This stovetopdutch oven chiliis hearty, delicious comfort food. Simple to make, this homemade chili is perfect for feeding a hungry family and can be topped with all your favorite toppings!
Stovetop Dutch Oven Chili
If you are craving a hearty and flavorful chili that is easy to make and perfect for feeding a hungry family, this is the recipe you want!
In this post, I will take you through every step of creating this delicious, hearty meal.
- Ingredients
- Cooking Instructions
- Toppings and Serving Ideas
- Storing and Reheating
- Helpful Tips
I have tried many chili recipes throughout all my years of cooking, and this is the best chili recipe I always return to.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Simple and Easy: This hearty chili recipe uses basic, wholesome, healthy ingredients. This one pot meal is ready to serve in under an hour!
- Healthy: This dutch oven beef chili recipe is made with lean grass-fed ground beef and beans, making it high in protein. It’s also made with homemade chili seasoning, which means you will not have any additives found in the kind bought from the grocery store.
- Load on the Toppings: One of my favorite things about this easy recipe is loading the bowl of chili full of toppings!
- Best Leftover Meal: The best part of marking a large pot of chili is that it tastes even better the next day!
Dutch Oven Chili Ingredients
Made with wholesome, healthy ingredients, here is what you will need for this chili recipe:
- Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef.
- Onion: Diced onions add a lot of flavor!
- Tomatoes: Use tomato sauce and tomato paste.
- Tri-Colored Beans: Some beef chili recipes do not call for beans, but we love to use beans and include three different varieties! Pinto beans, black beans, and kidney beans are perfect for this dutch oven beef chili.
- Beef Broth: It adds flavor and liquid, one of the best ways to add healthy nutrients!
- Herbs and Spices: A flavorful combination of spices, including chili powder, oregano, cumin, minced garlic, cumin, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Salt: Use salt generously when seasoning chili, as it takes quite a bit to make the flavor pop. But, season to taste.
Step by Step Instructions for Dutch Oven Chili
Here is how to make homemade chili in a dutch oven:
Step 1: Saute Ground Beef
Add ground beef to a large dutch oven or stockpot. Brown ground beef; use a wooden spoon to crumble the meat until it is brown. Drain off excess grease and return cooked ground beef to the dutch oven.
Step 2: Add in Ingredients
Next, add the remaining ingredients, including the diced onions, beef broth, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beans, and spices, to make the homemade chili seasoning. Give the chili a good stir to combine all the ingredients.
Step 3: Simmer
Bring the chili to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce it to a simmer. Stir chili occasionally until it thickens and flavors combine for about 30 minutes.
Step 4: Serve
Use a ladle and scoop out individual servings of chili into bowls. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings!
What Toppings to Serve with Dutch Oven Chili
Homemade chili tastes even better when loaded with the best toppings here are a few ideas on what can be added to the top of the chili:
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Jalapeno Peppers
- Cilantro
- Avocado
- Tortilla Chips
- Green Onions
- Corn Chips
- Crackers
How to Store Leftover Dutch Oven Chili
- Refrigerator – Remove the cooled chili from the dutch oven and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Freezer – Cool the chili to room temperature. Transfer it into sturdy freezer bags, removing excess air before sealing. Lay the bags flat in the freezer for convenient stacking and store them for six months.
- Reheat – Use a saucepan to reheat the chile on medium heat. Stir regularly to prevent sticking. Heat until it bubbles, and if it is too thick, add a bit of beef broth or tomato sauce to restore the original consistency.
Recipe Tips
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven: Chili can be made in a well-seasoned cast iron dutch oven. However, do not store the chili in the dutch oven; once cooled to room temperature, properly store leftovers and clean the dutch oven before storing.
- Substitute Meat: Instead of using ground beef, substitute another variety of ground meat such as ground turkey, stew bites, sausage, or chicken.
- Add Vegetables: Add bell pepper, corn, or even zucchini for some added nutrients.
- Add Spice: To make this a spicy chili, add a few tablespoons of diced jalapeños, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Switch Beans: The best beans are kidney, black, and pinto beans; feel free to add a variety to suit your taste. Other options may include types such as garbanzo beans or cannellini beans.
- Secret Ingredient: Many chili recipes swear by using a bit of sweetener to bring out all of the savory flavors from the chili seasoning. Add a tablespoon of sugar, honey, or maple syrup to try this tip!
- Chili Seasoning: While I prefer to use homemade chili seasoning, if you have none available, feel free to use one store-bought package.
Recipe FAQs
Can You Use Cast Iron For Chili?
Yes, you can use a cast iron dutch oven to make chili. Just be sure to season your cast iron cookware properly before use.
What is the Secret Ingredient to Good Chili?
The secret to great chili is finding the right balance of ingredients to suit your taste. Experiment and adjust until you discover the combination that you enjoy.
What are the Best Beans to Use for Chili?
The best beans for your chili depend on your taste, but kidney, black, and pinto beans are some of the best.
What to Serve with Chili
Here are some popular options for what to serve with dutch oven chili:
- A classic choice, cornbread has a slightly sweet and crumbly texture and provides a great side to serve with chili.
- Homemade french fries can be a delicious side to serve with a hearty bowl of chili.
Printable Dutch Oven Chili Recipe
Dutch Oven Chili
Yield: 8-10
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
This stovetopDutch Oven Chiliis hearty, delicious comfort food. Simple to make using one pot, this homemade chili is perfect for feeding a hungry family, and it is topped with all your favorites!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 (15 ounces) cans tomato sauce
- 2 (6 ounces) cans tomato paste
- 5 cans beans - best variety is pinto beans, black beans and kidney beans
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 1/2 tablespoons of chili powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
Step 1: Saute Ground Beef
Add ground beef to a large dutch oven or stockpot. Brown the ground beef, and use a wooden spoon to crumble the meat until brown.
Step 2: Add in Ingredients
Next, add the rest of the ingredients, including the diced onions, beef broth, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beans, and spices, to make the homemade chili seasoning.
Step 3: Simmer
Bring the chili to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer until it thickens and flavors combine for about 30 minutes.
Step 4: Serve
Use a ladle and scoop out individual servings of chili into bowls. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings!
Notes
Tips For Cooking Chili In A Dutch Oven
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven:Chili can be made in awell-seasoned cast iron dutch oven. However, do not store the chili in the dutch oven; once cooled to room temperature, properly store leftovers andclean the dutch ovenbeforestoring.
- Substitute Meat:Instead of using ground beef, substitute turkey, stew bites, sausage, or chicken.
- Add Spice:To make this dutch oven chili spicy, add a few tablespoons of diced jalapeños, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Switch Beans:while the best beans to use are kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans, feel free to add a different variety to suit your taste. Other options may include varieties such as garbanzo beans or cannellini beans.
- Secret Ingredient:many chili recipes swear by using a bit of sweetener to bring out all of the savory flavors from the chili seasoning. Add a tablespoon of sugar, honey, or maple syrup if you want to try this tip!
- Chili Seasoning:while I prefer to use homemade chili seasoning, if you don’t have any available, feel free to use one store-bought package.
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About the Author
Sarah is the author behind Rocky Hedge Farm. With a passion for simple, healthy recipes, gardening, and remodeling her manufactured home, she shares her experiences and knowledge to inspire others. Go here to read her story, “Living a Life of Contentment and Joy: Simple Living at Rocky Hedge Farm.” If you want to message Sarah, visit her contact page here.
