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Stovetop Chili

By: Author Zona House

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Categories Beef, Dinners, Slow Cooker, Soup-Stew

Zona Cooks » Beef » Stovetop Chili

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Stovetop chili is incredibly simple and flavorful, featuring a secret ingredient: A1 steak sauce. We enjoy making this hearty chili, which requires just eight ingredients and five easy steps. Additionally, you can prepare this dish in a slow cooker if you prefer.

Table of Contents

a bowl of chili topped with frito corn chips.
Easy Crockpot or Stovetop Chili Dinner for Two

Why I love this recipe

This is our favorite stovetop chili, ready in just 15 minutes, but it can also be made in a slow cooker crockpot. You can also easily make a double batch of this great chili.

Need a dessert to go with it? Try this Strawberry Cobbler, this Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake, or this Red Velvet Cake.

Expert tips

You can use ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, lean beef cubes, or make it meatless.

Add in some cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or green chiles to spice it up a bit.

Use white onion, yellow onion, sweet onion, or red onion.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the fridge.

Recipe FAQs

What toppings do you put on chili?

Here are some ideas, but you can really add anything you like – shredded cheddar cheese, or any flavor, a dollop of sour cream, diced avocados, diced tomatoes, diced jalapenos, tortilla chips, strips, or Fritos (we love Frito scoops), diced white or red onions, diced green onions, fresh chopped cilantro, or parsley.

Process shots for Easy Chili Slow Cooker

adding ground beef and tomato sauce to the slow cooker.
adding remaining chili ingredients to the slow cooker.

You may also enjoy

a bowl of chili topped with sour cream, green onion, and fritos.
Easy Crockpot or Stovetop Chili Dinner for Two

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zona cooks logo image with a chef hat icon.
a bowl of chili topped with frito corn chips.

Stovetop Chili Recipe

Zona House
Stovetop Chili is a delicious and super easy recipe that you and your family will love! With just 8 simple ingredients and 5 easy steps, you’ll have a hearty meal ready in no time. The secret? A splash of A1 steak sauce for an extra kick of flavor! Whether you whip it up on the stovetop in just 15 minutes or take your time with a slow cooker, it’s sure to warm your hearts and bellies. Plus, if you want to feed a crowd, feel free to double the recipe!
4.38 from 90 votes
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Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Beef
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 599 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ½ pound ground beef (or ground turkey, chicken)
  • 8 ounce tomato sauce
  • ½ medium onion
  • 15.5 ounce mild chili beans in chili sauce (or spicy)
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • ⅛ cup A1 steak sauce (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • Optional toppings – shredded cheese, sour cream, Fritos, or saltine crackers

Instructions
 

Stovetop instructions

  • On a cutting board, dice the onion.
  • Over medium heat, brown the ground meat and onion in a medium saucepan.
  • Once browned, drain the grease using a colander.
  • To the pan, add the tomato sauce, chili beans, garlic salt, chili powder, A1 steak sauce (optional), cumin, and parsley.
  • Simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes until heated through.
  • Serve and enjoy with your favorite toppings.

Slow cooker instructions

  • On a cutting board, dice the onion.
  • In a 4-quart crockpot slow cooker add the ground meat or turkey (no need to brown first) and the tomato sauce. Mix together until combined.
  • Add all the remaining ingredients and stir.
  • Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
  • Serve with your favorite toppings.

Video

Notes

Notes about ingredients and substitutions
  • You can use ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, lean beef cubes, or make it meatless.
  • Add in some cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or green chiles to spice it up a bit.
  • Use white onion, yellow onion, sweet onion, or red onion.
Storage instructions
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 599kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 34gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 118mgSodium: 2362mgPotassium: 1614mgFiber: 13gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 2469IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 164mgIron: 12mg
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Hi, and welcome. I’m Zona, and I have a passion for recipes. I share recipes, tips, tricks, and resources to help you cook for two. Eat, drink, and enjoy!

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4.38 from 90 votes (90 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Fina Zarzar

Tuesday 26th of April 2022

Hi Zona, Can I use tomato puree instead of tomato sauce? It will be an equal amount. Also can I use black beans instead of chili beans?

Zona

Wednesday 27th of April 2022

Hi Fina, those substitutions should work just fine and it sounds delicious. Enjoy!

Tena Miller

Monday 27th of January 2020

I see that you commented that you do not need to brown the beef prior to putting it in the crockpot. Does the same apply if you use ground turkey?

Zona

Monday 27th of January 2020

Hi Tena, yes the same applies. You can brown it if you want to. The meat will be bigger chunks if you do. If you put it in without browning, the meat is tinier chunks and the flavor is the same either way.

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