Southern Homemade Chili

Name: Easy Southern Homemade Chili
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 95 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Olive oil; 2 pounds ground beef (80/20); 28 ounce can crushed tomato; 1 yellow onion (large); 1 tsp minced garlic; 2 tsp salt; 2 tsp pepper; 2 tsp paprika; 4 tsp cumin; 2 tsp chili powder; 2 tsp Chipotle pepper powder; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1 bottle Guinness Stout; 1 can Kidney Beans; 1 can white kidney beans; 1 can black beans; Tomato Paste; sour cream; green onions; cheddar cheese (freshly grated is best)

Jump to Recipe

This easy-to-make southern homemade chili will be your go-to recipe for comfort food! Whether for a family meal or a tailgate party, your friends and family will devour this simple meal.

Two white bowls filled with chili and topped with spring onions, sour creme, and cheese on a newspaper with small bowls of green onions, sour cream, and a block of cheese with shredded cheese.

Delicious Homemade Chili

This Southern homemade chili recipe is hearty, studded with seasoned ground beef and chili beans in a rich tomato-based broth. Top your bowl of chili with shredded cheese, tortilla chips, a dollop of sour cream, etc. Pile on all your favorite toppings.

Consider making up a batch of our homemade cornbread for sopping up the chili. We actually crumble it right over the chili and stir it in. Don’t judge until you’ve tried it!

Why not serve an appetizer of chips with our authentic Mexican salsa, too? It pairs so well with the chili and a cold beer!

What You Need to Make Homemade Chili

Ground beef, brown sugar, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, spices, beans, onion, garlic cloves, chili powder, salt and pepper, cumin, and olive oil on a brown counter.

2 pounds 80/20 ground beef. We’ve found this to be the perfect combination.
Crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. This combination gives the chili a thicker base.
1 yellow onion. Sweet onion adds great flavor. Vidalia is a great choice, too.
1 tsp minced garlic. Combined with the onion, this is mirepoix, the perfect start for any soup or stew.
Spices. Our favorite combination for chili.
1/2 cup brown sugar. Gives this meal a little sweetness.
1 bottle of Guinness Stout. A game changer!
Beans. We used kidney, white kidney, and black beans.

See recipe card below for a printable list of ingredients and instructions.

Equipment Needed

Dutch Oven or Large Pot
Meat Chopper or Wooden Spoon
Sharp Knife
Cutting Board
Can Opener

Step 1: Heat oil in a Dutch oven on medium to medium-high heat.

Step 2: Add onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes. You want the onions to soften, and garlic to become fragrant.

Step 3: Add ground beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until meat is browned and cooked through.

Cooked ground beef in a blue pot on a brown counter.

Step 4: Add tomatoes and stir to combine with meat.

Ground beef with a tomato sauce in a blue pot.

Step 5: Add spices and brown sugar.

Ground beef with a tomato sauce in a blue pot with spices on top.

Step 6: Add Guinness and stir to combine. Simmer for 1 hour.

Pouring Guinness stout into a pot of chili.

Step 7: Add beans.

Black, white, and red beans on top of a pot of chili.

Step 8: Simmer for 20-30 minutes more.

Two white bowls filled with chili on a newspaper with small bowls of green onions, sour cream, and a block of cheese with shredded cheese.

Serve with your favorite chili toppings. We like green onions, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Variations and Substitutions

Ground turkey, chicken, or other ground meat can replace lean beef.
If you want the flavor but do not want to use alcohol in the recipe, reach for a nonalcoholic beer.
If you have leftover pulled pork or brisket, you can use that as the meat in this southern-style chili!
You can use whole tomatoes that you finely dice up if that is what you have in your pantry. Even Rotel works great in replacement of classic diced tomatoes.
Add more spices, such as chili and garlic powder, to enhance the flavor.
Green chiles add a lot of flavor to chili. Drain the juice from a small can. For a milder taste, use a green bell pepper.
You can use only one type of bean or mix them with other beans, such as pinto beans, red kidney beans, red beans, black beans, etc., for more variety.
For a less sweet chili, 1/4 cup of brown sugar is used.
Adding cocoa powder to the stout beer can significantly deepen the flavors.
Spice up the chili with red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. Taste test as you add so you don’t overdo it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make chili without beans?

You can use lean ground beef or a blend of beef and pork and skip the beans. If you prefer more veggies and beef, this is more of a “Texas-style chili.”

How can I thicken my chili if it’s too thin?

Allowing your chili to simmer longer with the lid off will help some excess liquid evaporate and thicken it. Adding a tablespoon of cornmeal will also thicken it.

What can I serve with chili?

Cornbread, corn chips, tortilla chips, rice, shredded cheese, green onions, and fresh lime juice are popular chili pairings. Even cinnamon rolls are a popular pairing! This easy chili recipe has endless options to pair with it.

How do I make chili in a slow cooker?

Brown the beef and cook it with the onions and garlic. Then, pour it into the slow cooker and add all the other ingredients. Stir and slow cook for 6-8 hours or high 4-6 hours. This is great for a busy weeknight when you want to plan in the morning.