If you’re looking for a hearty and meaty chili recipe that is great on its own or topped on a dog, then this Dutch Oven Awesome Chili is for you.
This awesome chili would be great to top on our Dutch Oven Baked Potatoes or serve with our delicious Skillet Cream Corned Cornbread for a complete meal, but don't forget the dessert. A Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie would do the trick!

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The Best Chili Recipe Ever
When I was in high school, my dad Dean and I decided we wanted to develop our own chili recipe. After many tweaks and batches, this is the recipe we settled on. You can tell I was in high school by the name I gave it...awesome!
This is a special recipe to me because I got to spend time with my Dad, one on one. As a dad now, I know this bonding experience means just as much to him as it does me.
I make this chili every Halloween; it's now a tradition with my own family.
And this Dutch Oven Awesome Chili is award winning too.
I entered this recipe in a chili contest at work back in 2005 and won 1st place. Since then, I tease my Dad that when I make Awesome Chili, the name changes to Award Winning Awesome Chili whereas when he makes it, it’s only Awesome Chili.
No Garlic Chili Recipe
Yes, you read that correctly. There is no garlic in this recipe. Garlic and I have a very stressful relationship.
Even though garlic and I don't get long, I will occasionally cook with it, but this recipe was developed without any and I've left it that way. It's still delicious, I promise.
If you find not having garlic in chili to be against your religion, please add some. You can add 4 cloves or 2 teaspoon granulated garlic.
How to Make Dutch Oven Awesome Chili
First off, this is a thick and hearty chili; really chunky and less like stew.
I want to be up front so no one gets mad at me when you make this and it's done cooking: there is not as much liquid in this recipe as in other chili recipes you might have made.
Once you have all your ingredients, including measuring out the spices, this recipe goes pretty quick-ish.
Heat the Dutch oven on medium-high and crumble in the ground beef.
Add the onions and bell peppers once the beef is in. Mix well and cook.
You don’t have to fully cook the ground beef through at this stage; it will get completely done in the process of making the recipe.
Once the beef has sufficiently browned and the onions and peppers have softened, drain off the renderings. Even thought I used 93% lean ground beef, it produced ample renderings with 3 pounds of meat.
After the renderings have been drained, it’s time to add the seasonings.
Tips for adding spices
To avoid clumping, don’t add them all at once. Put the Dutch oven back on the burner over medium heat.
Do a little dance and sing “sprinkle and stir,” “sprinkle and stir,” and “sprinkle and stir” until they’ve all been incorporated and mixed in well.
There is nothing worse than biting into a luscious piece of meat only to be greeted by a choking amount of chili powder.
Pour in the salsa then the tomatoes. I had already reduced the heat to medium but you can go to low. Tomato products hitting the hot pot can spit and HURT.
Gently fold in the kidney beans. Like your real kidneys, they’re fragile.
They will break apart if they are roughly stirred in.
Just remember how much it hurt when your brother would kidney punch you growing up…oh, he didn’t, just mine then?
Well it hurts and it hurts the beans if you’re too rough. So just hear your mom’s voice in your head, “no rough-housing” while you’re incorporating them.
Increase the heat up to medium-high, or even high and bring it to a boil. Now, I put the lid on at this stage because, well, I don’t like scrubbing my walls. The splatter is real my friends and it will make a mess.
Once this awesome chili has its boil on, reduce the heat to medium-low, allowing it to maintain a low simmer. Let it simmer away for 30 minutes or so, but stir it occasionally.
How to use up leftover Dutch Oven Awesome Chili
If you have leftover chili and want a new way to enjoy it, here are 4 ways to use it up.
- Skillet Nachos
- Potato Boats with Chili, Green Chiles, and Cheese from The Complete Savorist
- Chili Cheese Dog Skillet Bake
- Chili over Spiced Roasted Cauliflower from The Complete Savorist
Other Related Dutch Oven Soups, Stews, and Chili Recipes
If you tried this Dutch Oven Awesome Chili or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Get the Recipe
Dutch Oven Awesome Chili
Equipment
- 5 qt. Dutch oven or larger
Ingredients
- 3 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 2 bell peppers diced
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups salsa
- 29 oz stewed tomatoes 2-14.5 oz cans
- 16 oz dark kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 16 oz light kidney beans drained and rinsed
Optional Garnishes
- cheddar cheese shredded
- sour cream
- green onions sliced
Instructions
- Heat the Dutch oven over medium-high heat
- Crumble in the ground beef; stir.
- Stir in the onions and bell peppers; mix well.
- Cook the beef until it has browned and the vegetables have begun to soften.
- Drain off all the renderings.
- Return to the heat and incorporate the spices while stiring.
- Add the salsa and stewed tomatoes, mix well.
- Gently fold in the kidney beans
- Bring to a boil over medium-high or high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to a low simmer
- Allow to simmer for 30 minutes, the chili will thicken and the liquid will be absorbed.
- Serve with any of the optional garnishes and enjoy.
Nutrition
Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
dana
This is absolutely delicious! So flavorful and cozy. Thanks for another awesome Dutch oven recipe!
Chenee
Chili dogs sound so good right now. I'm excited to make this!
Karen Platz
My husband not crazy about kidney beans. Is there another bean that I can use. I love kidney beans. However, Texas Chili does not have beans. Just asking.
Ned Adams
Great question. I haven't changed this up and have always used kidney beans, but you should use black beans or a similar type of bean.
chef mimi
I’ve never used ground beef in my chili, but yours looks good. Glad you added the beans! I know that’s controversial, after many years in Texas! What kind of chile powder do you use?
Ned Adams
Thank you so much! Nothing special on the chile powder, but I bet you could use a smoked one and it would be super good too.
Richard B
I'm invited to a chili cookoff this year and i plan to use this recipe. It will be my first time making chili in general.
Ned Adams
Can’t wait to see how it goes for you! Happy cooking and good luck!
bea
Made this in my dutch oven last weekend. It was quite tasty and easy to make. There is a subtle sweetness to the taste that I am guessing is from the stewed tomatoes. Will be making this again, and often.
Dana
Of all the ways I've made chili, I never thought to do it in a Dutch oven! This recipe was perfection. Reminded me of my mom's which is exactly how I love it. Right amount of spices, right amount of beans. Thanks for an amazing chili!
Stephanie
This chili was amazing and had a really good flavor. I especially enjoyed this recipe because I enjoy the flavor of dark kidney beans with all of those spices.
Sharon Chen
This was so hearty and delicious! Thank you so much!
Megan
There's nothing like a hearty chili, and it was so good in the Dutch oven! Thanks for a great recipe, definitely saving to make again!
Sara Welch
Enjoyed this for dinner tonight and it was a hit all around the table! Easy, hearty and delicious; my new favorite recipe, indeed!
Lima Ekram
Loved the flavors in this chili - perfect comfort food!
Chris Gipson
Great recipe. Made the chili at a cub scout campout and everyone really enjoyed it.
Shawn
How do you handle the acid from the tomatoes affecting the seasoning of the iron?
Ned Adams
Great question! To start with, I make sure I have seasoned my cast iron really well. I use a product called BuzzyWaxx and you can find it on my store: https://www.dutchovendaddy.com/store/ the next thing I do is not let the chili sit overnight in the cast iron. These two things have enabled me to keep a good solid seasoning on my cast iron when cooking with acid food.
David
I'm going to use this recipe in a chilli cook off at our local municipal. Using venison instead of beef and going to slow cook on my charcoal smoker with a mix of apple and cherry wood. Thank you for the hearty recipe!
Ned Adams
That sounds fantastic!! Can’t wait to see how it turns out for you! Using venison sounds delicious!