The Pioneer Woman’s Chili Recipe: A Hearty and Flavorful Guide

Chili is a classic comfort food, perfect for chilly evenings, game days, or any time you crave a warm, satisfying meal. And when it comes to chili recipes, The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, knows how to deliver a crowd-pleaser. This recipe, inspired by Ree’s famous chili, is a hearty and flavorful blend of ground beef, beans, and a perfect balance of spices. Whether you prefer to cook it on the stove top, in a slow cooker, or an Instant Pot, this chili recipe will quickly become a family favorite.

A wooden spoon scooping up chili from a cooking pot.

For many home cooks, creating the perfect homemade chili can feel like a daunting task. Finding the right balance of flavors and textures can be tricky. This Pioneer Woman-inspired chili recipe takes the guesswork out of the equation. It provides a fantastic base that is delicious as is, but also versatile enough to customize to your liking.

Some chili enthusiasts prefer a straightforward, no-fuss chili, focusing on the core ingredients: meat, beans, and a flavorful sauce. This recipe caters perfectly to that preference. Others enjoy adding extra vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or even mushrooms and celery for added depth and texture. The beauty of this recipe is its adaptability – you can easily tailor it to suit your personal taste and preferences.

Mastering the Pioneer Woman Chili: Three Simple Cooking Methods

This chili recipe offers flexibility with three popular cooking methods, ensuring it fits seamlessly into your schedule, whether you have time to simmer it on the stove or prefer the convenience of a slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Stove Top Chili Instructions

The stove top method is a classic approach, allowing you to develop rich flavors as the chili simmers gently.

1. Brown the Ground Beef: Begin by cooking 2 pounds of ground beef in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Break it apart with a spoon as it cooks until it’s fully browned. Once browned, drain off any excess grease.
2. Sauté Garlic and Add Tomato Sauce & Spices: Add 2 diced cloves of garlic to the pot and cook for about a minute until fragrant. Pour in 8 ounces of tomato sauce and stir. Now it’s time to build the flavor profile. Add 2 tablespoons of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of ground oregano, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Stir everything together to ensure the spices are well distributed.
3. 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 together beautifully, creating a richer, more complex chili.
4. Thicken with Masa Harina: In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup of masa harina with ½ cup of water until smooth. This masa harina mixture acts as a thickening agent and also adds a subtle corn flavor that complements the chili. Pour the mixture into the chili pot and stir it in.
5. Add the Beans and Final Simmer: Add 15 ounces of drained and rinsed kidney beans and 15 ounces of drained and rinsed pinto beans to the chili. Simmer for a final 10 minutes to heat the beans through and allow the chili to thicken to your desired consistency. If you prefer a thicker chili, you can add a bit more masa harina mixture.
6. Serve and Garnish: Ladle the chili into bowls and let everyone customize their serving with their favorite garnishes. Popular choices include shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkle of diced green onions, lime wedges, or crunchy tortilla chips.

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

Crock Pot Chili Instructions

For a hands-off approach, the slow cooker is an excellent choice. It’s perfect for busy days when you want to come home to a warm and comforting meal.

1. Brown Beef and Sauté Garlic (Optional): While you can skip browning the beef for a truly hands-off approach in the crock pot, browning it first enhances the depth of flavor. Follow step 1 of the stove top instructions to brown the ground beef and drain the grease. You can do this in a skillet on the stove or directly in a stove-top safe slow cooker. Add the garlic and sauté for a minute as described in the stove top method.
2. Combine Ingredients in Crock Pot: Transfer the browned beef and garlic to your slow cooker (if you browned it on the stove). Add the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.
3. Add Masa Harina Mixture and Beans: In a small bowl, prepare the masa harina mixture as described in the stove top method. Stir it into the crock pot. Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans and pinto beans. Stir everything gently to combine.
4. Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for 4 hours, or for a longer period like 6-8 hours for all-day cooking. The longer cooking time on low heat allows the flavors to develop even further, resulting in an incredibly rich and flavorful chili.
5. Adjust Consistency and Serve: Before serving, check the chili’s consistency. If you’d like it thicker, you can stir in a bit more masa harina mixture (mix masa harina and water separately before adding). Ladle into bowls and serve with your favorite chili toppings.

Instant Pot Chili Instructions

For a quicker chili fix without sacrificing flavor, the Instant Pot is your go-to appliance.

1. Sauté Beef in Instant Pot: Turn your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it browns. Drain off any excess grease.
2. Sauté Garlic and Add Spices & Tomato Sauce: Add the diced garlic and sauté for about a minute until fragrant. Pour in the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.
3. Add Masa Harina Mixture, Beans, and Diced Tomatoes (Important Note): Prepare the masa harina mixture as described in the stove top method. Stir it into the Instant Pot. Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans and pinto beans. For the Instant Pot version, it’s recommended to add 14.5 ounces of diced tomatoes with their juices to provide extra liquid. This helps prevent the “burn” notice in the Instant Pot.
4. Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the pressure valve is sealed. Select the “Chili/Beans” setting or manually set it to cook at high pressure for 20 minutes.
5. Release Pressure and Serve: Once the cooking cycle is complete, you can do a quick pressure release or allow for a natural pressure release. Stir the chili well after releasing the pressure. Check the consistency and add more masa harina mixture if desired. Serve hot with your favorite garnishes.

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

Pro-Tip for all methods: If you find your chili is too thick, simply add a little water or beef broth to reach your desired consistency. Conversely, if you want it thicker, add more masa harina mixture, a tablespoon at a time.

Essential Chili Tips and Substitutions

• Masa Harina Magic: Masa harina is key to achieving the authentic texture and flavor in this chili. It’s a finely ground corn flour that thickens the chili beautifully and adds a distinct corn taste. If you can’t find masa harina, you can substitute with flour or cornmeal, but the flavor profile will be slightly different. Cornstarch mixed with water can also be used as a thickening agent.
• Spice Level Adjustment: This recipe has a mild kick from the cayenne pepper. If you prefer a spicier chili, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add a pinch of red pepper flakes. For a milder chili, reduce or omit the cayenne pepper.
• Bean Variety: Kidney and pinto beans are classic chili beans, but feel free to experiment with other types like black beans, cannellini beans, or even a mix of different beans.
• Vegetarian Chili Option: To make this recipe vegetarian, simply omit the ground beef and add extra beans or vegetables like diced bell peppers, zucchini, or corn. You can also use vegetable broth instead of water if needed for consistency.

Serving Suggestions for Pioneer Woman Chili

Chili is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed on its own or with a variety of accompaniments. Here are some popular serving suggestions:

• Classic Toppings: Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, diced green onions, chopped cilantro, lime wedges.
• Crunchy Additions: Tortilla chips, Fritos, oyster crackers, cornbread croutons.
• Side Dishes: Cornbread (a must-try!), buttermilk biscuits, a simple side salad, coleslaw.
• Loaded Chili Bowls: Create a chili bar and let everyone build their own loaded chili bowls with a variety of toppings and sides.

Storing and Freezing Leftover Chili

One of the great things about chili is that it’s perfect for making ahead and it freezes beautifully.

• Refrigerator Storage: Store leftover chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer Storage: 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 it quickly.
• Reheating: Reheat chili gently on the stove top over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through. Add a splash of water or broth if needed to thin it out after reheating.

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

This Pioneer Woman-inspired chili recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, offering a delicious and adaptable base for your chili creations. Whether you follow the stove top, crock pot, or Instant Pot method, you’ll be rewarded with a hearty, flavorful, and comforting chili that’s perfect for any occasion. Gather your ingredients and get ready to enjoy a truly satisfying bowl of chili!