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Home » Meal Ideas » Mom’s Easy Weeknight Chili

Mom’s Easy Weeknight Chili

Meal Ideas

20 Apr

Ground beef, tomatoes and pantry spices come together in Mom’s Easy Weeknight Chili. Hearty, satisfying and ready in about 30 minutes!

There are always going to be times when you need to make something to feed everyone in a hurry. Mom’s Easy Weeknight Chili is simple to put together and great for a quick weeknight dinner.

Nothing special necessary – just ingredients you most likely already have in your kitchen. This is one of our family’s tried and true favorites!

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Ingredients for Mom's Easy Weeknight Chili in original packaging.

What you’ll need to make Mom’s Easy Weeknight Chili

  • Onion – we usually use yellow onion but any color of onion can be used. You’ll need about one cup of chopped onion.

  • Ground Beef – since the ground beef is browned and then the excess grease drained, feel free to use the least expensive ground beef from the supermarket.

  • Worcestershire Sauce – this sauce offers a nice blend of savory and complex flavor the the chili. If you don’t have this on hand, try an equal amount of steak sauce or barbecue sauce instead.

  • Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt & Pepper & Chili Powder – all of these spices can be adjusted to taste. Feel free to add more or less!

  • Kidney Beans – we like dark red kidney beans but you can use red beans, black beans or cannellini beans instead.

  • Diced Tomatoes – regular diced or petite diced can be used. Crushed can also be used in a pinch but will result in big tomato pieces in the chili.

  • Sliced Mushrooms – we use canned mushrooms because we often have the small cans on hand. Fresh mushrooms can be used instead but if you choose to use them, you should cook them at with the ground beef and onions in the first step.

  • Toppings: Shredded cheddar jack cheese, sliced green onions & fresh jalapenos are our favorite toppings for this chili.

Finished Mom's Easy Weeknight Chili in a bowl.

How to make Mom’s Easy Weeknight Chili

This easy dinner idea is tasty and filling. It has classic chili flavor and is made with everyday ingredients. For a busy family, this is a great weeknight meal that is ready in about 30 minutes.

Uncooked ground beef and onion in a large skillet.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add onions and ground beef. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until ground beef is mostly browned and onions are softened and translucent.

Adding spices and seasonings to the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce pictured being poured into skillet.

While cooking, stir in Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.

Ground beef being drained in a colander.

Once browned, drain the excess grease from the ground beef and transfer to a medium saucepan.

Cooked ground beef, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, mushrooms and chili powder in the bowl of a slow cooker.

Over medium heat, add the kidney beans, diced tomatoes, sliced mushrooms and chili powder. Stir well and bring to a simmer for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Alternately, add all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for 1 – 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Finished Mom's Easy Weeknight Chili in the bowl of a slow cooker.

Serve immediately. Top with shredded cheese, sliced green onions or jalapenos if desired. Enjoy!

Finished Mom's Easy Weeknight Chili in a bowl, with bread.

Other easy Weeknight Recipes you may like

Easy One Pan Egg Roll Bowl – all the delicious flavors of an egg roll in a bowl.

Spinach and Sausage Spaghetti Pie – packed with good stuff and super easy to make.

Simple Baked Salmon with Green Goddess Sauce – flaky, lightly seasoned baked salmon with a vibrant, tangy dipping sauce.

Weeknight Pineapple Shrimp and Rice Bake – pineapple, shrimp and rice drizzled with a sweet island sauce.

Creamy Garlic Spinach Chicken Thighs – tender baked chicken thighs in a delicious creamy garlic sauce

Mom’s Easy Weeknight Chili

Ground beef, tomatoes and pantry spices come together in Mom's Easy Weeknight Chili. Hearty, satisfying and ready in about 30 minutes!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 419kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion chopped, roughly one cup
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1 can kidney beans 14 oz, drained
  • 1 can diced tomatoes 14 oz
  • 1 small can sliced mushrooms 4 oz, drained
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • shredded cheese & jalapenos for topping, if desired
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add onions and ground beef. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until ground beef is mostly browned and onions are softened and translucent.
  • While cooking, stir in Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
  • Once browned, drain the excess grease from the ground beef and transfer to a medium saucepan.
  • Over medium heat, add the kidney beans, diced tomatoes, sliced mushrooms and chili powder. Stir well and bring to a simmer for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve immediately. Top with shredded cheese and jalapenos if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition *

Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 502mg | Potassium: 934mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1311IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 6mg
* The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
Have you tried this recipe? Post a pic and mention @TheRecipeBandit or tag #therecipebandit!

  • Michelle Mundy

    As a busy working mom with kids on the go, I know how important it is to be able to make simple and delicious meals using everyday ingredients. The recipes shared here are family friendly with easy to understand step by step instructions. Tried and true, from our family to yours. Welcome to The Recipe Bandit! Click here to read more about me.

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  1. Emily says

    April 23, 2024 at 10:11 am

    5 stars
    My family really liked this and I liked that it was fast to make and I could put less spice in it so my kids would eat it.

    Reply

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About Me

  • Michelle Mundy

    As a busy working mom with kids on the go, I know how important it is to be able to make simple and delicious meals using everyday ingredients. The recipes shared here are family friendly with easy to understand step by step instructions. Tried and true, from our family to yours. Welcome to The Recipe Bandit! Click here to read more about me.

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