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4.5 from 291 votes

My Mom’s Classic Chili

This delightful recipe is easy to follow and perfect for any occasion.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 2 medium or 1 large yellow onions, diced
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 to 2 ½ to 2 ½ pounds ground beef or lean ground turkey
  • 3 large cans large cans (29-ounces each) pinto beans rinsed and drained
  • 46 ounces tomato juice
  • 1 (8-ounce) (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ cup water
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper plus more if you want the chili spicier
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet, brown the ground beef (or turkey) with the onion and salt until the meat is cooked through. Drain excess grease, if needed.
  2. In a large pot, combine the pinto beans, tomato juice, tomato sauce, and ketchup. Stir in the bay leaves, water, garlic salt, pepper, chili powder, cayenne, cumin and brown sugar.
  3. Add the cooked meat/onion mixture.
  4. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, over medium-low heat for an hour (or up to 4-5 hours), stirring occasionally. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed, before serving.

Notes

  • For a Slow Cooker Version: brown the meat and onions in the first step but instead of a pot, combine the rest of the ingredients in a large slow cooker. Stir in the meat and cook on low for 5-7 hours. I've also subbed in stew meat for the ground beef and it is delicious also (I don't precook it, I throw in the meat cubes and onions with the other ingredients and cook it on low for about 8 hours).
  • Amount: this recipe can be easily scaled down.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Serving Calories 597kcal (30%) Carbohydrates 69g (23%) Protein 37g (74%) Fat 21g (32%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Cholesterol 67mg (22%) Sodium 903mg (38%) Fiber 20g (80%) Sugar 12g (24%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 Serving
Calories 597kcal 30%
Carbohydrates 69g 23%
Protein 37g 74%
Fat 21g 32%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 67mg 22%
Sodium 903mg 38%
Fiber 20g 80%
Sugar 12g 24%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.