TidyMom® https://tidymom.net/ Tidy Life. Tasty Food. Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:49:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Easy Cowboy Chili https://tidymom.net/cowboy-chili/ https://tidymom.net/cowboy-chili/#respond Mon, 06 Jul 2026 19:46:59 +0000 https://tidymom.net/?p=80257 This Easy Cowboy Chili Recipe is hearty, flavorful, and made with simple pantry ingredients you probably already have on hand. Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and bold chili seasoning simmer together to create a rich, comforting bowl of chili that’s perfect for busy weeknights, football season, or anytime you’re craving an easy homemade meal. One of […]

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]]> This Easy Cowboy Chili Recipe is hearty, flavorful, and made with simple pantry ingredients you probably already have on hand. Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and bold chili seasoning simmer together to create a rich, comforting bowl of chili that’s perfect for busy weeknights, football season, or anytime you’re craving an easy homemade meal.

One of my favorite things about this recipe is how uncomplicated it is. There’s no long list of ingredients or hours of prep—just a handful of pantry staples that come together in one pot for a satisfying dinner everyone loves. Serve it with cornbread and your favorite toppings, and dinner is done.

Close-up bowl of Easy Cowboy Chili topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced jalapeños, and green onions.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Cowboy Chili

  • Simple pantry ingredients. Everything you need is easy to find, and you may already have most of it in your kitchen.
  • One-pot meal. Less cleanup means dinner is even easier.
  • Perfect for feeding a crowd. This hearty recipe serves 8–10, making it great for family dinners, game day, potlucks, or meal prep.
  • Easy to customize. Use ground beef or turkey, make it thicker or thinner, and pile on your favorite toppings.
  • Even better the next day. The flavors continue to develop overnight, making leftovers something to look forward to.
A bowl of raw ground beef, cans of beans, tomatoes and chili seasoning to make easy cowboy chili

Ingredients You’ll Need

This easy Cowboy Chili comes together with simple ingredients you can find at just about any grocery store. Chances are, you already have many of them in your pantry!

Ground beef or turkey – I usually make this recipe with lean ground beef (85/15), but ground turkey is a delicious lighter option.

Chili seasoning mix – A packet of chili seasoning keeps this recipe quick and easy. You can also substitute your favorite homemade chili seasoning.

Chili powder – Adds an extra layer of bold chili flavor.

Pinto beans and kidney beans – I like using beans packed in chili sauce because the seasoned liquid adds flavor and helps naturally thicken the chili. Don’t drain them!

Chili-ready tomato sauce – Use one can for a thick, hearty chili or add a second can if you prefer a thinner consistency.

Crushed or diced tomatoes – Either works well, so use whichever you have on hand.

browning ground beef for chili in a blue dutch oven
pouring a can of chili beans into a blue dutch oven for cowboy chili
using a wooden spoon to stir chili seasoning into simmer pot of easy cowboy chili
pot of easy cowboy chili in a blue dutch oven with chili toppings around for serving

How to Make Cowboy Chili

  • Brown the meat. Cook the ground beef or turkey in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until no longer pink, about 5–7 minutes. Drain any excess grease if needed.
  • Add the remaining ingredients. Stir in the chili seasoning, chili powder, beans (with their liquid), crushed tomatoes, and one can of chili-ready tomato sauce. If you prefer a thinner chili, stir in the second can of tomato sauce.
  • Simmer. Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have blended together.
  • Serve. Ladle into bowls and top with your favorite chili toppings. Enjoy with cornbread, crackers, or corn chips.

When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

💡TidyMom Tips

  • Brown the meat first. Let the meat cook undisturbed for a few minutes before breaking it into crumbles. This gives it a chance to develop a rich, flavorful browned crust.
  • Don’t drain the beans. The liquid in the cans adds flavor and contains natural starches that help thicken the chili as it simmers.
  • Adjust the consistency. Use one can of chili-ready tomato sauce for a thick, hearty chili or add the second can if you prefer a thinner consistency.
  • Make it your own. If you like extra veggies, sauté a diced onion, green bell pepper, and a couple cloves of minced garlic with the meat before adding the remaining ingredients.
  • Give it time. While the chili is ready after about 30 minutes of simmering, the flavor only gets better with a little extra time—and it’s even better the next day!
Overhead view of two bowls of Easy Cowboy Chili topped with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, and green onions, served with cornbread.

🍴 What to Serve with Cowboy Chili

A bowl of hearty Cowboy Chili is satisfying all on its own, but I love setting out a variety of toppings so everyone can make it their own. Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, sliced green onions, fresh cilantro, diced avocado, sliced jalapeños, and crunchy corn chips or oyster crackers are all delicious options.

And don’t forget the homemade cornbread ! It’s the perfect side for soaking up every last bite of chili. A simple green salad, loaded twice-baked potatoes, or fresh fruit also makes a great addition to round out the meal.

🥣 Storage & Freezing

I almost always make a big batch because the leftovers are even better the next day! Store cooled chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.

To reheat, warm the chili in a saucepan over medium-low heat or microwave individual servings until heated through. If the chili has thickened in the refrigerator, simply stir in a splash of beef broth or water until it reaches your desired consistency.

Cowboy Chili freezes beautifully, making it a great meal to have on hand for busy days. Let the chili cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Spoonful of Easy Cowboy Chili with ground beef, pinto beans, kidney beans, and melted cheese over a bowl of chili topped with sour cream and jalapeños.

Cowboy Chili FAQs

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?

Yes! Lean ground turkey is a delicious lighter option and works just as well in this recipe.

Does Cowboy Chili have beans?

Yes! This Easy Cowboy Chili is made with both pinto and kidney beans. The beans make the chili extra hearty, help stretch the meal to feed a crowd, and create the thick, satisfying bowl of chili everyone loves.

Why is it called Cowboy Chili?

Cowboy Chili is believed to have originated as a hearty meal served by cowboys and chuckwagon cooks on cattle drives in the late 1800s. Cooked over an open campfire, it was a filling, satisfying meal that could feed a hungry crew after a long day on the trail.

Close-up bowl of Easy Cowboy Chili topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced jalapeños, and green onions.

Easy Cowboy Chili

Yield: 8-10 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
No Ratings

Easy Cowboy Chili is a hearty one-pot recipe made with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and simple pantry ingredients. Perfect for busy weeknights, game day, or feeding a crowd.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (lean 85/15) ground beef or turkey
  • 1 (1.25 ounce) package chili seasoning mix (or make your own chili mix)
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can pinto beans (in chili sauce)
  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can kidney (in chili sauce)
  • 1-2 (8 ounce ) cans chili ready tomato sauce
  • 1 (15 ounce) crushed or diced tomatoes

Instructions

  1. Brown meat in a large pot on medium high heat cook over until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain fat, if needed
  2. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil.
  3. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer at least 30 minutes stirring occasionally.

Notes

  • Don't drain the beans. The seasoned liquid adds flavor and helps naturally thicken the chili.
  • Optional vegetables: If desired, sauté one diced onion, one diced green bell pepper, and 2 teaspoons minced garlic with the meat before adding the remaining ingredients.
  • Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Consistency: If the chili thickens after refrigeration, stir in a splash of beef broth or water while reheating.
    • Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 288Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 225mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 27g

    Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used and are just estimates. We encourage, especially if these numbers are important to you, to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

    © Cheryl Sousan
    Cuisine: Chili / Category: Main Dish

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    ]]>     https://tidymom.net/cowboy-chili/feed/ 0     Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders https://tidymom.net/chicken-bacon-ranch-sliders/ https://tidymom.net/chicken-bacon-ranch-sliders/#respond Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:02:05 +0000 https://tidymom.net/?p=80230 Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders are loaded with rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, creamy ranch filling, melty cheese, and soft Hawaiian rolls. They’re easy to make, packed with flavor, and ready in just 35 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, game day, parties, or anytime you need to feed hungry people fast, these cheesy baked sliders disappear every […]

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    ]]>     Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders are loaded with rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, creamy ranch filling, melty cheese, and soft Hawaiian rolls. They’re easy to make, packed with flavor, and ready in just 35 minutes.

    hand held cheesy slider with chicken bacon and ranch

    Perfect for busy weeknights, game day, parties, or anytime you need to feed hungry people fast, these cheesy baked sliders disappear every single time I make them.

    If you’re anything like me, recipes that start with rotisserie chicken are always a win!

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    ]]>     This No-Churn Cherry Garcia Ice Cream is creamy, loaded with sweet cherries and chocolate chunks, and ridiculously easy to make at home, no ice cream maker needed.

    If you love that classic cherry-and-chocolate combo, this homemade version delivers all the nostalgic ice cream shop vibes with just a handful of simple ingredients.

    bowl of no-churn Cherry Garcia ice cream topped with chocolate chunks and sweet dark cherries

    Chocolate and cherry desserts are always a favorite around here, so don’t miss my Cherry Garcia Cookies, Brownie Cherry Cheesecake, and Chocolate Cherry Cake, too.

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    ]]>     https://tidymom.net/cherry-garcia-ice-cream/feed/ 0     S’mores Brownies https://tidymom.net/smores-brownies/ https://tidymom.net/smores-brownies/#respond Wed, 06 May 2026 18:46:14 +0000 https://tidymom.net/?p=80173 These S’mores Brownies are what happens when a campfire favorite meets a fudgy, chocolate-loaded dessert. With layers of graham crackers, gooey brownies, and toasted marshmallows, they’re easy to make and even easier to disappear. S’mores have clearly become a bit of a thing around here. Between my Mini S’more Pies, S’mores Cookies, S’mores Dip, and […]

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    ]]>     These S’mores Brownies are what happens when a campfire favorite meets a fudgy, chocolate-loaded dessert. With layers of graham crackers, gooey brownies, and toasted marshmallows, they’re easy to make and even easier to disappear.

    S’mores have clearly become a bit of a thing around here. Between my Mini S’more Pies, S’mores Cookies, S’mores Dip, and S’mores Pops, it’s safe to say I’m not running out of ways to keep that chocolate-marshmallow combo going anytime soon.

    stacked s’mores brownies with graham cracker crust, gooey marshmallow topping, and melted chocolate

    Why You’ll Love These S’mores Brownies

    • Starts with a boxed mix → quick and easy
    • Layers of graham cracker, brownie, and toasted marshmallow
    • Gooey, chocolatey, and just messy enough to feel fun
    • Perfect for summer, potlucks, or anytime you want a crowd-pleaser

    TidyMom tip: Corner pieces always have the best marshmallow situation.

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    ]]>     https://tidymom.net/smores-brownies/feed/ 0     Smash Burger Tacos https://tidymom.net/smash-burger-tacos/ https://tidymom.net/smash-burger-tacos/#respond Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:29:55 +0000 https://tidymom.net/?p=80142 Smash Burger Tacos are juicy, crispy, cheesy, and loaded with fresh toppings—an easy weeknight dinner everyone will love. If taco night and burger night had a baby, this would be it… and honestly, it might be better than both. What Are Smash Burgers? Smash burgers are made by pressing a ball of ground beef onto […]

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    ]]>     Smash Burger Tacos are juicy, crispy, cheesy, and loaded with fresh toppings—an easy weeknight dinner everyone will love.

    If taco night and burger night had a baby, this would be it… and honestly, it might be better than both.

    Smash burger tacos with melted cheese and fresh toppings being picked up

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    That quick “smash” locks in flavor and creates those irresistible crispy bits everyone loves.

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    TidyMom says: this is why smash burgers taste so good.

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