This 3-ingredient easy chili recipe is loaded with ground beef and beans ready in 30 minutes or less! A thick, hearty, and flavorful soup recipe that’s perfect for fall.
If you love easy soup recipes, add Wendy’s chili recipe and white chicken chili to your menu next!
Table of Contents
Easy Homemade Chili Recipe
This easy 3-ingredient chili recipe is similar to my chili recipe but has only three basic ingredients that you can build upon. We love serving it with cornbread muffins or adding cornbread croutons on top.
All that you need to make it is a pound of cooked and drained ground beef, a can of chili beans (undrained), and a can of chili-ready diced tomatoes. Mix the meat, beans, and tomatoes together in a large pot, bring it to a boil, and then simmer for about 30 minutes.
Quick and Easy Chili Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chili beans: Make sure to use undrained beans. The sauce helps give that soupy consistency.
- Diced tomatoes with green chiles: I like to use Rotel or Hunt’s Seasoned Diced Tomatoes in Sauce for Chili.
- Ground beef: Lean ground beef gives the chili a heartier flavor. Drain the ground beef grease before adding the remaining ingredients.
How to Make Easy Chili
With three pantry staple ingredients then chili will be made in three steps! It is that easy!
- Mix ingredients together in a pot. In a large pot, mix together the cooked beef, beans, and tomatoes.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Serving. Enjoy the best chili recipe with your favorite toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, chopped tortilla chips, sliced avocado and green onions.
Tips and Variations
Take this 3 ingredient chili recipe to the next level with a few extra add-ins like seasoning, veggies, or even different meat.
- Seasoning and spice. Boost the flavor or heat with chili powder, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin, paprika, oregano, and garlic powder. I love my homemade chili seasoning!
- Vegetables. If you love to add in more ingredients try chopped carrots, sliced red onion, corn, bell peppers, or celery.
- Don’t drain. You will want to leave the cans of beans undrained. This adds liquid to the chili and makes it more soupy.
- Adding to the chili. When adding different ingredients, the key is to keep the ratio of 1 pound of meat, 1 can of beans, and 1 can of diced tomatoes. If it’s too thick, just add a small can of tomato sauce, along with a little chili powder.
- Beans. Experiment with different beans! Try adding a can of black beans, cannellini, pinto beans, or kidney beans with some chili powder.
This quick chili recipe is a favorite along with taco soup, lasagna soup, crockpot chicken enchilada soup, and hearty vegetable soup.
More Chili Recipes
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Easy Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef , cooked and drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can chili beans , undrained
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles , I use Rotel or Hunt's Seasoned Diced Tomatoes in Sauce for Chili
- Kosher salt , to taste
- Ground black pepper , to taste
Optional toppings: Cheese, Sour cream, Tortilla chips, Cilantro, Green onions
Instructions
- Combine ingredients then simmer. In a large pot, mix one pound cooked ground beef, 1 can undrained chili beans, and 1 can diced tomatoes together. Bring to a boil over medium heat and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer about 30 minutes.
- Add toppings and serve. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy with your favorite toppings, such as cheese and sour cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Simply add all ingredients to the slow cooker and mix together. Then cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. It will be the best crockpot chili!
The key to this recipe is that it offers limitless possibilities of variations. You can swap out the beef for ground turkey, Beyond meat, stew meat, chicken, or sausage. Want a different bean than chili? Make this the best classic chili recipe for you!
Yes! Use plant-based ground meat or omit the meat and use only vegetables.
Place the chili in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for five days. When ready to enjoy reheat!
Freeze this easy chili recipe for another dinner. Allow the chili to cool to room temperature. Place it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Store in the freezer for 3 months. Thaw completely in the fridge and reheat easy chili in microwave or on stovetop.
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Beef, Beef, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, One Pot, Soups, Stovetop, Stovetop
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Chili came out great.real quick to make after working a 12hr shift. Thx for the idea.
This was easy to make and it was most enjoyable! Thank you so much for providing an easy, weeknight dinner that was tasty for all!
I’m vegan, but I find it easier to take non vegan recipes and replace things to make it plant based. This recipe looked super easy so I gave it a vegan twist and it was fantastic! I replaced the ground beef with my version of tofu “ground beef.” I also added half of a diced onion and pepper and minced garlic. Then I added about 1.5 cups of veggie stock. Finally I added additional spices such as chili powder, cocoa powder, cumin, and paprika. Thank you for this recipe! It’s going to be a fall staple for me.
Very easy chili recipe to make and it was delicious, the whole family enjoyed it, will be making it regularly, thanks!
This was so good. I added bacon to mine. Definitely b will make it again!!!
I used this recipe last year for the first time and it is now our go to chili recipe. My whole family loves it & it’s so easy! Thank you for the yummy recipes you share 😃
That makes us so happy to hear, Ashley! Glad it is a hit with your family :)
Very nice recipe. I definitely love this website. Keep writing!
Thank you! Happy to hear you enjoy our website, Clint.
I’m not supposed to have much tomato so I make my chilli with Ranch Style Beans, onions and beef. I may have to add a little water.
I work 12 hour shifts for several days so this is easy and delicious to make for my long work week!
Love it.