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A white bowl filled with thick chili, a pan of cornbread in the background

Best Thick Chili

This homestyle thick chili recipe is mostly dump and cook and is the perfect balance between heat and flavor! It's thick and hearty and is the perfect cool-weather meal!
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: thick chili recipe
Servings: 8
Calories: 291kcal
Author: Victoria Pruett
Cost: $10

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 cans red kidney beans
  • 2 cans tomato sauce
  • 2 cans Ro*tel Original
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Saute the hamburger and the chopped onion on medium-high heat in a large pot until the hamburger is browned
  • Dump in the kidney beans, Ro*tel, and tomato sauce and stir to combine.
  • Add in the seasonings and stir well to combine.
  • Reduce heat to medium and cover. Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve with cornbread (optional).

Notes

  • You can eliminate the beans if you don't like them, your chili may be just a bit thinner.
  • This chili freezes well. Place in one-serving, freezer-safe containers to enjoy at a later date.

Best Tips for How to Thicken Chili

  • Add more hearty ingredients, like beans, meat, or vegetables to help reduce the amount of liquid-to-solid ratios.
  • Add a slurry of water and flour to the chili to help thicken the liquid in the pot. Add just a little at a time to avoid a floury taste. I make a slurry with 2 tablespoons of flour and a cup of cool liquid (broth or water) and whisk. Then add a little at a time to the hot chili, waiting a few minutes after each addition, until it’s as thick as you want!
  • Add a slurry of cornstarch and water to help thicken the liquid in the pot. The principle is the same as the flour slurry but with equal parts (1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of cool water) instead. Keep in mind this option can result in leftovers seeming a bit gelatinous.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1498mg | Potassium: 1225mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1362IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 7mg
Have you tried this?Let us know how it went!