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.
Big fan of chili here! Can’t wait to try this simple recipe! It looks absolutely delicious!
This is a lifesaver when you are short on time and ingredients. My family thought it was good too!
Only 3 ingredients and less than 30 minutes?? I am soooo in!
This is the easiest & tastiest chili ever!! Perfect for those nights, you don’t know what to make!
Thank you for such an easy, delicious recipe! We made this Sunday for our football games and everyone loved it! We topped ours with extra cilantro and avocados!
Being on Weight Watchers, sometimes I find myself in a lunch rut. Eating the same thing over and over, every day. I decided to make something different that I could portion out and have for lunch for the week and that’s when I found this recipe. It’s not only extremely easy to make, totally budget friendly because it only asks for 3 ingredients, but it’s also so incredibly yummy! I only added additional salt & pepper for my taste. And using ground turkey in place of beef makes it even more healthy, clocking in at only 3 points per serving! It’s thick, hearty, filling and delicious!
This is a bachelor’s go to recipe. If you like it more like a good Arizona red, add at least a quarter cup of chili powder–mild or hot to your taste. If you like it really picante a can of adobo. I like my chili soupy so I add V8 for for more liquid. Simple, quick and always great.
Sounds delicious, thanks for the ideas! :)
You could also substitue the tomatoes with a jar of salsa, if you want some extra stuff in there. I like southwest style with corn and black beans in it.
wow this looks good, will cook for my children the same age as me. Yum., Thanks mate.
I love chilli! and this one looks so perfect. Gotta try this soon. Thanks for sharing your recipe, Kristin!
Hello I just added 1lb turkey, one can dark kidney beans, one can Italian style diced tomatoes. Seasoned. And 1 pack chili mix. Should I add some water say about a cup or so? Thanks
William
Hi William! I would start with 1/2 cup of water and add a little if the chili mix flavor is too strong. Sounds like it will be delicious! :)
I wanted to thank you for this recipe. I volunteer at our Hands of Hope Food Bank in Durant, OK and I bake for our clients. This recipe will be an appreciated addition to our recipes for our clients. It is simple, not a lot of ingredients, and saves times. Thank you again.
If you’re going the crock pot route, do you still need to cook the ground beef ahead of time?
Cooking the ground beef in the crock pot should be fine. I would just make sure to stir it occasionally to make sure it cooks evenly. :)
Love this chili recipe!
how many servings from this receipe?
It serves 4-6 people!
This looks amazing! You can cook for me anytime. Will follow you on Pinterest.
I love making chili in the crockpot. Thanks for sharing this easy 3 ingredient recipe.
I love making chili in my crockpot too! I love how crockpots cook for me! ;)
This is the shortest ingredient and prep list I have ever seen. I <3 it! Heading over to Yellow Bliss Road for my tasty yums like this!
Thanks Taylor! It’s super yummy and even better because it’s so easy!!
What size cans?
Around 15 oz!