Quick & Easy One Pot Chili

This chili recipe is quick and easy to make and is packed full of flavor and good for you ingredients. You only need one large pot to make this recipe, so there is very little to clean up. Once your veggies are chopped, the chili will simmer on the stove while it frees you to doing other things. From start to finish you can be eating chili in less than 90 minutes.

This chili recipe will feed 6-8 hungry adults, or will give you enough leftovers to freeze and reheat on a day you're too busy to cook. It goes very well with cooked rice, a side salad, or with garlic bread to dip into your bowl.

Step 1: Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
4 large carrots
4 stalks celery
1 large onion
2 cups bell peppers
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 (28 oz) can tomatoes
1 (5 1/2 oz) can tomato paste
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1 large bay leaf
1 tsp or more of cayenne pepper (Optional)
2 (14 oz) cans red kidney beans

Comments

[mrcaderly]

I gave this a try and I must say that it was excellent! It was easy to make as you stated and the cleanup was quick. My kids liked the taste, but not the veggies so I think I will throw this in the blender and pass it off as spaghetti! :-)

Oh, I did make a couple of changes. I used honey instead of sugar and chicken instead of the beef.

[susanchen2011]

I will try. Thanks.

[canucksgirl]

Please do. ;)

[susanchen2011]

I tried it. But the taste is not very good. I think it is my problem.

[canucksgirl]

Sorry to hear that. How old were the spices that you used? Did it just lack flavor? I'm not sure what to say. I've made this so many times, including in larger batches to feed 30 people, and everyone has loved it. So all I can recommend is that you use good ingredients, and ensure that your dried spices aren't too old.

[susanchen2011]

Thank you for your advice. I will try it again.

[sunshiine]

This looks so good! I will definitely try it sometime. Thanks for sharing.
Sunshiine

[canucksgirl]

Thanks sunshiine! It really is quick and easy to make. I got all the ingredients on sale, so the whole recipe cost less than $10; plus it freezes really well, so you have leftovers for another night when you don't feel like cooking.

Thanks for commenting. ;)

[sunshiine]

Super! I like to make a little extra to freeze for those lazy don't feel like cooking days! Like today! LOL.

[canucksgirl]

In that case, I would totally recommend getting a basic, inexpensive vacuum sealer. They are great. The bags are freezable and boil-able. All you do is take the left overs out of the freezer and you pop the bag into a pot of boiling water. Then just cut the bag open when its heated and fill up your bowls. Since the pot was only used to boil water, you don't have extra dishes on left over night. ;)

[sunshiine]

I have not been able to find one of the cheap ones. Any suggestions?

[canucksgirl]

I have one of the Tilia FoodSaver brands. I got my on sale, so it was about $30. You can find them almost anywhere now (Walmart, Sears, Target etc), so check around for the sales. Like most brands, they have fancier (more expensive) models, but I find the cheapest one they have works just fine.

[sunshiine]

Thanks! I will start looking!

[jessyratfink]

I love how many veggies you included!

[canucksgirl]

Thanks Jessy! I think it tastes better will all the veggies too. ;)

[ChrysN]

This sounds really good, I like that there are a lot of vegetables.

[canucksgirl]

Thank you. I appreciate the comments. ;)

[bajablue]

Hmmm. Don't tell anyone I said so, but...

_{This chili bears a striking resemblance to yummilicious Vegetable-Beef Schili. ;-D}

[canucksgirl]

It looks like what?

[bajablue]

lol... Vegetable Beef Schili.

Soup + Chili = Schili, you silly! ;-D

[canucksgirl]

LOL... Okay I get it now ;)

I have astigmatism, and when I read it, I wasn't sure if it was a typo, or my eyes...

BTW, You are funny and a little "Schili". :P

[bajablue]

I forgot to add "yummilicious". It looks like that, too. ;-P~

[canucksgirl]

And thank you. It really is yummilicious! Its one of our favorites. Its fast and inexpensive. The whole recipe cost me less than $10.

Then I use my vacuum sealer (which is working again, yay!) and I package up the left overs. Then when we want Chili again, I just put a bag in a pot of boiling water, and in no time, its hot. Then all you do is cut the bag open with scissors and fill up the bowls. And, since you're only boiling the bag in water, you have no pot to wash! (Double bonus). ;)

[bajablue]

You're so welcome...

_{and try not to be breakin' your foodsaver again, ok?. ;-D}

[canucksgirl]

Thanks. And I'll try not to. ;)