Name: Perfect Weeknight Chili Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef (lean); 1 pound mild ground sausage (I used Jimmy Dean); 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1/4 teaspoon Lawry's garlic salt; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 29 ounces tomato sauce; 15 ounce can black beans (drained); 15 ounce can white beans (drained); two 10 ounce cans Rotel diced tomatoes (mild); 1/2 cup prepared salsa verde (I used Herdez mild); 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 tablespoon dry Ranch Dressing mix (from packet); 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

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My Perfect Weeknight Chili is seriously the best chili recipe ever. Just what you need on busy weeknights! It’s a simple and delicious dinner idea that’s packed with flavor and great for serving large groups.

If you love chili recipes like we do, try our White Chicken Chili recipe too!

My Favorite Weeknight Chili Recipe

Chili season is the best isn’t it? Even though it’s always warm here in Arizona, I look forward to this easy chili recipe all year round! Chili is a staple recipe for us. I make different variations on the regular, but this particular recipe needed to be shared. Seriously flavor packed with just your basic pantry essentials. Give yourself about 10 minutes and this gorgeous pot of chili will be simmering ready to go at your fingertips. Winning!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy To Make. With easy to find ingredients, you’ll be able to make this chili recipe in just minutes!
Great For Feeding a Crowd. I love making chili for occasions where I’m feeding a crowd. Holidays and just about any occasion!
Delicious Leftovers. This chili recipe is just as good the next day warmed up over rice or in a big bowl by itself.

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What You’ll Need

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make the best chili recipe at home! See the recipe card and video located at the bottom of the post.

Ground Beef– Use a good quality lean ground beef for the recipe.
Ground Sausage– I pick up the roll of Jimmy Dean mild ground sausage for the recipe.
Garlic– Minced garlic adds flavor to the chili.
Salt and Pepper– I use kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper for the recipe.
Tomato Sauce– Tomato sauce is added to the chili that makes the sauce.
Black and White Beans– Drain and rinse the beans before adding to the chili.
Diced Tomatoes– I use Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies.
Salsa Verde– Use your favorite brand of prepared salsa verde. Herdez is a great option.
Chili Powder and Ground Cumin– These spices give the chili it’s flavor.
Dry Ranch Dressing Mix– Ranch Dressing Seasoning adds another layer of flavor to the chili. It can be optional if you can’t find it available.
Lime Juice– Fresh lime juice adds freshness to the chili.

perfect chili recipe in a pot on the stovetop

How To Make Chili on the Stovetop

Brown Beef and Sausage. Place beef and sausage into a large dutch oven over medium heat. Crumble and start browning. Stir in minced garlic, garlic salt, salt and pepper until well combined. Cook until browned.

Add Sauce, Beans and Seasonings. Add tomato sauce, beans, tomatoes, salsa verde, chili powder, cumin, Ranch dressing mix and lime juice. Stir to combine until hot. Reduce heat to simmer until ready to serve. I like to simmer on low for a few hours before serving to enhance the flavor.

Mistakes To Avoid When Making Chili

Use these tips when making chili to assure you make the best!

Don’t Add raw meat to your chili, make sure it’s browned first. The first order of business before adding anything else to the pot is to brown any meat in your recipe. This important step adds an extra savory flavor that simply cannot be replicated by simmering on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. Plus, the texture is vastly improved when the meat is seared.
Don’t buy the store bought “chili seasonings.” Use fresh ground cumin and chili powder and other seasonings to taste.
Don’t wait to season the chili until the end, season as you go! Season early and season often. When you add seasoning early on, the flavors develop an even rich taste while the chili simmers. Taste test along the way.
Don’t forget a squeeze or two of lime juice before serving! This brings a bright tang to each bite.
Have LOTS of toppings available for your guests, not just cheese and sour cream. See my favorite chili toppings at the bottom of this post.

What Is The Best Ground Beef To Use For Chili?

A 90-percent-lean ground beef is best for healthy chili, while 80-percent-lean ground beef is better for taste. It is possible to reduce the fat content of ground beef with a simple rinse, so chili cooks can fine-tune a balance between flavor and fattiness with a bit of water. Those who feel that 80-percent-lean ground beef is too fatty may find that rising some fat away preserves the flavor while making chili recipes healthier.

Tips For Making this Easy Chili Recipe

Simmer. When you’ve got the time, it’s all about the simmer. The longer you simmer, the more amazing flavor you’ll get.

Add Chili Pepper. I like to place a whole Anaheim Chili inside the chili to simmer as well. You get even more flavor this way!

Best Toppings For Chili

Here are some of our favorite toppings to add to our bowl of chili.

Avocado
Sour Cream
Cilantro
Diced tomatoes
Salsa
Cheese
Onion
Jalapenos
Crackers

How To Serve

Serve chili hot, in individual bowls with toppings of your choice.

No judging, but another way great way to serve chili is to make gourmet chili dogs. Hebrew National dogs, covered with my chili and some favorite toppings.

The Best Way to Store Chili

Store chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Reheating Instructions

Reheat chili in a saucpan over medium-low heat stirring until hot. You can also place chili in a heatproof bowl loosely covered in the microwave for 60-90 seconds, until hot.

Try More Delicious Chili Recipes