My mom's 5-Ingredient Chili Recipe has been a favorite of mine for years! This easy chili recipe uses pantry staples for a dinner win you'll want to make again and again!
Place a large pot over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
To the same pot, add the tomato soup, kidney beans, and chili seasoning. Using the tomato soup cans, fill two with water and the add water to the pot.
Stir and bring chili to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the chili has thickened and your house smells amazing, stir one more time and check the seasoning. Add salt and pepper to your taste as needed.
Portion chili into bowls and serve immediately. We like our chili topped with shredded cheese and served with buttered saltines or cornbread.
Notes
To make a smaller batch: Use 1 pound of ground beef, 1 can of soup, 1 can of beans, 1 packet of seasoning, and 1 can of water. Cook as directed and let simmer for 20-25 minutes.
Slow cooker chili: Brown the ground beef in a skillet and transfer it to a crock pot. Pour in the soup, beans, seasoning, and water and stir everything together. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or on LOW for 5-6 hours. Stir again and serve.
You can use store-bought or homemade chili seasoning for this recipe. One 1.25-ounce packet from the store = 2 1/2 tablespoons of homemade seasoning.