Thick and Hearty Homestyle Chili Recipe

Chili is the perfect winter warm-up meal, right?! This is the best we have ever eaten. I know, everyone says that about their favorite recipe, but I swear this is the ONE.

Thick and hearty homestyle chili with green onion, cheese, and sour cream as a garnish in a white bowl.

It’s not a loose soup, it’s thick, chunky and loaded with rich flavor certain to please the entire family. It has kidney beans, pinto beans, chunks of ground beef, spices … it’s got it all!

This thick chili recipe is perfect for game day gatherings as well. A one-pot, easy meal that can easily feed a crowd.

If you’re looking for that hearty chili recipe, you’ve found it!

Check out our Tomato Basil Soup!

Thick And Hearty Homestyle Chili Video

How To Make An Awesome Thick Chili

Thick & Hearty Homestyle Chili - ground beef and onions cooked in a dutch oven

Seriously, there won’t be many steps in this post. One-pot (I use my large dutch oven) on medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and onions. add in the garlic and other spices.

Add the garlic, chili powder, dried mustard, crushed red pepper, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cook for another minute.

Thick & Hearty Homestyle Chili - beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, and chilis added to the dutch oven

Add the green chilis, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, kidney beans, pinto beans, and water. Simmer on low for at least 4 hours.

Thick & Hearty Homestyle Chili scooped in a ladle

This cooks for hours but it’s worth the wait, I swear! This homemade chili recipe will become your new favorite.

Thick & Hearty Homestyle Chili in a white bowl garnished with sour cream, shredded cheese, and diced green onions

Serve with your favorite toppings. Cheese, sour cream, diced onions or jalapenos.

Looking for another kind of chili? Take a look at our White Chicken Chili. We also have a very tasty vegetarian chili that rocks!

For dessert? Try our Monster Cookies! They are to die for!

Thick Homestyle Chili Recipe

Thick and hearty homestyle chili with green onion, cheese, and sour cream as a garnish in a white bowl.

Thick Homestyle Chili Recipe

Warm up this winter with a big bowl of the BEST thick, rich and hearty chili!
4.62 from 52 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: chili, Soup
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 577kcal
Author: Don’t Sweat The Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried mustard
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper (or more to taste)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4.5 oz green chilies, chopped (1 – 4.5oz can)
  • 28 oz diced tomatoes (1 – 28 oz can)
  • 6 oz tomato paste (1 – 6 oz can)
  • 4 cups water
  • 32 oz kidney beans, undrained (2 – 16 oz cans)
  • 16 oz pinto beans, drained (1 – 16 oz can)
  • Toppings of choice: shredded cheese onions, jalapenos, sour cream, etc.

Instructions

  • Brown the ground beef and onion. Drain any excess fat, if desired.
    2 lbs ground beef, 1 large onion, chopped
  • Add the garlic, chili powder, dried mustard, crushed red pepper, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cook for another minute.
    2 cloves garlic, minced, 3 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon dried mustard, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper, 1 1/2 tablespoons cumin, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Add the remaining ingredients, and simmer on low for at least 4 hours.
    4.5 oz green chilies, chopped, 28 oz diced tomatoes, 6 oz tomato paste, 4 cups water, 32 oz kidney beans, undrained, 16 oz pinto beans, drained

Notes

Vegetarian – I make this chili vegetarian for our daughter and she loves it. I add an extra can or two of beans. Then when the cooking time is done I stir in vegetarian faux meat crumbles. It comes out almost just as thick.
Storing – Let the chili cool to room temperature, place it in an air-tight container, and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Freezing – Let the chili cool to room temperature, place it in a freezer-safe air-tight container, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 577kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 954mg | Potassium: 1531mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1429IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 10mg

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57 Comments

  1. I have been making this for years! It’s my go-to chili recipe . We make this with venison and it’s a family/extended family favorite ! When I first made it, I didn’t have ground mustard so I used smoky tumeric and that’s been my secret ingredient ever since ! Excellent recipe. Thank you for sharing !5 stars

  2. You know it’s good when a vegan requests it. I add chopped steak and 1 pound of burger, otherwise same as recipe. Yummy5 stars

  3. I was looking for a “standard issue” chili and found this recipe with great reviews. My go to the last few years has been Guy’s Dragon Breath Chili but wanted to go back to traditional this time. I made it this weekend. I followed the recipe 99%, just using one can of black beans instead of one kidney beans (because I prefer and all I had). I went with a touch more crushed red pepper also. I let it simmer for the full four hours, lid off, and it did cook down and thicken up nicely. Very good chili, hits all the boxes. I will keep this recipe handy for next time.

  4. I just made this for the first time one word “EXCELLENT” now because my family doesn’t eat red meat are used turkey and because of all the spices the taste was excellent thank you so much for this recipe it’s a definite keeper.

  5. I’ve got this on the pot now simmering. I hope it’s as good as it smells. 🙂

    I always try recipes exactly how it states and if necessary I tweak it the 2nd time I make it. I don’t think this one will need tweaking though. Thanks for creating an awesome one and sharing.5 stars

4.62 from 52 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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