Easy Chili Con Carne
Chili con carne is the ultimate comfort food and a guaranteed crowd favorite.
Easy to make, hearty, and packed with flavor, it’s the perfect family meal—no long hours in the kitchen required, and even better the next day.
Easy Homemade Chili Con Carne – Perfect for Busy Weeknights
Chili con carne is one of those dishes that never fails to win everyone over. Hearty, fragrant, and deeply comforting, it’s a true family favorite that always hits the spot.
Perfect for a last-minute dinner, a relaxed Sunday lunch, or a big gathering with friends, chili con carne is the kind of dish you can rely on. It shows up, saves the day… and somehow vanishes from the table faster than you’d expect.
Simple to prepare and made with everyday ingredients, this chili only gets better as it sits. It’s one of those recipes you’ll keep coming back to… and everyone will happily ask for seconds.
On chilly winter nights, my husband loves to take over the kitchen and make his famous chili con carne. Served hot and hearty, it’s pure comfort in a bowl.
In the United States, it’s simply known as chili. This iconic dish, with roots in South American and Mexican cuisine, is a spicy, slow-simmered stew made with beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, and of course… chili peppers.
A blend of chili spices is stirred in, then finished with a touch of cumin at the end of cooking to deepen the flavor and give the dish its signature warmth.
Like many traditional recipes, chili con carne varies from one region to another. In Spanish, chili means pepper and carne means meat—no further explanation needed.
There’s even a vegetarian version, often enriched with corn, that’s just as satisfying and flavorful.
When it comes time to serve, chili is usually topped with grated Mexican cheese and a spoonful of sour cream to mellow the heat.
Yes, with the addition of jalapeños it can be fairly spicy… but above all, it’s absolutely delicious. Even my daughters love it, which says everything.
Today, I’m sharing my husband’s chili con carne recipe—the one that’s always a hit at our table.
What Is Chili Con Carne?
Chili con carne is a hearty stew made with ground beef, tomatoes, kidney beans, and a fragrant blend of spices that give it its signature flavor.
Its name literally means chili with meat, and although its exact origins are still debated, it has become a true staple of comfort and convivial cooking.
What makes chili so appealing is its versatility—you can easily adapt it to your taste, adjust the level of heat, use what you have in your pantry, and even tailor it to your mood.
Video Recipe :
Why You’ll Love This Chili Con Carne Recipe
- Easy and quick to prepare
- Budget-friendly and filling
- Perfect for family meals
- Ideal for batch cooking
- Even better when reheated
In the end, it’s the kind of comforting dish that pleases everyone at the table, even the ones who claim they don’t like spicy food.
Ingredients for Chili Con Carne
CHILI BASE
- 1 pound minced meat : Preferably beef, not too lean for a more flavorful chili.
- 1 onion : Yellow or white, finely chopped, adds sweetness and a melt-in-your-mouth texture to the sauce.
- 3 tablespoons chili seasoning : Adjust to your desired level of spiciness.
- 14 oz canned whole tomatoes : Roughly crushed for a rustic texture.
- 8 oz tomato sauce (small can) : To thicken the sauce and bind everything together.
- 30 oz canned kidney beans (2 cans, with their liquid) : Add body and make the dish quite filling.
- 1 clove garlic : Finely minced, to subtly enhance the chili.
- 1 pinch cumin : Sprinkle on at the end of cooking for a fragrant touch.
- Grated Mexican cheese or cheddar : Sprinkle generously on top when serving.
Side Dish – Pickled Onion Topping
- 1 onion : Thinly sliced or finely chopped, depending on your preference.
- 2 tablespoons vinegar : White vinegar or apple cider vinegar both work well and add a bright, tangy contrast to the rich chili.
This simple topping brings a fresh, slightly acidic note that perfectly balances the warmth and richness of the chili con carne.
Tips for an Even Better Chili Con Carne
Don’t burn the spices: add them over medium heat to release their aromas without bitterness.
- Let it simmer : chili loves slow cooking—this is where all the flavor develops.
- Taste and adjust : balance salt, chili heat, and acidity as it cooks.
- Make it ahead : chili is often even better the next day once the flavors have had time to meld.
How To Make Homemade Chili Con Carne
1. Brown the Meat
In a large skillet set over medium heat, brown the ground beef for a few minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until it’s well crumbled and lightly golden.
Remove the meat from the pan and set aside.
2. Prepare the Flavor Base
Using the same skillet (keep those juices—they’re pure flavor), add the finely chopped onion.
Sauté until soft and translucent.
Return the reserved meat to the pan, mix well, and add 1 teaspoon of chili powder.
Let everything simmer gently for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so the flavors can develop.
3. Prepare the Tomato Sauce
In a saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Add the minced garlic and the canned tomatoes.
Roughly crush the tomatoes with a wooden spoon and bring to a gentle simmer.
Stir in the tomato sauce, followed by 1 more teaspoon of chili powder, mixing well.
4. Add the Beans
Add the kidney beans with their liquid to the saucepan, then sprinkle in the remaining chili powder.
Stir in the cooked meat mixture and the corn, if using.
Pour in a small glass of lukewarm water, stir, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat.
Cover and let simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
5. Enhance the Flavor
Finely mince the garlic and jalapeño pepper.
Add them to the pot—or only to individual bowls if you prefer a milder chili.
Cover and simmer for a few more minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly and becomes rich and glossy.
6. Prepare the Pickled Onion Topping
While the chili cooks, finely slice an onion and place it in a bowl.
Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar, mix well, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
7. Serve
Ladle the hot chili into bowls.
Top with grated cheese, pickled onions, a pinch of cumin if desired, and finish with 1 tablespoon of sour cream.
Serve immediately… and enjoy !
What to Serve with Chili Con Carne
Chili con carne is delicious on its own, but it’s even better when paired with a few simple sides:
- White rice or fragrant rice
- Tortillas or cornbread
- A fresh green salad for balance
- Shredded cheese, sour cream, or sliced avocado
That way, everyone can build their own plate—exactly the way they like it.
Chili Con Carne and Batch Cooking
Chili con carne is the perfect dish to make in large batches—it stores beautifully and reheats like a dream.
- In the refrigerator : 3 to 4 days
- In the freezer : up to 3 months
On a busy or lazy evening, just reheat a portion… and dinner is ready in no time.
Why We Love Chili Con Carne So Much
- Fills the whole house with the most irresistible aroma.
- Brings everyone together around the table.
- Meant to be shared, reheated, and reinvented.
And above all, because a good chili con carne is a little like a cozy blanket in a bowl—simple, warm, and wonderfully comforting.
Conclusion
Homemade chili con carne is a true staple of family cooking.
Easy, budget-friendly, delicious, and endlessly adaptable, it fully deserves its place among those recipes you come back to again and again.
Chili Corn Carn
Ingredients
- 1 Pound minced meat
- 1 onion
- 3 tbsp chili powder
- 14 oz whole tomato 1 can
- 8 oz tomato sauce 1 small can
- 30 oz kidney beans 2 cans with their liquid
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 pinch cumin for sprinkling at the end of cooking
- grated Mexican cheese or cheddar cheese
Side dish
- 1 onion
- 2 tbsp vinegar
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet for a few minutes, breaking it up with a wooden fork.
- Remove the ground beef and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent.
- Add the reserved ground beef and mix well. Add 1 teaspoon of chili powder to the mixture.
- Simmer gently for 10 minutes.
- In a pot, add the canned tomatoes. Crush them with a wooden spoon and simmer.
- Add the tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, and mix well.
- Add the ground beef and onion mixture and stir. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add 2 cans of kidney beans with their liquid. Add the remaining chili powder. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat.
- Reduce the heat and cover the pot. Cook for approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Finely mince the garlic and the jalapeño pepper (if you like a spicy sauce; otherwise, add it to your plate to taste) and add them to the pot.
- Simmer, covered, for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Meanwhile, finely chop an onion and place it in a bowl.
- Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and refrigerate to marinate until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, pour the chili into bowls, sprinkle with grated cheese, and top with the onion.
- You can also sprinkle with cumin and add 1 tablespoon of sour cream.
