Easy Game Day Beef Chili - The Cookin Chicks (2024)

Published: Feb 1, 2023 by Kristin · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. · 24 Comments

Game Day Chili- hearty beef chili made with two kinds of chili beans, tomatoes, and the perfect amount of spice to make this a crowd favorite. Make this quick and easy chili over the stove or in the slow cooker to save on time!

The BEST Chili Recipe

Are you a “beans in your chili” kind of person? Well, hopefully you answered yes because this chili includes TWO types of beans! In my opinion, the best chili recipe is a base of ground beef, tomato, spices, and BEANS. I love the number of fiber beans add to this recipe and I promise you won’t regret adding them. Feel free to swap the beans for a different kind such as black beans, garbanzo beans, or cannellini beans

Serve with a loaded cornbread or sweet cornbread and you have a meal the entire family will enjoy!

This is truly the best chili recipe ever. It’s filling, flavorful, and fool-proof delicious. Game Day Chili is perfect for college football Saturday, Super Bowl Sunday get-togethers, or any cold winter day.

Why You’ll Love It

• Quick and Easy- whether you choose to make this chili in the slow cooker or on the stove-top, it can be ready to simmer in under 10 minutes!
• So Much Variety Available- add some more heat, change up the meat, or have fun with the toppings. So many great options to choose from.
• Freezer Friendly- you can freeze leftovers and simply pull them out when needed.
• Meal Prep- chili is an excellent meal prep idea because it will literally give you chili for days. This particular recipe serves about 8 and you can easily double it and freeze for later!

Ingredients for Game Day Chili

*See Printable Recipe Card below for exact amounts and directions!

• Ground Beef: This chili is sure to be packed with protein with your ground beef and beans. Find the exact measurements in the recipe card down below!
• Diced, medium onion: Some diced, cooked onions will fill your kitchen with an irresistible scent and leave your chili with an even more flavorful taste!
• Can of Mexican tomatoes: Alternatively, you can use Rotel or tomatoes with onion and jalapenos—it depends on how spicy you want your dish to be!
• Can of chili beans: You can’t make chili without the chili beans!
• Kidney beans: Kidney beans are also a powerful protein—high in protein and fiber. You can bet you’re going to get your daily value after this bowl!
• McCormick chili seasoning: Can’t have a game day chili recipe without the chili seasoning! Choose McCormick to pack in that beloved chili seasoning flavor!
• V-8 tomato juice: While some opt to use tomato paste or tomato sauce, our secret ingredient is V-8!
• Salt/Pepper: You can use as much or as little salt and pepper as you want! It’s entirely up to you and your personal preference!

How to Make Classic Chili

1. Gather all of your ingredients!
2. Prepare and chop up all of your veggies and ingredients as needed. In this case, it would be your diced onions—unless you bought those pre-chopped!
3. Place your brown ground beef and diced onion together in a Dutch oven and cook for about 5 minutes. Then you’re going to want to drain the fat and add in salt and black pepper as desired.
4. Next, you’re going to add your beans, tomatoes, V-8 juice, and chili packets. You can adjust V-8 juice and chili seasonings to taste.
5. Stir it in evenly and then let it simmer until it’s warm and ready to serve!
6. Now it’s time to serve up in some big bowls and top it off with some cheddar cheese, Fritos/corn chips, diced onion, and sour cream for an abundance of fun flourish and flavor! Time to enjoy your delicious bowl of chili and the football game!

How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Chili

This Game Day Chili recipe can easily be made in the slow cooker. Here are the few simple steps.

1. Simply cook the ground beef and onions first as directed above.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and ground beef to the slow cooker and simmer on low for about six to seven hours, only on high for about three to four.
3. Serve in bowls with desired toppings.

Topping Ideas for Game Day Chili

• Tortilla chips: You can opt to use crushed or strips of tortilla chips instead of Fritos if you’d like!
• Green Onions: Green onions, also known as scallions, often make the perfect, colorful flourish to nearly any dish.
• Frito Corn Chips: these add a crunchy, salty addition
• Sour Cream: such a creamy addition
• Cheese: shredded cheese is my favorite addition. I use Cheddar, but you can add any favorite cheese desired.
• Crumbled Bacon: because bacon makes everything better, right?!

Leftover Chili Ideas

Do you have leftover chili and want to change things up? Here are some great options to try:

• Chili Baked Potatoes- cook baked potatoes until tender and add scoops of chili with some toppings for a tasty meal option
• Chili Nachos- make loaded nachos, but in lieu of meat, add scoops of chili
• Chili Cheese Dogs- grill some hotdogs up and scoop some chili with shredded cheese on top
• Chili Cheese Sliders- instead of sloppy joe mixture, use chili on slider buns

How to store Beef Chili

Store beef chili leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 5 days.

To reheat: Either place multiple servings of the beef chili back into the stockpot and heat over medium heat until boiling or place 1 serving of chili into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

How to Freeze Game Day Chili

Beef Chili is the perfect chili recipe to freeze! Here is how:

1. Let your beef chili cool completely.
2. Then, transfer it into an airtight container or freezer-safe gallon-size bag.
3. Remove as much air as possible and seal.
4. Freeze for up to 3 months.

What to serve with this Game Day Chili Recipe

This hearty chili is great on its own, but if you want to add a few side dish options, here are some tasty ones:

Loaded Cornbread- made in a cast iron skillet and loaded with bacon, cheese, peppers, and more!

Knock Your Socks Off Cornbread- a sweet, fluffy and moist cornbread that is a Southern favorite!

Southern Hush Puppies- fried cornbread nuggets that have a tender center and crisp outer coating!

Side Salad- to get those greens in!

Crusty Bread- perfect to dip into the chili as you’re eating!