When you want chili fast (…or chili fries fast…or chili dogs fast) this savory five–ingredient chili is on your table in 25 minutes flat.
Do you ever just want a hot bowl of chili with some crackers but want it done fast? Or do you ever just want a chili dog like right now? I do, all the time. So, I have at least six flattened freezer bags full of this quick chili at all times.
I think chili is good for all kinds of days–even in August. Why? Because it just floods the body with the comfort of being well fed and fed well … that feeling that comes from a flavorful, satisfying meal one can relish in their mind and soul for hours and that quiets that unquiet spirit inside that’s never at rest that I picture like the big blue Cookie Monster from Sesame Street, “ME WANT COOKIE! FOOD! SOMETHING YUMMY NOW!
And what makes chili so irresistible for me is that it gives me something I can savor for a long, long time.
I mean, yes, I love eating. And what we all want is for the meal to never be over, right? And little ones aren’t so little inside that they don’t feel this joy at having a big bowl of something to eat that, for a time, feels like it will never end. Just look at cereal … The closest savory dish I can think of that provides this prolonged experience of “relishment” is chili.
That’s cause every bite fills you for longer – long enough to savor and enjoy the whole mouthfeel of it, the tinge of it on the tastebuds, the first feeling of relief that yes, we have good food to eat and look at what a plenty of it … and yes, thank the gods, enough to last through a whole episode of House of the Dragon if the kids are at Grandma’s, say, and if not, the latest Trolls movie!
Chili: The Meal That Keeps on Giving
Chili is a great dish to put on the stove and just let it simmer while you sit back and wait on it to build its flavors. It tastes good in 25 minutes and tastes amazing after being in the fridge after three days, even, because chili gets better the longer it rests, as all those ingredients meld and absorb one another’s flavors.
And there are so many fun ways to eat it with kids! You can serve it with some kid-friendly Oven Baked Nachos or Potato Wedges on the side so everyone can dip, pile, feast, and have a fun meal together.
Leftover chili is not only delicious as is… your leftovers will also taste fantastic in this Chili Mac Casserole and my current obsession—which is getting kind of out of hand, this Chili Dog Casserole.
How to Make Ahead and Store?
This chili is especially freezer-friendly, if you follow these simple steps. First, bring cooked chili to room temperature. Portion out your chili into single and/or family servings in freezer-safe bags and label and date them (you’ll be grateful you did later). Lay filled bags flat on a cookie sheet in a freezer for two hours. That way, they will stack well in the freezer. Freeze 90 days or less for optimal texture preservation.
Serving Suggestions
Want an even faster chili than this? Try this 15 Minute Chili! It’s great for those days you forgot you had to bring a dish to the get-together or when you’re exhausted and need something yummy, mom-friendly, and comforting. If you like your chili with really good beans and a lot of them, try this Cowboy Chili made with Hurst’s Barbecue Cowboy Chili Beans. It’s dee-licious. And for the best and most flavor-rich chicken chili recipe ever try this Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Chili.
Easy Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 15 ounce cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 2 15 ounce cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
Instructions
- In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
- Add the diced onion to the pot with the beef. Cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained kidney beans, and chili powder. Mix well.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve the chili hot. Optional toppings can be added according to personal preference.
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