Southern Chili Recipe

This hearty Southern-Style chili is loaded with meat, peppers, beans, and enough spices to keep you warm all Winter long. When the weather starts to cool down or even when it’s just been one of those days, nothing—and I mean nothing—hits the spot like a hearty bowl of chili. This isn’t just any chili recipe; it’s one that takes you back to Sunday dinners at Grandma’s. This chili is soul-warming, filling, and downright delicious.

Here’s my secret: A successful chili experience is all about layering those flavors. You start with a foundation of quality meat—be it ground beef, chicken, or turkey—then you build on that with aromatic spices like chili powder, smoked paprika, and a touch of cumin. Add in the sweetness of brown sugar to balance the heat, and you’ve got yourself a chili that everyone will rave about. Serve it up with some crusty cornbread or over a bed of rice, and you’ve just turned your dining table into the hottest dinner spot in town! Trust me, this chili recipe is so good, you’ll want to make it a staple in your meal rotation.

Why You’ll Love This Southern-Style Chili Recipe!

• Perfect for Meal Prepping! If you’re still recovering from the holidays or simply need some time to recoup, making this dinner in advance is the best way to make a little extra time in your day.
• Great for Crowds of All Sizes. You can easily double the recipe when needed and it stores great in the freezer too!
• Versatile Recipe. This recipe is truly adaptable! You can easily change the ground meats, add some heat with jalapenos or red pepper flakes, or alter the complexities of its flavor by adjusting the spices to your tastes.
• All Time Favorite One Pot Meal. You might even say chili is the ultimate one-pot meal. All you need is your favorite heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven and a big ‘ole wooden spoon.
• Easy Meal. In just under an hour I can have a homemade dinner the whole family will love! Even better, it doesn’t require constant attention so I can do other things.

Ingredients to Make the Best Chili

The ingredients are simple and the time spent stirring is therapeutic. Here’s a look at what you need to gather together.

• Ground meat: You can use ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey to make your chili. It also works great to use a combination of meats as well.
• Aromatics and Veggies: Onion, bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, and garlic are cooked with the beef to layer in some flavor right from the start.
• Tomatoes: We will be using diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste to add a variety of flavors and textures to the chili.
• Beans: We’re sticking with the traditional red kidney beans to make the best chili ever!
• Stock: You can use either beef or chicken. It helps to think out the chili while also adding a bit of flavor you wouldn’t get if you used water.
• Worcestershire sauce and Steak Sauce: These both contribute more complexity of flavors to the chili
• Chili powder: The amount of chili powder you add is variable so feel free to adjust it as desired.
• Chili spices: We add both onion powder and garlic powder which are traditional for chili along with some smoked paprika and cumin which really amps up the flavor of the chili powder.
• Brown sugar: The brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness and depth with the addition of molasses.
• Allspice: This multidimensional spice adds hints of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, star anise, fennel, and black pepper.
• Red pepper flakes: They’re the main ingredient adding the heat so feel free to use more or less depending on how spicy you like your chili.

PRO TIP: Use this recipe as a jumping-off point to find your perfect chili. Get creative, get silly, and don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. I’d love to hear about any changes you’ve made in the comments! 

How to Make The Chili

Making chili is pretty easy! Here’s a look at the main highlights but be sure to check the recipe card for all the details.

1. Cook the meat with a bit of olive oil in a large Dutch oven.  Season it with salt and pepper to taste and cook until it’s browned.
2. Add the onions, peppers, and jalapenos and saute until they’re tender. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and kidney beans to the pot.
4. Add the stock, Worcestershire, steak sauce, chili powder, onion powder, brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, allspice, and red pepper flakes and stir together. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Heat the chili to a slight boil and then reduce the heat and continue to simmer uncovered for about 15-25 minutes. Cook for less time for chili with more liquid and longer if you want it thicker. Taste before serving and adjust any seasonings.

Tips for Making the Best Chili

• Taste as You Go. This is important as you are cooking your chili since you don’t want to overdo it.  It can’t be undone once it is added.
• Cook the Chili to Your Desired Consistency. If you prefer a soupier consistency the chili only needs to cook for about 15 minutes after everything is added to the pot. For a thicker chili, extend the cooking time to 25-30 minutes.
• Build Layers of Flavor. The cooking process is setup to layer in flavor right from the start with the browning of the meat and sauteeing of the veggies. You also want to do the same with the spices. Add the initial amount but taste as the chili cooks so you can identify if anything is missing and add a bit more spices as it cooks.
• Use a Variety of Canned Tomatoes. You get a much more varied texture while the tomato paste adds more depth of flavor and thickness.
• Don’t Skip the Umami Flavors. The Worcestershire sauce and steak sauce are what adds an extra layer of depth to your chili.

Popular Substitutions & Additions

• Alter the Heat Level. Experiment with heat level by using a poblano or a serrano rather than a jalapeno.
• Don’t Like Kidney Beans? Use cannellini, black, or even lentils! 
• Make a Vegan Chili. Use vegetable stock rather than a meat-based stock. Replace the meat with a root vegetable like sweet potatoes or double up on the beans and use several different types of them. There are even a few plant-based alternative “ground meat” like tofu options that you can use in place of the meat. 
• Add Veggies. You can easily add some diced zucchini, yellow squash, grated cauliflower, or chopped mushrooms if you’re looking to add more nutrients to your bowl of chili.
• No Bean Chili. There’s a great debate about beans in chili. I prefer my chili to have beans but if you don’t you can leave them out and add another half pound of ground meat.

What to Serve With this Chili Recipe

• Add Some Chili Toppings: Half the fun of a bowl of chili is getting to load it up with your favorite toppings! Enjoy your bowl of chili with sliced avocado or guacamole, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, or salsa. Don’t be afraid to load it up, baby! 
• Cornbread. There’s no doubt that chili and cornbread are a match made in heaven! Try my honey cornbread, hot water cornbread, brown butter cornbread, or Mexican cornbread.

How to Store & Reheat Chili

Once your chili has cooled down to room temperature, spoon it into an airtight container and give it a cozy spot in the fridge. This way, you’re setting yourself up for easy, delicious meals for the next few days.

To reheat simply scoop your desired portion into a saucepan and warm it over low heat on the stove, stirring occasionally until it’s heated through.

Got it from the freezer? No problem! Just make sure to thaw it in the fridge overnight. Then, warm it up using the same stovetop method. If it’s too thick, feel free to add a splash of beef or chicken stock to loosen it up. In minutes, you’ll be back in chili heaven, spoon in hand and a smile on your face.

How Long Does Chili Last in the Fridge?

With proper storage, this chili is like a fine wine—it just gets better with time! Expect your chili to keep its flavor and freshness for about 4-5 days. Just make sure it’s sealed up tight to keep all those beautiful flavors locked in.

Does chili freeze well?

You better believe this chili is freezer-friendly. If you’re planning to savor it for another day, just portion it into freezer-safe bags or containers. Stored this way, your chili will be calling your name from the freezer for up to 4-6 months. Just remember to thaw it out in the fridge before reheating, and you’ve got yourself a meal that tastes just as good as the day you made it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chili is the ultimate comfort food and almost always a crowd-pleaser. Use this best chili recipe as a guideline and feel free to make it your own by changing up the ingredients as you prefer! In the winter, chili makes a warming, comforting meal while in the summer you can enjoy it as a topping for a cookout! It’s so versatile and I think you will love it!

More Easy One Pot Recipes

• Spanish Chicken and Rice
• Homemade Hamburger Helper
• Frogmore Stew
• Cajun Jambalaya Pasta
• Lemon Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Taco Soup Recipe

*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!