Dutch Oven Chili Recipe

This stovetop dutch oven chili is hearty, delicious comfort food. Simple to make, this homemade chili is perfect for feeding a hungry family and can be topped with all your favorite toppings!

Stovetop Dutch Oven Chili

If you are craving a hearty and flavorful chili that is easy to make and perfect for feeding a hungry family, this is the recipe you want!

In this post, I will take you through every step of creating this delicious, hearty meal.

1. Ingredients
2. Cooking Instructions
3. Toppings and Serving Ideas
4. Storing and Reheating
5. Helpful Tips

I have tried many chili recipes throughout all my years of cooking, and this is the best chili recipe I always return to.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Simple and Easy: This hearty chili recipe uses basic, wholesome, healthy ingredients. This one pot meal is ready to serve in under an hour!
• Healthy: This dutch oven beef chili recipe is made with lean grass-fed ground beef and beans, making it high in protein. It’s also made with homemade chili seasoning, which means you will not have any additives found in the kind bought from the grocery store.
• Load on the Toppings: One of my favorite things about this easy recipe is loading the bowl of chili full of toppings!
• Best Leftover Meal: The best part of marking a large pot of chili is that it tastes even better the next day!

Dutch Oven Chili Ingredients

Made with wholesome, healthy ingredients, here is what you will need for this chili recipe:

• Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef.
• Onion: Diced onions add a lot of flavor!
• Tomatoes: Use tomato sauce and tomato paste.
• Tri-Colored Beans: Some beef chili recipes do not call for beans, but we love to use beans and include three different varieties! Pinto beans, black beans, and kidney beans are perfect for this dutch oven beef chili.
• Beef Broth: It adds flavor and liquid, one of the best ways to add healthy nutrients!
• Herbs and Spices: A flavorful combination of spices, including chili powder, oregano, cumin, minced garlic, cumin, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
• Salt: Use salt generously when seasoning chili, as it takes quite a bit to make the flavor pop. But, season to taste.

Step by Step Instructions for Dutch Oven Chili

Here is how to make homemade chili in a dutch oven:

Step 1: Saute Ground Beef

Add ground beef to a large dutch oven or stockpot. Brown ground beef; use a wooden spoon to crumble the meat until it is brown. Drain off excess grease and return cooked ground beef to the dutch oven.

Step 2: Add in Ingredients

Next, add the remaining ingredients, including the diced onions, beef broth, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beans, and spices, to make the homemade chili seasoning. Give the chili a good stir to combine all the ingredients.

Step 3: Simmer

Bring the chili to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce it to a simmer. Stir chili occasionally until it thickens and flavors combine for about 30 minutes.

Step 4: Serve

Use a ladle and scoop out individual servings of chili into bowls. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings!

What Toppings to Serve with Dutch Oven Chili

Homemade chili tastes even better when loaded with the best toppings here are a few ideas on what can be added to the top of the chili:

• Sour Cream
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Jalapeno Peppers
• Cilantro
• Avocado
• Tortilla Chips
• Green Onions
• Corn Chips
• Crackers

How to Store Leftover Dutch Oven Chili

• Refrigerator – Remove the cooled chili from the dutch oven and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Freezer – Cool the chili to room temperature. Transfer it into sturdy freezer bags, removing excess air before sealing. Lay the bags flat in the freezer for convenient stacking and store them for six months.
• Reheat – Use a saucepan to reheat the chile on medium heat. Stir regularly to prevent sticking. Heat until it bubbles, and if it is too thick, add a bit of beef broth or tomato sauce to restore the original consistency.

Recipe Tips

• Cast Iron Dutch Oven: Chili can be made in a well-seasoned cast iron dutch oven. However, do not store the chili in the dutch oven; once cooled to room temperature, properly store leftovers and clean the dutch oven before storing.
• Substitute Meat: Instead of using ground beef, substitute another variety of ground meat such as ground turkey, stew bites, sausage, or chicken.
• Add Vegetables: Add bell pepper, corn, or even zucchini for some added nutrients.
• Add Spice: To make this a spicy chili, add a few tablespoons of diced jalapeños, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or crushed red pepper flakes.
• Switch Beans: The best beans are kidney, black, and pinto beans; feel free to add a variety to suit your taste. Other options may include types such as garbanzo beans or cannellini beans.
• Secret Ingredient: Many chili recipes swear by using a bit of sweetener to bring out all of the savory flavors from the chili seasoning. Add a tablespoon of sugar, honey, or maple syrup to try this tip!
• Chili Seasoning: While I prefer to use homemade chili seasoning, if you have none available, feel free to use one store-bought package.

Recipe FAQs

What to Serve with Chili

Here are some popular options for what to serve with dutch oven chili:

1. A classic choice, cornbread has a slightly sweet and crumbly texture and provides a great side to serve with chili.
2. Homemade french fries can be a delicious side to serve with a hearty bowl of chili.

Printable Dutch Oven Chili Recipe