This easy Healthy Homemade Chili is full of satisfying meat, beans, and veggies, and will be the last chili recipe you'll ever need.
If you're looking for more amazing weekday dinners, check out my 15-Minute Healthy Beef and Broccoli, my Chicken Tacos, and my Steak Cobb Salad.
In This Post You'll Find:
By now, you probably know I like to keep it simple with my recipes. Same goes for my healthy homemade chili. Chili in itself is not a complicated dish to make, but it is complex when it comes to flavors.
Just the thought of a big bowl of spicy, hearty healthy homemade chili warms me up, and makes me dream of those cold winter nights when I’d curl up with a bowl of piping hot chili and some freshly baked cornbread.
Just because you’re following a clean eating plan doesn’t mean chili is off limits to you! Follow this easy healthy homemade chili recipe, which is made with whole, healthy chili ingredients. Serve it with these Homemade Corn Tortillas, Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe, or Egg Bread Rolls and enjoy your completely clean easy weeknight dinner.
Reasons You'll Love It
- Stores easy in a fridge
- Savory and delicious
- It's healthy, easy and amazing
Ingredients For Healthy Homemade Chili
Beef: I recommend using a leaner ground beef, like 94/6 or leaner to keep the overall fat content of the chili moderate. You can also replace with ground turkey.
Bell Peppers: Bell peppers are used to bring a bit of sweetness and color, adding freshness and balance to the dish. They can be omitted if you don't like bell peppers, however. If you're like me and love bell peppers, try my Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers or my Keto Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers.
Pinto Beans: Pinto beans are used to add heartiness and texture, rounding out the chili and making it extra filling. You can also use black beans. If you don't like beans, they can also be omitted.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1: In a large, deep skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, add onion and cook until tender.
- Step 2: Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add bell peppers, garlic, and all the spices, and stir to incorporate. Cook for 10 minutes, or until bell peppers begin to become tender.
- Step 3: Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, olives, pinto beans, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer over medium heat, cover, and cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Step 4: Serve with a sprinkling of grated cheddar cheese, sliced green onions and a dollop of greek yogurt, if desired.
Recipe FAQs
I recommend using a leaner ground beef, like 94/6 or leaner to keep the overall fat content of the chili moderate. You can also replace with ground turkey.
You can easily cook homemade chili without beans. Even though I love beans in my chili, if you prefer your chili meatier or just hate beans, you're not alone. In fact, I make this chili without beans for Dustin since he hates beans.
P.S. If you’re looking for a good recipe for chili without beans, try my Texas Chili recipe, too.
If you've got yourself a big skillet full of delicious homemade chili and you're interested in knowing how long it will last in the fridge, the good news is it will last up to 5-6 days. To get your chili to last as long as possible in the fridge, make sure to properly store it in an air-tight container. Just make sure that the dish has already cooled down before you store it, that way you don't get any excess moisture build up. Check out my Ultimate Guide To Meal Prep Containers for my favorite air-tight containers.
More Hearty Dishes
If you're looking for more delicious and hearty recipes, check out these:
Healthy Homemade Chili
*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb organic, grass-fed ground beef 85/15
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup black olives, sliced
- 1 15 oz can no sodium added pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- cheddar cheese, optional garnish
- sliced green onions optional garnish
- full fat greek yogurt, optional garnish
Instructions
- In a large, deep skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
- When oil is hot, add onion and cook until tender.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned.
- Add bell peppers, garlic, and all the spices, and stir to incorporate. Cook for 10 minutes, or until bell peppers begin to become tender.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, olives, pinto beans, and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer over medium heat, cover, and cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with a sprinkling of grated cheddar cheese, sliced green onions and a dollop of greek yogurt, if desired.
Video
Notes
- Don’t rush the first steps. Let the onions, garlic, and peppers cook down properly to develop a rich, flavorful base before adding the beef and tomatoes.
- Chili seasoning can be adjusted to your preference—start mild and add more chili powder, cumin, or smoked paprika gradually.
- Keep it healthy with toppings like chopped cilantro, diced avocado, or a dollop of Greek yogurt. For a little crunch, try crushed tortilla chips.
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
Alicia Ponce
This is delicious!! One of my favorites.
Joe Hamilton
Can this be done in a crockpot?
Lacey Baier
Yes, this could be made in a crock pot for sure.
kelsey
I have lost count how many times I have made this! Each time I change a little something up. My family loves it, this is a meal I love to reheat for meal prep as well. It makes a lot for my small fam! Thanks for the great recipe!!
Lacey Baier
Kelsey, this makes me so happy! I couldn't agree with you more 🙂
Granny927
This chili is VERY GOOD. Ive had 2 bowls once it was completed. The ONLY thing different I did was add hafl cup of beef broth. This will be my ONLY chili recipe. Cant wit to teach the grandkids.
Lacey Baier
This is so great! I hope they love it, too.
Melanie
It’s perfect!
Lacey Baier
Yay!!
Sherri Roberts
Doesn’t this need any water? Mine looks more like a casserole. LOL
Lacey Baier
It could be the difference in meat -- that itmightnot be as juicy. You can add beef broth or water to increase the liquid if needed.
Shawn Stiles
Awesome recipe
Lacey Baier
Glad you think so. Hope you try it again soon!
Jim
Did you switch the recipe on this? Seems in a different order than before and ingredients a little different?
Lacey Baier
Not on this one - it's been the same for years 🙂
Valerie
Sounds good
Lacey Baier
It tastes better than it sounds! Super delicious! 🙂
Stacy Just
This chili recipe has 36 carbs per serving! Not 5. Yikes. I figured that out too late.
Lacey Baier
I'm so sorry about that Stacy! That was a typo. I've updated the nutrition facts to make sure we wont have that issue again.
Dustin
Totally need to make a video of this one.
Lacey Baier
Done!! xoxo
Jules
Another HUGE success! I have tried so many of your recipes with such amazing results that I don't hesitate to try a new recipe on guests (we had two couples over for this particular dinner). Oh the chili was SO good and it was my first time making it myself. As I always say, thank you for giving me the confidence to keep on cooking!
Lacey Baier
This is such music to my ears, Jules. I can't tell you how happy I am to hear this 🙂
Klea
This was awesome. And easy and not time consuming 🙂
Lacey Baier
All music to my ears 🙂
Zoe
Man, this looks incredible - so much better than the other stuff i googled which called for a 'gallon of chilli sauce'!! It's winter in south africa, and this would be PERFECT! I lived in the South for nearly 4 years, so I love your 'accent' online...Thanks! Zoe
Lacey Baier
Haha, thanks so much, Zoe! I hope you enjoy the chili 🙂
Katherine
I've wanted to make a good homemade chili. You must've read my mind! Thanks for the dinner idea:)
Lacey Baier
Great minds think (and eat!) alike, Katherine 🙂