George's Chili Recipe for sure the best chili recipe (2024)

Want to try the best Chili Recipe? While I was away last week my husband George came up with his own Chili Recipe. Thankfully he saved me a bowl because it is really good. I mean really good, like the best chili recipe. In fact, if you read the comments someone used this recipe and won a chili contest.

George's Chili Recipe for sure the best chili recipe (1)

Thank you for stopping by today. Please check out more delicious recipes, comment and let me know how your family liked this one!

Maybe I should change the name to “award-winning chili recipe.” So if you have searched for the best homemade chili recipe I think we have one for you. You will love the slow-cooked chili full of flavor! Thank you, George!

How do you make hearty chili?

Just follow the instructions and you will have a blue ribbon chili! I think adding a can of diced tomatoes and green chilis along with the other tomatoes give it a nice flavor. My husband says it is the beer that makes this chili.

Another difference might be the omission of tomato sauce. He used three different kinds of beans. I would make sure to use western-style ranch beans and the mild chili beans, but you could substitute black beans or kidney beans drained for the pinto beans. Be careful though with substitutions. From the comments, this recipe is good as is.

Grab a large pot and let’s get cooking.I think you could also use a slow cooker for this recipe. Just be sure you are stirring occasionally.

What ingredients do you need for chili?

  • Lean ground beef
  • Ground sausage (we like sage flavored)
  • Chopped onion
  • Chopped garlic (I know some people substitute garlic powder NOT garlic salt, but we always use fresh and a garlic press)
  • Beans
  • Chili powder
  • Cumin
  • Cayenne pepper (ground red pepper)
  • Paprika
  • Tomato Paste
  • Beef Broth
  • Canned diced tomatoes
  • Rotel,diced tomatoes and green chilies
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Beer (George’s special ingredient)

The Best Chili Recipe

So here it is an award-winning chili recipe! You will see loads of information online about how to thicken chili. If you ever need to do that just make a slurrywith about a 1/4-cup of the chili liquid and 2 tablespoons flour or cornstarch if gluten-free. However, you won’t need to thicken this recipe. In fact, one of the commenters added a bit more beef broth to make it a little less thick.

Now you know how to make the best chili EVER!I do hope you love this beef chili, it really doesn’t even need any of these toppings!

What toppings go with chili?

We love our chili topped with:

  • chopped onions
  • jalapenos
  • shredded cheddar cheese.
  • sour cream
  • avocado
  • salsa or ketchup (I am not a fan of this, but I see so many people pour on the ketchup)
  • tabasco
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What sides go with chili?

Serve any of these ideas with chili

  • World’s Best Cornbread. (I promise you this recipe doesn’t disappoint)
  • Saltine Crackers
  • Corn chips
  • Veggies – We always serve veggies and homemade ranch dip alongside
  • Hot Dogs – YUM! Chili Cheese Dog!
  • Grilled Cheese
  • French Fries – This recipe would make great chili cheese fries

What do you serve with your chili?

Is chili healthy?

Of course, it depends on the individual ingredients in your recipe (and what you serve it with), but most chili recipes are packed full of nutrients that are good for you. The meat and beans provide protein. The beans also provide fiber and iron.Tomatoes and tomato paste are an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to improve your body’s immune system and can help keep you healthy.Onionsare healthy whether they’re raw or cooked! They contain fiber and folic acid, and a B vitaminthat helpsthebody make healthy new cells.Onionsare healthy whether they’re raw or cooked! Garlic isrich in vitamin C,vitaminB6, and manganese.

You can make chili more healthy by choosing your ingredients wisely. Go for low sodium canned tomatoes to cut down on salt. Consider adding extra veggies like carrots and bell peppers.

This recipe does use sausage which would make it a bit higher in fat. Feel free to substitute lean ground beef for the sausage. My weight loss soup is another healthy soup with loads of benefits to your body.

More Chili Recipes

If you love a good chili try my Cincinnati Chili. It is served over noodles. I love serving this recipe to a crowd. If you like those one-pot meals mychili maccan be made in a skillet. If you need a quick chili in 30 minutes that tastes like it cooked all day we also love this pressure cooker chili. It makes a super quick and delicious weeknight dinner. During the winter I think we are eating chili weekly so the pressure cooker makes for a quick meal.

What is the best way to cook chili in a slow cooker?

When we have all day to let something cook Crock Pot Chili is always a crowd-pleaser. It is a great stress-free recipe when company is coming over. Slow cooker chili is so easy. In fact, I am going to put George’s Chili recipe in the slow cooker soon! This is how I would do it.In a skillet place ground beef, onion, garlic, and cook on medium-high heat. Drain off any fat. Placebeef, onion, garlic, and remaining ingredientsIn 4- to 5-quart slow cooker (affliliate link). Cover and cook on a low heat setting for 6 to 8 hours.

Chili is a great meal for a crowd. When a have a lot of mouths to feed we also serve walking tacos. They are always a huge hit!

Your search for the best chili is over! I hope you love this great recipe. My husband loves it. (He is a bit partial but it looks like he is not alone. Enjoy!

What are your favorite chili toppings? Since I am gluten free I love corn chips to give a bit of crunch when others are using saltines.

If you need a quick dinner try this taco soup! I always keep the ingredients on hand when I need a last-minute meal.

I would love to keep you fully stocked with creative ideas, yummy recipes, fun crafts, and loads of free printables. Subscribe to Skip to my Lou to get new ideas delivered to your inbox. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for all my latest updates.

George's Chili Recipe for sure the best chili recipe (3)

5 from 9 votes

George’s Chili Recipe

The best chili recipe.. rich, robust and super delicious! Top with sour cream, cheddar cheese and jalapeños to really throw it over the top.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Save RecipeRate RecipePrint Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 lb sage sausage
  • 7 to 8 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2- 6 oz cans tomato paste
  • 1 3/4 cups beef broth
  • 1-12 ounce bottle dark beer or ale George used Ale
  • 3-8 ounce cans diced tomatoes with juice
  • 2-15 oz cans southwest style pinto beans
  • 1-15 oz can mild chili beans beans
  • 1-15 oz can western style ranch beans
  • 1-10 can mild Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies undrained
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a stock pot, over medium high heat brown beef and sausage, drain. Add in onion and garlic and cook over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent.

  • Add all the spices and cook 5 minutes over medium heat. Stir in tomato paste and let cook while opening the lids on all the cans. Add remaining chili ingredients; stir until combined. Heat to boiling for a few minutes and stir constantly then reduce heat to low. Cover, simmer 4 hours stirring about every 20 minutes to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot.

  • Serve with crackers, cheese, or other things such as chopped jalapeño peppers or chopped fresh onions.

Nutrition

Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 949mg | Potassium: 1001mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1260IU | Vitamin C: 9.1mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 5.4mg

Servings: 8

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Cindy Hopper

George's Chili Recipe for sure the best chili recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What makes chili taste better? ›

"Adding fresh ingredients — like diced onions, cilantro, and jalapenos — will take any canned chili to another level," Dunleavy said. "The fresh burst of flavor will brighten and elevate the chili while also adding great texture and crunch."

What is the best thickener for chili? ›

Stir in some finely ground cornmeal or masa harina.

Ground cornmeal is very effective at absorbing excess liquid and adds a subtle corn-like flavor. Just avoid coarse-ground cornmeal or polenta as they can lend a grainy texture to your chili.

What does brown sugar do to chili? ›

The brown sugar gave it a sweet/tangy flavor that reminded me of BBQ-sauce! Th chili was so good - it was hard to stop eating it! I did had some extra veggies (1 cl. garlic, 1 celery stalk, 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, 1 hot pepper) and used a can of diced tomatoes rather than tomato juice.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What spice gives chili its flavor? ›

Paprika can be sweet, hot (Hungarian), or smoked (Spanish). Most common additions to chile powder are garlic, onion, cumin (more smokiness), and oregano. Occasionally, allspice and/or clove will be included for a warm undertone. If all this has you curious, here's an article from Bon Appetit to read.

Does chili need tomato paste? ›

Tomato sauce is not a strong a taste as tomato paste. Also, sauce will increase the liquid content of your chili ever so slightly. Tomato paste has a more full, rich, tomato taste and smell. Using either one is appropriate, but you will need to tweak your seasonings to suit your personal tastes, anyway.

What liquid to add to chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

Should chili be thick or soupy? ›

There are indeed chili soups, but that is not the same as CHILI. You can easily find photos of “chili cook-off” winning chilis. You won't find much agreement on what ingredients go into a chili or how spicy it should be but uniformly, they are thick, and never soupy.

Does tomato paste make chili thicker? ›

Not only will tomato paste add a tangy flavor to the dish, but it will also act as a thickening agent. For this purpose, you can use homemade or store-bought tomato paste. Add 1 can of the paste to your pot of chili, stir the mixture, and let it cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes.

Why do you put cornmeal in chili? ›

Cornmeal is one of our go-to thickening agents for chili. Unlike all-purpose flour, this Southern pantry staple adds a subtle earthy flavor to the chili in addition to thickening it up. You can use white or yellow cornmeal that is fine to medium-grain.

Should you put a little sugar in chili? ›

Now for the piece de resistance: 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar. The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy.

Why do people put sour cream in chili? ›

For an extra tangy, rich bite, incorporate a dollop (or five) into your batch. This is already common practice in many white chili recipes (which, ironically, are often made with green chiles), but a dollop of stirred-in sour cream can benefit red chili, as well.

Why do you put honey in chili? ›

Honey adds a tasty balance to your bowl, but maybe the sweetest part of making chili is how adaptable it can be. Simple tweaks can yield some mind-blowing results that will inspire creativity.

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

Why would you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

How does Martha Stewart make chili? ›

Add chili powder, cocoa, and tomato paste; cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes more. Add tomatoes, broth, and cooked beef. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, until thickened slightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; serve with sour cream and chives.

How do you make chili taste more meaty? ›

Ground Beef: Provides the hearty meaty base for the chili. Opt for 85% lean; the fat enriches the meat, enhancing the dish's overall flavor and texture. And don't stress about the fat—post-cooking, it's easy to skim off any excess. Baking Soda: Helps tenderize the beef by locking in moisture, making it more succulent.

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