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HUGE Pot of Homemade Chili Recipe

5 from 136 reviews

This HUGE pot of homemade chili is a hearty, flavorful dish perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week. Combining ground beef and sausage with a robust blend of spices, beans, and tomatoes, this chili simmers slowly to develop deep, rich flavors. It’s flexible, allowing for optional heat with Rotel tomatoes or hot sauce, and pairs beautifully with classic toppings like cheese and sour cream.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 lb ground sausage (optional but amazing)

Vegetables and Beans

  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) chili beans (in sauce)

Tomatoes and Sauces

  • 2 cans (28 oz each) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (10 oz) Rotel (optional for heat)

Spices

  • 3 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 12 tsp sugar (balances acidity)

Optional

  • Hot sauce or red pepper flakes (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Brown the Meat: In a large pot, cook the ground beef and ground sausage together over medium heat until fully browned. Drain off any excess grease to ensure the chili is not too oily.
  2. Sauté Vegetables: Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté the mixture until the vegetables become soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add Tomatoes and Beans: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, drained kidney beans, chili beans in sauce, and Rotel if you desire some heat. Stir everything together thoroughly.
  4. Mix in Spices: Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, and sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Combine well to distribute the flavors evenly.
  5. Simmer the Chili: Reduce the heat to low and let the chili simmer uncovered for 45 to 60 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to help the flavors meld.
  6. Adjust Seasoning: Taste your chili and adjust seasoning as needed. Add extra chili powder for more depth or hot sauce/red pepper flakes for additional heat according to your preference.
  7. Serve: Serve the chili hot, topped with your favorite garnishes such as shredded cheese, sour cream, crackers, or cornbread for a complete meal.

Notes

  • Optional sausage adds richer flavor and texture but can be omitted for a leaner chili.
  • Simmering uncovered helps thicken the chili and intensify flavors.
  • Rotel adds a nice spicy kick; omit if a milder chili is preferred.
  • Adjust sugar quantity carefully to balance tomato acidity without making it sweet.
  • Leftover chili tastes even better the next day and freezes well for meal prep.

Keywords: homemade chili, hearty chili recipe, ground beef chili, sausage chili, easy chili, stovetop chili