors and create a more tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• This chili freezes beautifully for up to 3 months, making it perfect for quick future meals or busy weeknights.

Five Ingredient Chili Should Be Stored In The Fridge

• Store leftover chili in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Transfer cooled chili to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, ensuring you remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to 4 months.
• Pour chili into a saucepan, add a splash of water or broth to prevent sticking, and warm over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until heated thoroughly, about 5-7 minutes.
• Place chili in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely, and heat in 1-minute intervals. Stir between intervals to distribute heat evenly, checking temperature until steaming hot.

Plate Partners for Easy 5 Ingredient Chili

• Savor with Beer Pairing: A crisp, hoppy IPA perfectly cuts through the chili's richness, balancing the robust meat and spicy flavors with its refreshing bite.
• Complement with Cornbread: Warm, slightly sweet cornbread provides a delightful texture contrast, soaking up the chili's hearty sauce while adding a comforting Southern touch.
• Match with Fresh Salad: A zesty mixed green salad with tangy vinaigrette offers a light, crisp counterpoint to the heavy chili, cleansing the palate between bites.
• Cool with Sour Cream Topping: A dollop of cool, creamy sour cream adds a smooth, tangy element that softens the chili's heat and provides a luxurious finish.

Chili Verde Variants

• Vegetarian Chili: Replace ground beef with plant-based protein like black beans, lentils, or crumbled tofu. Add extra vegetables such as bell peppers or zucchini for more texture and nutrition.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Ensure all canned ingredients are certified gluten-free. Check chili beans label to confirm no wheat-based additives are present.
• Low-Sodium Option: Use no-salt-added diced tomatoes and low-sodium beans. Enhance flavor with fresh herbs like oregano or cumin instead of salt.
• Slow Cooker Method: Brown meat and sauté onions first, then transfer all ingredients to slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours for deeper, richer flavors.

FAQs

• Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?

Yes, ground turkey is a great lean alternative that works perfectly in this chili recipe. Simply follow the same cooking instructions and drain any excess fat before adding other ingredients.

• How can I make the chili spicier?

To increase heat, add diced jalapeños, a dash of cayenne pepper, or use hot chili beans instead of the regular variety. You can also include a few drops of hot sauce to boost the spice level.

• Is this recipe budget-friendly?

Absolutely! With just 5 ingredients, this chili is incredibly cost-effective. Ground beef, canned tomatoes, canned beans, onions, and garlic are typically inexpensive and readily available at most grocery stores.

• Can I make this chili in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can easily adapt this recipe for a slow cooker. Brown the meat first, then transfer all ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

Easy 5 Ingredient Chili Recipe

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4.8 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty chili blends robust ground beef, savory beans, and zesty seasonings into a comforting one-pot meal that promises warmth and satisfaction. Generous portions and quick preparation make this chili a perfect weeknight dinner for hungry families seeking delicious simplicity.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef or sausage

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 white or yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Canned Ingredients:

• 15 ounces (15 oz) diced tomatoes
• 30 ounces (30 oz) chili with beans

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Instructions

1. Heat a substantial cooking vessel over medium flame and thoroughly cook the ground protein until it turns a rich, even brown color, ensuring no pink remains visible.
2. Eliminate excess grease by carefully draining the rendered fat from the cooked protein.
3. Introduce finely chopped aromatics to the pot, gently sautéing until the onions become translucent and release their delightful fragrance.
4. Incorporate diced tomatoes and pre-seasoned legume mixture into the protein base, stirring to create a harmonious blend of ingredients.
5. Reduce heat to allow the chili to gently simmer, developing deep, complex flavors for approximately 15-20 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent bottom scorching.
6. Once the liquid has slightly reduced and ingredients have melded together, remove from heat and prepare for serving.
7. Transfer the hearty chili to serving bowls, garnishing with optional toppings like sharp cheddar cheese, creating a visually appealing and delectable meal.

Notes

• Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner, healthier alternative that reduces saturated fat intake.
• Add extra depth by incorporating a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a pinch of smoked paprika during the sautéing stage for enhanced flavor complexity.
• For gluten-free diets, verify that canned tomatoes and beans are certified gluten-free to ensure complete dietary compatibility.
• Stretch the chili’s serving capacity by adding diced bell peppers or extra beans, which boosts nutritional value and creates a more substantial meal.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 8 g
• Protein: 22 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg