Description

This easy 5-Ingredient Chili recipe is a quick and flavorful one-pot meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Using simple pantry staples like lean ground beef, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, chili beans, diced green chiles or jalapenos, and crushed red pepper flakes, this chili comes together in just a few minutes on the stovetop. It’s a hearty, comforting dish with a perfect balance of spice and savory flavors that can be easily adjusted to your taste.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)

Vegetables & Beans

29 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes with garlic (2 cans, 14.5 ounces each)
31 ounces chili beans (2 cans, 15.5 ounces each, S&W recommended)
7 ounces diced green chiles (or 1/2 can, 4 ounces diced jalapenos)

Spices

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)

Instructions

Cook the beef: In a large 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, break the beef up into small pieces while cooking. Stir occasionally and continue cooking until the beef is fully cooked through and no longer pink.
Add remaining ingredients: To the cooked beef, add the fire roasted diced tomatoes, chili beans, diced green chiles or jalapenos, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir everything together to combine evenly.
Simmer: Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to let the flavors meld.
Adjust seasoning: Taste the chili and adjust salt as needed, adding a pinch at a time if the flavor seems flat. Stir well before serving.

Notes

For a milder chili, reduce or omit the crushed red pepper flakes.
You can substitute diced green chiles with diced jalapenos or other chili peppers based on heat preference.
This chili can be easily doubled for larger crowds.
Serve with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions if desired.
Leftovers refrigerate well for up to 3 days and freeze for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: easy chili recipe, one pot chili, quick chili, 5 ingredient chili, beef chili, stovetop chili, weeknight dinner