Dutch Oven Chili

This stovetop Dutch Oven Chili is hearty, delicious comfort food. Simple to make using one pot, this homemade chili is perfect for feeding a hungry family and is topped with all your favorite toppings!

Dutch Oven Chili on Stove

Dutch oven chili with homemade cornbread is the perfect comfort food your entire family will love! This hearty meal is the perfect fall dinner for those cooler months.

I love dutch oven cooking! It makes creating recipes for my family easy, and this flavorful chili recipe will work with an enameled or cast iron dutch oven.

I have tried many chili recipes throughout all my years of cooking, and this is the best chili recipe that I always return to that uses ground beef! If you want a twist on chili, be sure to check out my Stew Meat Chili recipe! I hope your whole family will love it as much as my family does.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Simple and Easy: Basic, wholesome, and healthy ingredients make up this hearty chili recipe. This one pot meal is ready to serve in under an hour!
• Healthy: My 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! So for all you chili lovers, double this recipe so that you have plenty of leftovers to put in the refrigerator or freezer!

Recommended Kitchen Essentials

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• Dutch Oven: I use my favorite cast iron dutch oven, but an enamel dutch oven also works.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: a beautiful matte black set of measuring cups and spoons detailed with measurements on the handles.

Dutch Oven Chili Ingredients

Made with wholesome, healthy ingredients, this chili recipe has a deliciously rich flavor. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full list of ingredients and instructions.

• Ground Beef: for this recipe, I use lean ground beef.
• Onion: diced onions add a lot of flavor!
• Tomatoes: for this recipe, 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 the perfect combination in this dutch oven beef chili.
• Beef Broth: It adds flavor and liquid, which is one of the best ways to add healthy nutrients!
• Herbs and Spices: a flavorful combination of spices is used to make this homemade chili, 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, as always, season to taste.

Step by Step Instructions for Dutch Oven Chili

Making homemade chili at home in a dutch oven on the stovetop is incredibly easy! It’s easy to throw it all together, let it simmer, and then serve. This chili recipe has the absolute best flavor combination.

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 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, and my favorite is cornbread baked in a cast iron skillet!

Here are a few ideas on what can be added to the top of the chili for additional flavor!

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

How to Store Leftover Dutch Oven Chili

Refrigerator: Once the chili has cooled to room temperature, remove it from the dutch oven. Refrigerate leftover chili in an airtight container (preferably glass) and store it in the refrigerator.

Freezer: Allow the chili to cool down to room temperature. Then, scoop it into durable freezer bags and remove as much air as possible before sealing. Lay the bag in the freezer, so it is flat, making it easier to stack and store. Freeze for up to 6 months.

How to Re-Heat Leftover Chili

For best results, reheat chili on the stove. Pour the leftover chili into a dutch oven, medium-sized pot, or saucepan.

Reheat over medium heat, frequently stirring to ensure the chili doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Heat until bubbling, and serve.

Chili may thicken in the refrigerator, so add a small amount of beef broth or tomato sauce which will help return it to its original consistency.

Tips for Cooking Chili in a Dutch Oven

• 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: make this easy dutch oven chili recipe your own by adding some 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 to use are kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans; feel free to add a different 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 if you want to try this tip!
• Chili Seasoning: while I prefer to use homemade chili seasoning, if you don’t have any available, feel free to use one store-bought package.

Dutch Oven Recipes

I love using my dutch oven to make healthy and easy recipes for my family. Here are a few of the best dutch oven recipes!

• Dutch Oven Meatloaf
• Dutch Oven Beef Stew
• Dutch Oven Lasagna
• Dutch Oven Pulled Pork
• Dutch Oven Whole Chicken
• Dutch Oven Chuck Roast with Carrots and Potatoes
• Old Fashioned Pot Roast
• Old Fashioned Dutch Oven Recipes
• Stew Meat Chili
• Dutch Oven Potato Soup

Printable Dutch Oven Chili Recipe

If you try this homemade dutch oven chili recipe and love it, please come back and leave a review in the comments. Or, feel free to tag me on Instagram @rockyhedgefarm

Thank you for sharing!