October 16, 2022
7

Mild Chili Recipe

Mild Chili Recipe – a chili loaded with flavor without the overwhelming spice! It’s super easy, rich & thick. This is seriously the best chili recipe!

Mild chili recipe served in a bowl with sour cream on top and cornbread

This mild chili recipe is for all my chili lovers who don’t love ~spicy foods~

Chili is one of my favorite things to eat in the fall. My mom always made chili with the William’s Sonoma chili starter. And it’s amazing. But it’s so spicy.

I used to drown my chili in sour cream to help take the spice level down.

Now that I make chili myself… I realized I can make it mild from the get go.

This recipe doesn’t have a super long ingredient list

It proves all other chili recipes wrong that you need a million ingredients for deep, rich flavor.

Mild Chili Recipe with cilantro, green onions and sour cream on top

Can this mild chili recipe be made ahead of time?

Yes 100%. Chili is one of those recipes that gets better as it sits. You can make it a couple days ahead of time. Then reheat it on the stove or the microwave when you’re ready to eat it.

I love taking it to football parties, family gatherings, or the river in the fall. I make it ahead of time. Then keep it warm in a crockpot.

Can you freeze it?

Yep! I almost always make a double batch and freeze the extra for a night when I don’t feel like cooking.

Portion the cooked chili into your desired serving size in airtight containers. Transfer to the freezer and store for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw chili in the fridge or briefly under warm water to help loosen it from the containers. From there you can also reheat on the stove or in the slow cooker! Or you can reheat from frozen in the microwave.

What to serve with the chili?

This cornbread is my favorite!! I also love fritos, shredded cheese, sour cream, and/or rice in my chili!

Mild Chili Recipe

It's super easy, not spicy, rich & thick. This is seriously the best chili recipe!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 white onions, small diced
  • 3 bell peppers, small diced (any color works)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 pounds ground chicken (ground turkey or beef also work)
  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 4 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 3 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 (14 oz) can fire roasted tomatoes
  • 2 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup chicken broth (or beer)
  • 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
  • Salt to taste
  • Desired toppings: crushed fritos, shredded cheese, sour cream, cornbread, and/or green onions

Instructions

  • Heat a dutch oven or large pot over medium high heat. Add the olive oil, onions, peppers, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until peppers and onions have softened.
  • Add in the ground meat. Break it apart with a spatula or meat masher. Add the chili powder, paprika, oregano, and cumin. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add in the tomatoes, beans, chicken stock and maple syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes (or more if you prefer!), until thickened.
  • Turn heat off and let it cool for 5-10 minutes to thicken a little more. You can add a little water if it gets too thick for you. Season with salt to taste.
  • Serve with crushed fritos, shredded cheese sour cream, cornbread, and/or green onions!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 551kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 19g
If you make this recipe I'd love to hear in the comments!
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Beef, Chicken & Turkey, Dinner, Dinners, Fall, Freezer Friendly, Gluten Free, Recipes by Dish Type, Soups, Super Bowl, Weeknight Dinners
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