This simple, 4-ingredient chili is a classic. Ground chicken, black beans, fireroasted tomatoes and taco seasoning cook up quick for a perfect family-style meal. Serve topped with your favorite toppings. We love serving honeyed cornbread on the side.
Once, many moons ago, I gifted small boxes for Christmas to everyone in the family. They were filled with notecards of my favorite recipes. The simplest, most craveable recipes I’d collected.
This was many, many years before I would become a food photographer, but I look back now and realize food has always been my language. Simple food. Splendid food. Brilliantly easy ideas that taste crazy good but can be made in record time.
Because as much as I like cooking, I love sitting around a table with my people, simmering into great convo and a glass of wine and as few dishes as possible.
This here recipe for 4-INGREDIENT CHILI is one of those tried-and-true eats. We’ve made it a million times and it’s always darned delish. Top with all your favorite stuff: 🍅🌶🍈🧀🥓 & serve with 🍺.
INGREDIENT LINEUP
Here’s what you need to make this super simple recipe
Ground Chicken (you can also use ground sausage, ground beef or shredded pork)
Black Beans (a can of chili beans, lentils or pintos works as well. My kids love when we use a big can of pork & beans in this recipe because the beans are tiny and you get that added bit of tomato sauciness)
Fire-roasted Diced Tomatoes (the Southwest diced tomatoes also work, or go for crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce if your fam doesn’t like the chunks)
Taco Seasoning (any brand will do)
WHAT IS THE BEST SECRET INGREDIENT FOR CHILI?
Though there are a lot of chili recipes with a of different secret ingredients, our family happens to think a single packet of Taco Seasoning is the ultimate chili ingredient. Make a great chili by combing a pound of meat, a can of beans, a can of tomatoes and a packet of taco seasoning. Boom! Dinner is done!
WHAT MAKES CHILI CHILI?
Chili peppers (and sometimes chili powder) cooked with a tomato-based stew is generally regarded as “Chili” . Add meat and you’ve got “chili con carne.”
WHAT MAKES THE BEST CHILI?
There are so many ways to make chili. So the best way to answer this question is: what are you feeling like? Chicken or beef? Black beans or pinto? Spicy or mild? Perhaps the best thing about chili is how versatile it is. So to make the best bowl, toss all of the things that sound tastiest to you in a pot and stew away!
WHAT CAN YOU ADD TO CHILI?
A basic chili is a tomato-based stew flavored with chili peppers or chili powder. From there, the additions are endless. Add pumpkin puree for a fall-inspired chili. Try tossing in bacon or beef or pork or sausage for a hearty bowl. Season with spice or add honey to lend a mild sweetness. Try adding your favorite hot sauce, serving over rice, tossing in favorite veggies or topping with cornbread for a dumpling-like chili. The options are endless!
2-BITE CHILI BOWLS
Serves 4
1 pound ground chicken
1 (15 oz) can black beans, undrained
1 (28 oz) can fire-roasted diced or crushed tomatoes
1 packet taco seasoning
Toppings (sour cream, jalapeños, tomatoes, cheese, cilantro, diced onions or green onions)
In a large pot, brown and crumble chicken. Add black beans, diced tomatoes and taco seasoning. Heat until bubbling, then remove from stove. Top as desired. Enjoy!