The Pioneer Woman Chili Recipe: Your Ultimate Guide to Hearty Comfort Food

This Pioneer Woman chili recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, blending simple ingredients into a deeply flavorful and satisfying meal. Inspired by Ree Drummond’s popular recipe, this chili is perfect for family dinners, game day gatherings, or cozy weeknights in. Whether you’re a chili novice or a seasoned cook, this easy-to-follow guide will help you create a pot of chili that’s bursting with flavor and warmth.

A wooden spoon scooping up chili from a cooking pot.

Homemade chili is a beloved comfort food, but finding the perfect recipe can sometimes feel like a quest. This Pioneer Woman chili recipe takes away the guesswork, offering a foundational recipe that’s both incredibly easy to make and endlessly adaptable to your personal preferences. What makes this chili stand out is its perfect balance of savory ground beef, tender beans, and a harmonious blend of spices that create a rich and robust flavor profile.

Many chili recipes can be overly complex or require hard-to-find ingredients. The beauty of this Pioneer Woman recipe lies in its simplicity. It utilizes common pantry staples and straightforward cooking techniques, making it accessible for cooks of all skill levels. The recipe provides clear instructions for stove top cooking, and also offers convenient adaptations for both slow cooker (Crock-Pot) and Instant Pot methods, ensuring you can make delicious chili regardless of your kitchen equipment or time constraints.

Why This Pioneer Woman Chili Recipe is a Must-Try

This isn’t just another chili recipe; it’s a recipe that understands the essence of great chili: hearty, flavorful, and satisfying. Here’s what makes this Pioneer Woman chili recipe so exceptional:

Robust Flavor: The combination of chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper creates a complex and warm spice profile that perfectly complements the beef and beans.
Versatile Cooking Methods: Whether you prefer the traditional stove top simmer, the hands-off approach of a slow cooker, or the speed of an Instant Pot, this recipe has you covered.
Customizable: The recipe serves as a fantastic base, allowing you to easily adjust ingredients and seasonings to suit your taste. Add your favorite vegetables, increase the spice level, or experiment with different types of beans.
Freezer-Friendly: Chili is an ideal make-ahead meal. This recipe freezes beautifully, making it perfect for meal prepping or stocking your freezer for future quick and delicious dinners.
Family-Friendly: Kids and adults alike love a good bowl of chili. This recipe is hearty, comforting, and satisfying for everyone at the table.

Key Ingredients for Pioneer Woman Chili

Let’s break down the essential ingredients that make this Pioneer Woman chili recipe so delicious:

Ground Beef: The heart of this chili, ground beef provides a rich, meaty base. Opt for 80% lean ground beef for a good balance of flavor and texture.
Garlic: Freshly diced garlic adds a pungent and aromatic depth to the chili.
Tomato Sauce: Tomato sauce provides the foundational tomato flavor and liquid for the chili.
Chili Powder: The star spice, chili powder is a blend of dried chili peppers and other spices that delivers the classic chili flavor.
Cumin and Oregano: These earthy spices enhance the chili’s complexity and warmth.
Cayenne Pepper: A pinch of cayenne pepper adds a subtle kick of heat, but you can adjust the amount to your spice preference.
Masa Harina: This finely ground corn flour acts as a thickening agent, giving the chili a perfect, hearty texture. It also adds a subtle corn flavor that complements the other ingredients.
Kidney and Pinto Beans: A classic chili bean combination, kidney and pinto beans provide texture, protein, and fiber, making the chili more substantial and nutritious.

Ground beef in a dutch oven with seasonings being added to make chili.

Step-by-Step Guide: Stove Top Pioneer Woman Chili

The stove top method is the traditional way to make chili, allowing for a slow simmer that develops deep flavors. Here’s how to make Pioneer Woman chili on the stove:

Brown the Beef: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it’s browned. Drain off any excess grease.
Sauté Garlic and Add Tomato Sauce: Add the diced garlic to the pot and cook for about a minute until fragrant. Pour in the tomato sauce and stir to combine.
Incorporate Seasonings: Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper to the pot. Stir well to ensure the spices are evenly distributed and coat the beef and tomato sauce.
Simmer for Flavor Development: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the chili simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. This simmering time allows the flavors to meld and deepen. If the chili appears too thick during simmering, you can add a little water (about ½ cup) to reach your desired consistency.
Thicken with Masa Harina: In a small bowl, whisk together the masa harina and ½ cup of water until smooth. Pour this mixture into the chili pot and stir it in. The masa harina will thicken the chili as it simmers.
Add the Beans and Final Simmer: Stir in the drained and rinsed kidney beans and pinto beans. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes to heat the beans through and allow the chili to thicken further.
Serve and Garnish: Ladle the Pioneer Woman chili into bowls and serve hot. Don’t forget your favorite chili garnishes! (See serving suggestions below).

Pinto beans in a soup pot before and after bring mixed into a pot of chili.

Crock Pot Pioneer Woman Chili: Slow Cooker Simplicity

For a hands-off approach, the Crock-Pot method is ideal. It’s perfect for busy days and results in incredibly tender and flavorful chili.

Brown Beef and Sauté Garlic (Optional but Recommended): While you can skip browning the beef for a truly dump-and-go Crock-Pot chili, browning the beef and sautéing the garlic beforehand enhances the depth of flavor. Follow steps 1 and 2 of the stove top method in a skillet or stove top safe Crock-Pot insert, then drain any grease.
Combine Ingredients in Crock-Pot: Transfer the browned beef and garlic to your Crock-Pot (if you browned it separately). Add the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne pepper, masa harina-water mixture (prepared as in the stove top method), kidney beans, and pinto beans to the Crock-Pot. Stir everything together gently.
Slow Cook: Cover the Crock-Pot and cook on low heat for 4 hours, or for a longer period (6-8 hours) if you prefer. The longer slow cooking time will result in even more tender beef and a richer flavor.
Adjust Consistency and Serve: Before serving, check the chili’s consistency. If it’s thicker than you like, stir in a little water. Ladle into bowls and garnish as desired.

Instant Pot Pioneer Woman Chili: Quick and Flavorful

For chili in a hurry, the Instant Pot is your best friend. This method significantly reduces cooking time without sacrificing flavor.

Sauté Beef and Garlic: Set your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain any excess grease. Add the diced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
Add Remaining Ingredients (with a Note on Tomatoes): Add the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne pepper, masa harina-water mixture, kidney beans, and pinto beans to the Instant Pot. Important Note for Instant Pot: For the Instant Pot version, it’s recommended to use 14.5 ounces of diced tomatoes with their juice in addition to the tomato sauce. This extra liquid helps prevent the “Burn” notice in the Instant Pot. Add the diced tomatoes and their juice to the pot.
Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the pressure valve is sealed. Select the “Chili/Beans” setting or manually set the cooking time for 20 minutes at high pressure.
Release Pressure and Serve: Once the cooking cycle is complete, you can do a quick pressure release or allow the pressure to release naturally. Stir the chili, adjust the consistency with a little water if needed, and serve with your favorite garnishes.

Masa Harina Substitute Options

Masa harina is ideal for thickening chili and adding a subtle corn flavor, but if you don’t have it on hand, here are some substitutes:

Cornmeal or Flour: These can be used as thickening agents, but they won’t provide the same flavor as masa harina. Use about half the amount of masa harina called for in the recipe and whisk it with water before adding to the chili.
Cornstarch: Mix cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water to create a slurry. Add this slurry to the chili towards the end of cooking to thicken it.

Freezing and Storing Leftover Chili

Chili is an excellent make-ahead and freezer-friendly meal.

Refrigerating: Store leftover chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing: For longer storage, freeze chili in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or use the microwave to thaw before reheating.

What to Serve with Pioneer Woman Chili

Chili is delicious on its own, but it’s even better with the right accompaniments. Here are some popular serving suggestions:

Cornbread: A classic pairing! Serve warm cornbread alongside your chili for dipping and dunking.
Toppings Galore: Set up a chili topping bar with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, lime wedges, tortilla chips, Fritos, and hot sauce. Let everyone customize their bowls.
Salad: A fresh side salad with a light vinaigrette provides a refreshing contrast to the rich chili.
Baked Potatoes: Top baked potatoes with chili for a hearty and satisfying meal.

Close up view of a wooden spoon scooping chili out of a pot with melted cheese on top.

Get Ready to Enjoy the Best Chili!

This Pioneer Woman chili recipe is a guaranteed winner. It’s easy to make, incredibly flavorful, and perfect for any occasion. Gather your ingredients, choose your preferred cooking method, and get ready to enjoy a comforting bowl of homemade chili that will warm you from the inside out. Don’t forget to leave a review once you’ve tried it – your feedback is always appreciated!