Whip up a comforting bowl of 5 Ingredient Chili in less than 30 minutes! This simple yet flavorful recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or as a hearty topping for chili dogs, chili mac, or baked potatoes. With just five basic ingredients, you’ll have a delicious, no-fuss meal ready in no time!
Original post: June 2019 | Updated: August 2023 and March 2025
Why This Recipe Works
- Requiring just 5 simple ingredients, with the option of adding more to add extra flavor.
- It takes less than 30 minutes to throw this easy chili recipe together.
- This homemade chili recipe is great if you’re looking for a comforting bowl of chili without the time commitment.
- Perfect easy meal for busy weeknights.
- Looking for a quick, hearty topping for Chili Dogs or Chili Mac or Chili-Topped Baked Potatoes? You’ve found it!
- It’s the best chili recipe for meal prep when you’re looking to make dinners easy throughout the week.
If you’re looking for a more robust chili recipe to make next, my favorite classic chili recipe is a great choice!
Recipe Ingredients
Ground meat – Use ground beef, ground sausage, ground turkey or a combination! Turn this easy recipe into a vegetarian chili by omitting the meat altogether.
Onion – White onion or yellow onion. Using a red onion will give it an extra kick.
Garlic – Minced fresh garlic tastes best, but 1 teaspoon garlic powder is a good substitute.
Diced tomatoes – Use canned tomatoes with herbs or flavorings, such as chopped onions and garlic.
Chili with beans – Use 2 cans of canned chili with chili beans, any variety (approximately 30 oz. total).
Toppings – Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, crushed saltine crackers or tortilla chips.
How to Make 5 Ingredient Chili
Step 1
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook 1 pound of ground beef, ground sausage or ground turkey over medium heat until meat is no longer pink.
Step 2
Add 1 chopped white or yellow onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook until soft and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
If there is not enough grease from the meat and the mixture is too dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan while the veggies are cooking.
Step 3
Add one can of diced tomatoes and 2 cans of chili with beans and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Ladle into serving bowls and serve immediately! Top with cheese, if desired. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How To Add Flavor To Chili
- Simmering this chili for more than 20 minutes is definitely doable and may result in an even more flavorful meal.
- Add a chopped red bell pepper or green bell pepper to the onion-garlic mixture for extra crunch and flavor.
- Add an extra can of beans such as red kidney beans, black beans or pinto beans for added flavor.
- Throw in 1 teaspoon garlic powder and/or up to 2 tablespoons chili powder for extra yum!
- For extra spice add a few dashes of hot sauce or a few teaspoons of red pepper flakes.
- Throw in a can of diced roasted green chilies for amazing flavor!
- Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar for a sweet touch.
- A 15-ounce can of tomato sauce or 8-10 ounces of tomato juice will add a ton of flavor!
- Add spices of your liking, such as ground cumin, chili powder or paprika.
Favorite Toppings
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Green onions
- Oyster crackers
- Saltine crackers
- Fresh cilantro
- Black pepper
How To Thicken Chili
If you make a delicious batch and find that it is not thick enough for your liking, we have some simple methods that will fix it! Read on for tips about how to thicken chili.
What To Serve With Chili
Serve chili warm with a bit of shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream. A few good options to serve alongside it include chopped salad, dinner rolls and corn bread.
How Long Does Chili Last In The Fridge
If you are wondering how long this soup lasts in the fridge or if your batch is still fresh, click over for all the info!
How To Freeze Chili
If you have delicious chili leftovers on your hands, you might want to know the best ways to preserve it. Read on for all the information you’ll need about how to freeze chili.
Can I Make 5 Ingredient Chili In A Slow Cooker
Yes! Cook the meat, onion, red peppers and garlic as directed and add it to your crock pot along with the remaining ingredients. Cook on high heat for 4 hours.
Check out this Beef Chili Recipe for full instructions.
Chili Recipes and Sides
Click over for chili dinner ideas with a variety of recipes and side dish recommendations, as well. Or use this post as your guide for dinner ideas using leftovers so nothing goes to waste.
What To Do With Chili Leftovers
If you have leftovers (and it’s very possible that you will because this makes a large batch), please check out these delicious recipes to help use them up:
Easy Dinner Recipes
If you are looking for other delicious comfort food recipes to feed the masses, you have come to the right place. Here is a teeny-tiny list of some of my favorite comforting meals that are always a hit:
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Easy 5 Ingredient Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage
- 1 white onion or yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 15 oz diced tomatoes
- 30 oz chili with beans
- cheddar cheese shredded, for topping
Instructions
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the beef (or sausage) over medium heat until no longer pink. Add onion and garlic and cook until veggies are soft and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
- If there is not enough grease from the meat and mixture is too dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan while veggies are cooking.
- Add the diced tomatoes and chili and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle into serving bowls and serve immediately! Top with cheese, if desired.
Video
Notes
How To Add Flavor To Chili
- Simmering this chili for more than 20 minutes is definitely doable and may result in an even more flavorful meal.
- Add a chopped red bell pepper or green bell pepper to the onion-garlic mixture for extra crunch and flavor.
- Add an extra can of beans such as red kidney beans, black beans or pinto beans for added flavor.
- Throw in 1 teaspoon garlic powder and/or up to 2 tablespoons chili powder for extra yum!
- For extra spice add a few dashes of hot sauce or a few teaspoons of red pepper flakes.
- Throw in a can of diced roasted green chilies for amazing flavor!
- Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar for a sweet touch.
- A 15-ounce can of tomato sauce or 8-10 ounces of tomato juice will add a ton of flavor!
- Add spices of your liking, such as ground cumin, chili powder or paprika.
The easy 5 ingredient chili recipe simplifies dinner with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Perfect for busy days, this recipe delivers a hearty, delicious meal with just a few essential ingredients.
Ive made on stove top and it’s so good. Can I cook the meat and put the rest in the crockpot?
You definitely can! It’ll taste great cooking low and slow for the flavors to come together.
I found your site while I was trying to use up the canned chili in our pantry. Really good and easy recipe, which nicely masked the canned chili recipe! I did add your suggestion of canned green chilis and chili and garlic powder, along with oregano, cumin and chopped chilis in adobo. Great way to use pantry ingredients!
Thank you Shelly! I’m glad you were able to make food with what you had and enjoy it. Thanks for sharing!
What is the recommended serving size per the nutrition facts? I would assume 1 cup but I don’t want to be wrong.
The entire batch serves 6, so one-sixth of the batch is one serving.