Stove Top Chili

5 from 9 votes

Make hearty and flavorful stove top chili with simple ingredients in just one pot. Perfect for game day or weeknight dinners, and easy to customize!

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Total Time30

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 30 minute meals, comfort foods, dutch oven recipe, stovetop, dutch oven chili, easy chili recipe, stovetop chili

Servings: servings

Calories: 277kcal

1 pound lean ground beef we recommend 85/15 or 80/20
15 ounces canned chili beans or kidney beans
15 ounces canned diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel or Del Monte Zesty Diced Tomatoes)
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Add ground beef to a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef, using a wooden spoon to break apart the meat as it cooks.
Using paper toweling, carefully soak up excess grease in the pot, leaving about 1 tablespoon of grease behind, for additional flavor.
Place the Dutch oven back on the stovetop over medium-high heat and stir in the chili beans and diced tomatoes. Using a a large spoon, stir to combine, then bring mixture to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium-low, stir in cinnamon, then let mixture simmer for about 20 minutes.
Ladle into bowls and serve warm, topped with your favorite chili toppings.

This easy chili recipe can be tailored to your liking. We like to include beans, but you can add green peppers, celery, or any other vegetables you like.
Add chili toppings to small serving bowls, then let your guests help themselves to whatever toppings they like.
To round out this 30-minute meal, consider serving it with a salad and garlic toasted sourdough bread or garlic toast.

Recipe Variations

- Boost the flavor with spices: For a bold twist, stir in cumin, extra salt, dried oregano, fresh cilantro, and a pinch of red pepper flakes while simmering. These simple additions will deepen the flavors and bring a touch of heat to this classic chili recipe.

- Add more vegetables: Dice a bell pepper and sauté it with the ground beef to add color and extra texture. This easy step adds freshness and makes each spoonful even more satisfying.

- Make it rich and smoky: Mix in crispy bacon for added depth and smokiness. Bacon pairs beautifully with the beans and tomatoes, giving your easy chili recipe stovetop a hearty, savory upgrade.

- Create a thicker, richer base: Stir in a spoonful of tomato paste during simmering to create a thicker sauce. Serve the chili with a crisp green salad on the side to balance the rich, comforting flavors.

Storing Instructions:

If you’re only storing the Dutch oven chili for a few days, keep it in a sealed container in the fridge. For longer periods of time, freezing is recommended. Let it thaw in the fridge before reheating.
To reheat this easy chili on the stove, place it in a saucepan over medium heat and stir it occasionally, until it reaches a temperature of 165°F. To reheat in a microwave, place it in a heat-safe container and cook on high power for 3-5 minutes.

Make Ahead Instructions:

Make a batch in advance to save yourself some time. It keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Then, invite some friends over for a game day party and set up a chili bar!

Other cooking methods:

Crockpot Slow Cooker chili: This chili can be made in a crock-pot. First, brown the meat and add it to the crock-pot with the can of chili beans and diced tomatoes. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Instant Pot Chili: To make this easy chili recipe in the Instant Pot, saute the ground beef meat in the Instant Pot. Then, add all ingredients and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Let it naturally release for 5 minutes, then do a quick release.
You can substitute diced tomatoes (without chiles) and use a chili seasoning packet to spice this to your liking.