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World's Best Chili Recipes: 21 Easy Chili Recipes Everyone Will Love
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Hillbilly Chili

- SERVES
- 6
- COOK TIME
- 1 Hr 5 Min
This hearty country chili is so loaded with flavor it'll be in your starting lineup for football season and any time of the year, really. Kick off the Fall season with a bowl of this Hillbilly Chili and you'll be saying, "OOH, IT'S SO GOOD!!"
What You'll Need
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 (15-1/2-ounce) cans pinto beans, undrained
- 1 (29-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14-1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (12-ounce) bottle chili sauce
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 8 slices cooked bacon, coarsely crumbled
What to Do
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat oil; saute onions 5 minutes. Add ground beef, salt, and pepper and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until beef is no longer pink. Drain off excess liquid.
- Stir in remaining ingredients; mix well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 50 to 60 minutes, or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
Notes
- Serve with your favorite chili toppings, like Cheddar cheese and sour cream!
- Freezer Instructions: Follow recipe above. Allow chili to cool, then place in freezer safe container, and freeze. When ready to eat, move chili to fridge to thaw for 24 hours in advance. Reheat over medium heat in a saucpan on the stove. Serve and enjoy!
- Around here we just love all kinds of chili. Give our Vegetable Chili a try -- it's so hearty and delicious, you won't miss the meat!
- Plus, check out more easy chili recipes in our free eCookbook, World's Best Chili Recipes: 21 Easy Chili Recipes Everyone Will Love.

grafra102 6990201
Oct 14, 2016
I have not made it yet, but will because I have made many recipes of "CHILI" and the recipe sounds right on. Also the comments that were positive I agree with. Bacon does not make recipes salty, they need to watch their salt.. I LOVE CHILI!!!! THANK YOU MR. FOOD TEAM.
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Test Kitchen Team
Aug 24, 2017
You are welcome! We hope you enjoy this recipe! :)
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HBcook
Apr 29, 2015
Really good. Nice and thick and sort of creamy in texture. I followed the recipe but sauteed the ground beef separately. Very simple.
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HBcook
Apr 29, 2015
ALSO, would serve more like ten than 6!
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chris28304 7517324
Oct 25, 2014
I altered this quite a bit because I made it with what I had on hand. I used diced tomatoes with onion, garlic and basil instead of plain diced tomatoes. Chili beans instead of pinto beans and one can of tomato paste with water added instead of tomato sauce. I also omitted the brown sugar and added 3/4 teaspoon of cumin and four splashes of hot sauce. I would make this again if left with the same ingredients on hand but this is not my favorite chili recipe. I felt that even though I omitted the brown sugar the chili sauce still made this recipe too sweet.
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noah11 7976731
Oct 29, 2016
Sorry but I don't want to see how other people doctor up (or down) a recipe. I want comments from those who followed the recipe as written.
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larkinlinda44 5671365
Jul 29, 2014
I haven't made this recipe in while but it was a real hit with my husband, i'm thinking about making it this weekend, this chili is not at all spicy, which is just the we like it. It's also, nice and thick and very tasty. We loved it.
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csi4es 1141482
Dec 04, 2013
This is my new GO TO recipe for Chili. The only thing I added was some of the bacon drippings. The flavor was indredible!
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csi4es 1141482
Dec 04, 2013
Oops...spelling error..The flavor was INCREDIBLE!!
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fredtabor 6096933
Nov 23, 2013
I made this in a crockpot the other day and it was fantastic. Added some jalopenas and Tabasco. It's even better the second day.
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jobrant 6641549
Oct 22, 2013
I really enjoy the comments about recipes,but when I read the one from Texas that this "would not fly in Texas",I could not help but laugh.Different sections of the United States have various cusines.If this person comes to Georgia is she going to tell me my fried chicken "won't fly".What is in a name? Call this something else,and maybe Texans will be happy.
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jobrant 6641549
Oct 22, 2013
This is LOTS better than my forever recipe! The second time I made it,I used less chili pdr,diced tomatoes with jalopena peppers,and it even smells better and tastes better
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grannyjean1944
Oct 13, 2013
Really good chili doesn't have beans or diced tomatoes. The chili powder should make your sauce, and not bottle sauces, except pepper sauce. I am sure lots of people like this, but it would never fly in Texas.
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ldmff
Jan 03, 2014
I had a bowl of Texas chili one and only one time, it tasted like a " Sloppy Joe " just ground beef and ketchup. Up north on the western plains I add three kinds of beans to my chili plus I substitute ground turkey for the ground beef, cheaper and healthier, oh well to each his own.
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grannytina1 2729616
Aug 24, 2017
Because it is Tex- Mex does not mean anything people in Texas add or omit anything they want in their chill just like the rest of the cooks in entire United states You can get good or very very bad chili in Texas .. I know been there... done that... just like good cooks and bad cooks
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PA Momma
Oct 13, 2013
This is our new go to chili recipe but if you want heat you have to add it yourself. I added about 10 shots of Tabasco to my pot and the heat was just right! Serve with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese and Oooh Its soooo Good! :)
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grannyblu
Oct 03, 2013
This recipe is similar to recipes called calico beans sometimes called cowboy beans they use kidney beans pork & beans and pinto or lima beans really an combo of beans will work . can even toss in can of drained hominy or corn if you like also used ketchup and envelope of ranch dressing They all use bacon hamburger onions tomatoes, spoon of brown sugar, chili powder and a variation of canned beans
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zackcleo 5331616
Oct 02, 2013
I made this a few days ago, but was somewhat disappointed. It was very salty. I think it was the bacon. Also, it was more time consuming to make, and more expensive. The chili sauce alone was $3.00. Wanted to love it , but won't make it again.
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fredhomer 9960735
May 01, 2018
A pot of chili anywhere starts @$20.00
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williambargas 5457429
Sep 29, 2013
This Hill Billy Chili was a hit with my family. I did use 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and teaspoon of cumin and used 1 teaspoon of hot chili powder instead of regular chili powder. I give this recipe 4 1/2 stars.
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burrowsrm 8539354
Sep 28, 2013
I was wondering for those who have already tried this, did anyone find it too spicy?
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S48tal 8171427
Sep 25, 2013
Another great recipe; thank you "Mr. Foods Team" for helping to give me new ideas for [all our meals]! A comment to (Dendy2): the brown sugar will add to the taste of the chili, and also sugar in any "tomato sauce recipes" helps to cut the 'acid in the tomato.' I hope this helps on your decision whether to omit or leave in the sugar. And a nice suggestion for those who have not tried the recipe yet, why not wait to comment (after) making it.......then comment and rate. (Smile). Sincerely, 'little ole' Ohio cook,' Sherry
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sissy792466 7107450
Sep 25, 2013
Have made this yet so I cannot rate it.
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milands 6660835
Sep 24, 2013
Looked good today and it is cool so thought I would try it.
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Dendy2
Sep 24, 2013
I like everything but the brown sugar. I'll go for more savory by adding some cumin instead.
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misscorrupted2005 6314202
Sep 24, 2013
I will be making this soon hope its good
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Nance8778
Sep 24, 2013
I have not made this yet so I cannot rate it.
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