Dinner

The Pioneer Woman Chili Recipe

BySana Jeannette October 26, 2025October 26, 2025

Introduction

The Pioneer Woman Chili is a hearty, flavorful dish perfect for cozy dinners or game day gatherings. This chili blends tender ground beef, spices, and beans into a rich, satisfying meal that’s easy to make whether you’re using the stove, slow cooker, or Instant Pot.

The image shows a close-up of thick chili in a blue pot, with two types of visible beans, kidney and pinto beans, embedded in a rich, brown meat sauce with small melted cheese strands spread throughout. A wooden spoon is scooping up a portion, revealing the chunky texture of the ground beef mixed evenly with the sauce. The chili looks moist and hearty with a glossy surface and a few orange cheese streaks on top, creating a warm and comforting appearance. The background around the pot is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 lbs. ground beef (80% lean)
2 cloves garlic (diced)

8 oz. tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground oregano

1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup masa harina (white or yellow)

15 oz. kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
15 oz. pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
14.5 oz. diced tomatoes (Instant Pot version only)

Shredded Cheddar (for serving)
Lime wedges (for serving)
Sour cream (for serving)

Tortilla chips or Fritos (for serving)
Diced green onions (for serving)

Instructions

Step 1: For stove top: Cook and crumble the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease.

Step 2: Add the diced garlic and tomato sauce, cooking for 1 minute. Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: If the chili seems too dry after an hour, add ½ cup water. Combine masa harina with ½ cup water in a small bowl, then stir into the chili. Adjust with more masa or water for your preferred consistency.
Step 4: Add drained and rinsed kidney and pinto beans. Simmer for 10 more minutes. Serve with garnishes like shredded cheddar, lime wedges, sour cream, tortilla chips, and diced green onions.

Step 5: For crock pot: Brown ground beef and drain grease as above. Add garlic and tomato sauce, cook 1 minute. Stir in spices, then transfer everything to the crock pot.
Step 6: Stir masa harina mixed with water and the beans into the crock pot. Cook on low for 4 hours or all day. Add more masa or water as needed for consistency.
Step 7: For Instant Pot: Use diced tomatoes with juice instead of tomato sauce. Set to Sauté, brown beef, drain grease, add garlic and tomato sauce, cook 1 minute.

Step 8: Add seasonings, masa mixture, diced tomatoes with juice, and beans to the Instant Pot. Stir gently. Seal the lid and cook on Chili/Beans setting for 20 minutes. Use quick release or natural steam release. Serve with desired garnishes.

Tips & Variations

Use masa harina to thicken the chili naturally and add a subtle corn flavor.
Adjust cayenne pepper to taste for milder or spicier chili.

Serve with cornbread or over rice for a complete meal.
For a vegetarian version, substitute cooked lentils or textured vegetable protein for ground beef.

Storage

Store leftover chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if it has thickened. Chili also freezes well for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Serve

A close-up of a white bowl filled with a thick mixture of cooked ground meat and a mix of dark red and light brown beans in a rich brown sauce. A wooden spoon is partially inside the bowl, lifting some of the chunky, saucy mixture. The inside edges of the bowl have sauce marks showing the food has been stirred. The photo background is white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this chili without beans?

Yes, you can omit the beans to make a classic beef chili. Simply increase the amount of tomato sauce or add vegetables to maintain the desired texture.

What if I don’t have masa harina?

If you don’t have masa harina, you can use cornmeal as a substitute, though it may slightly change the texture. Alternatively, a small amount of flour or cornstarch mixed with water can be used to thicken the chili.