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This easy 5-ingredient chili recipe comes together in one pot with no chopping required, making it the perfect quick, cozy, and family-friendly meal for busy weeknights.
When you need a cozy bowl of chili on the table fast, this 5-ingredient chili recipe is here to save the day! ♡
With literally zero chopping required and just a handful of pantry staples, this chili comes together in one pot with hardly any effort and big flavor. Brown the beef, stir in the rest, let it simmer for a few minutes, and a legit-delicious pot of chili will be ready to dish up! It’s honestly one of the easiest recipes in my chili lineup and rivals the flavor of chili recipes that take hours to simmer. Perfect for busy weeknights, game days, or anytime you’re craving a quick, hearty meal without the fuss!
Of course, the best part is that everyone can make it their own. Load up each bowl with all the fun toppings — cheese, avocado, cilantro, sour cream, tortilla chips, you name it — and you’ve got a meal that’s endlessly customizable and always a major crowd-pleaser. You definitely need to add this one to your repertoire!
The 5 Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are a few quick notes about the 5 ingredients you can use to make this easy chili recipe:
Ground beef: I usually use 80/20 ground beef to provide a hearty, savory base for the chili. (If you use leaner ground beef, you might need to add a little extra oil to help brown the beef.) That said, this recipe is incredibly flexible if you’d like to swap in ground pork, turkey, chicken or your favorite plant-based ground “meat.”
Diced tomatoes with green chiles: If you can find them, I highly recommend using cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes with green chiles to add some extra charred flavor to the broth. But regular Ro*Tel or your favorite chunky salsa will also work great! Just be sure that you note the size of your cans or jars and use 30 ounces total.
Tomato sauce: A can of tomato sauce creates a smooth, velvety broth that ties everything together, while also adding a touch of sweetness and classic seasoning from ingredients like onion, garlic, and herbs.
Beans: Two cans of beans add plenty of heartiness to this chili — I love using a mix of pinto and kidney beans for variety, but any canned beans you prefer will work great.
Taco seasoning: Feel free to use store-bought taco seasoning to save time. Or you can mix up my homemade taco seasoning recipe in just a few minutes (note that you’ll need to make a double batch)! We’ll use a full 1/4 cup of taco seasoning to ensure that the chili has plenty of that classic, zesty flavor!
Recipe Tips
Detailed step-by-step instructions are included in the recipe below, but here are a few extra tips to keep in mind:
Adjust the heat. Fire-roasted tomatoes with green chiles add a mild kick. For a spicier chili, toss in extra diced green chiles or a pinch of cayenne. For a milder chili, just use plain fire-roasted tomatoes.
Simmer for more flavor. The chili tastes honestly delicious after it has simmered just for a few minutes. But if you have extra time, let it simmer longer so the flavors can deepen even more.
Make it ahead. Chili tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld, so this is a great recipe to meal prep in advance!
Don’t skip the toppings. The more the merrier! A sprinkle of cheese, a dollop of sour cream, chopped fresh cilantro, some creamy avocado, diced green or red onions, or a handful of crushed tortilla chips adds that finishing touch of texture and flavor.
Recipe Variations
This base recipe is incredibly versatile, so feel free to swap or add in your favorite ingredients to make it your own!
Swap the protein. Ground turkey, chicken, or even plant-based crumbles all work well in place of beef.
Make it vegetarian. Skip the meat altogether and double the beans (or add lentils) for a hearty meatless version.
Boost the veggies. Stir in corn, bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach for extra nutrition and color.
Add grains. Mix in cooked rice, quinoa, or farro to make the chili even more filling.
Turn up the heat. Add a diced jalapeño, chipotle in adobo, or extra chili powder for spicier kick.
More Easy Chili Recipes To Try!
Love a good chili recipe? Here are a few of our favorites here on Gimme Some Oven!
This easy 5-ingredient chili recipe comes together in one pot with no chopping required, making it the perfect quick, cozy, and family-friendly meal for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
1 pound ground beef
2 (14.5-ounce) cans beans, rinsed and drained (I used half kidney beans, half pintos)
2 (14.5-ounce) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes with green chiles(see note below if using Ro*Tel)
1 (14.5-ounce) can tomato sauce
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) taco seasoning, homemade or store-bought
optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green or red onions, diced avocado, or crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
Brown the beef.In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until browned, crumbling it with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
Simmer.Stir in the beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning until combined. Bring the chili to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 5 to 15 minutes (however long you have), stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld.
Season.Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Serve.Serve warm loaded up with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
Diced tomatoes with green chiles: I used Muir Glen’s fire-roasted tomatoes and green chiles here, which comes in 15-ounce cans. But if you’re using Ro*Tel (also great!), please note that it usually comes in 10-ounce cans, so you would need three cans to equal about 30 ounces total.
Taco seasoning not chili seasoning?
Yep, we just used taco seasoning since it’s the mix more people have on hand. But you’re welcome to use chili seasoning if you prefer!
Um, GENIUS. I’m going to try this tonight!