Homemade Classic Chili with Beans and Spices Recipe
This Homemade Chili recipe is a hearty, flavorful dish perfect for a comforting meal. It combines lean ground beef and pork sausage with a robust blend of tomatoes, beans, and spices, simmered to perfection for a thick, rich chili. Topped with optional cheddar cheese and sour cream, this classic chili is easy to make and satisfying for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Oil
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork sausage (I use Jimmy Dean)
Vegetables and Liquids
- 1 large onion, diced
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, petite, undrained
- 4 cups tomato juice
- 1 cup ketchup
Beans
- 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
- ¾ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more if you want it spicier)
Optional Ingredients
- Cornmeal to thicken, if desired
- Shredded cheddar cheese, optional
- Sour cream, optional
Instructions
- Saute onion: Add the olive oil to 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 soft and translucent.
- Brown meat: Add the ground beef and ground pork sausage to the pot. Cook them together, breaking apart the meat with a wooden spoon or meat chopper until browned evenly. Drain and remove the excess grease to keep the chili lean.
- Add liquids and seasonings: Pour in the red wine vinegar and cook for 1 minute to enhance the flavors. Then add the diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato juice, ketchup, pinto beans, kidney beans, light brown sugar, chili powder, garlic salt, black pepper, paprika, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer chili: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the chili simmer uncovered for at least one hour, stirring occasionally. The chili will thicken and flavors will deepen the longer it cooks, up to 3 hours. If a thicker consistency is desired, stir in a sprinkle of cornmeal during the simmering process.
- Serve: Ladle the hot chili into bowls and top with a dollop of sour cream and a generous sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese if you like. Serve warm and enjoy your hearty homemade chili.
Notes
- Simmering the chili longer improves flavor and thickens the texture.
- Cornmeal is an optional thickener to achieve desired consistency.
- Adjust cayenne pepper according to your preferred heat level.
- Use lean meats to keep the chili healthier.
- Leftover chili tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
Keywords: chili recipe, homemade chili, beef chili, pork sausage chili, hearty chili, easy chili recipe, classic chili
