This Quick and Easy Chili Recipe will get you in and out of the kitchen fast! It’s a homemade chili recipe that even kids will love!
If you are a chili connoisseur this quick and easy chili recipe may not be for you but if you have picky eaters or children this chili recipe may be be a life saver. You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to the size of your family without doing much harm. This is also a perfect recipe to make the day before and just warm up when you need it.
Quick and Easy Chili Recipe
3 small cans tomato soup*
3 soup cans of water
1/2 to 1 lb. cooked hamburger
Chili powder to taste
Garlic powder and onion powder to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
I usually use at least 2 teaspoons each of chili powder and garlic powder. You can also use onions. Put everything in a large pan and simmer at least 2 hours. It’s better to let it simmer all day if possible. You can add almost anything you want to this basic recipe. Beans work well or I like to crumble in some fried sausage for extra flavor.
*I have also replaced the soup with a large can (32-36 oz.) of tomato juice and it is good, too!
-Jill
Bea says
September 15, 2010 at 2:02 pmThis is a wonderful, easy recipe that I’m sure to enjoy. Thanks.
Bea says
September 25, 2010 at 12:48 pmI will be making this chili this weekend. Yummy.
grandma says
September 25, 2010 at 2:19 pmI read the recipe 3 times looking for the beans.
Any chili I have ever eaten has pork and beans or kidney beans in it.
I use tomatoe or V8 vegetable juice instead of the soup.
Just wish my eldest was still at home as he is the only one other than me who likes chili. Sometimes I make a big pot then make up a box of things for his family toys and books and part of the big pot of chili and put it on the bus for him to pick up.
His children like my chili because as the eldest says Grandma doesn’t try to kill us with the hot stuff.
Still no beans seems something would be missing but I may try it.
Jill says
September 25, 2010 at 3:32 pmGrandma, chili originated around Texas. It was always made with meat because they had easy access to meat but as it spread to other areas where meat was harder to come by or more expensive they started using beans often using half meat and beans or no meat at all.
In the 60’s and 70’s during the hippy movement when being a vegetarian was becoming the popular thing, they started using beans even more. True chili though is considered that which is made without beans. Many of the chili competitions won’t allow beans to be used.
My mom made it with 1/2 meat and beans because it was cheaper and there was a time when you could judge how rich or poor someone was by their chili because beans was a cheap filler and made the chili go farther. I always assumed everyone made it 1/2 and 1/2. It really depends on where you are from and what you like. I don’t like beans at all so my chili never had them in it. In our family I make it without and then serve beans on the side for those who like them to add to it.
The best chili I ever had was at some friends in Texas. She added just a small amount of ground sausage along with her hamburger and that was so good. The truth is you can put anything in a tomato base with chili powder and call it chili.
grandma says
September 26, 2010 at 11:18 amI wonder if that is why we call it chili con carne and the states name for it seems to be chili.
My mom would use a huge can of pork and beans and about 1/2 a lb of hamaburger and chili powder and lots of onions. It was the only way I liked beans. I was shocked when I visited an aunt out in BC and she put kidney beans in it along with the pork and beans.
I asked mom about it when I got home from my trip and she said she hated kidney beans so didn’t use them. Now I mix the two when I make it.
I guess chili is really a versatile meal. My son really adds lots of hot pepper flakes to his I use a few and chili powder so it is more mouth friendly.
Thanks for explaining this to me.
Bea says
May 17, 2011 at 12:51 pmHere is an interesting recipe that uses canned tomato soup that I wanted to share.
Blushing Bunny
1 can condensed tomato soup
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
yolks of 2 eggs,well beaten
Combine the tomato soup, 1/2 cup milk, 1 cup cheese, 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard, and the yolks of 2 eggs. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly until cheese is melted and mixture is thickened. Serve on toast, crackers, or toasted English Muffins.
Jill says
May 17, 2011 at 2:09 pmLove tomato soup so will have to try this.
Bea says
September 22, 2011 at 11:37 amJill, here is an interesting Fall recipe
Pumpkin Chili
1-1/2 lbs ground beef
1 large onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained
1 (46 ounce) can tomato juice
1 (28 ounce) can peeled, diced tomatoes with juice
1 (15 ounce)can pumpkin
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
2 tablespoons chili powder
Brown beef, stir in onion and pepper and cook 5 minutes. Stir in beans, tomato juice, diced tomatoes and pumpkin. Season with pumpkin pie spice and chili powder. Simmer 1 hour.
wanda dunford says
February 1, 2012 at 4:00 pmJill, would love to have yr.dining on a dime. wont put my charge card out there. I ordered “not just beans” a long time ago and love it…actually i bought 2. but my copy somehow went south…a friend borrowed and forgot to return. cant say i blame her.
at any which rate could you please send yr mailing address to my e-mail with a list of yr books & price. i will mail a check. you can clear it before shipping if you wish. i understand..thanks so very much.
love this site.
thanks, wanda
Glen says
September 3, 2016 at 1:31 pmHi, everybody!
I make what I call my Cheap and Sleazy Chili recipe once a month. It lasts for about four days — but then again, I live alone, so that’s probably got something to do with it.
Anyway, the goal is to avoid going over $10 when buying all of the ingredients … and yes, those ingredients include beans and not hamburger, but steak … and in keeping with that whole $10 limit idea, I do have to do a bit of shopping around to find a steak at about one pound to one and a half pounds at or near $5.
You can read the recipe here:
http://www.cheapandsleazy.net/chili.html
Good luck!