The Ultimate Guide to Pioneer Woman Chili: Your Go-To Recipe

Home-cooked chili is a timeless comfort food, and when it comes to hearty, flavorful recipes, the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, truly delivers. Her chili recipe is a beloved classic for good reason – it’s packed with robust flavors, satisfying textures, and is incredibly versatile for any cooking method. Whether you’re a chili novice or a seasoned cook, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make the perfect Pioneer Woman Chili, ensuring it becomes a family favorite in your home.

A delicious bowl of Pioneer Woman Chili with shredded cheese and a spoon, showcasing its hearty texture.

Many chili recipes can be complicated, but the beauty of the Pioneer Woman Chili lies in its simplicity and adaptability. This recipe serves as the perfect foundation, allowing you to customize it to your taste preferences. Do you like it mild and meaty? Perfect. Prefer a spicier, bean-filled chili? Easily done! This recipe is designed to be your go-to base, ready for your personal touch.

Some chili enthusiasts are purists, preferring a straightforward mix of meat, beans, and sauce, seasoned just right. Others love to load it up with extra vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or even mushrooms and celery for added depth and texture. The question is, how do you like your chili?

Mastering the Pioneer Woman Chili: Stove Top Instructions

The classic stove top method is a reliable way to make Pioneer Woman Chili. It allows for a slow simmer, melding all the flavors together beautifully. Here’s how to do it:

1. Brown the Beef: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, cook your ground beef over medium heat. Break it apart as it cooks until it’s fully browned. Once browned, drain off any excess grease.

2. Add Aromatics and Simmer: Stir in the diced garlic and tomato sauce into the pot with the browned beef. Cook for about a minute until the garlic becomes fragrant. Then, add the signature chili seasonings: chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir everything to combine, ensuring the beef is coated in the spices. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. This simmering time is crucial for developing the rich flavors of the chili.

Ground beef being seasoned in a pot, the first step to making flavorful Pioneer Woman Chili.

3. Thicken with Masa Harina: In a small bowl, whisk together masa harina with water until smooth. This masa harina mixture is the secret to achieving the perfect chili texture. Pour this mixture into the simmering chili and stir it in.

4. Add the Beans and Finish Simmering: Introduce the drained and rinsed kidney beans and pinto beans to the pot. Stir them into the chili and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes. This final simmer allows the beans to heat through and the flavors to meld completely.

5. Serve and Garnish: Your stove top Pioneer Woman Chili is now ready to serve! Ladle it into bowls and let everyone customize their serving with their favorite garnishes. Popular choices include shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, fresh lime wedges, crunchy tortilla chips, or diced green onions.

Beans being added to the chili pot, enriching the Pioneer Woman Chili with hearty textures and flavors.

Effortless Crock Pot Pioneer Woman Chili

For a hands-off approach, the Crock Pot method is ideal for making Pioneer Woman Chili. It’s perfect for busy days when you want a comforting meal ready when you are.

1. Brown Beef and Sauté Aromatics (Optional): While you can skip browning the beef for a truly dump-and-go Crock Pot chili, browning the ground beef and sautéing the garlic and tomato sauce 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. Drain any excess grease.

2. Combine Ingredients in Crock Pot: Transfer the browned beef, garlic, and tomato sauce to your Crock Pot (if you browned them separately). Add all the seasonings: chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.

3. Add Thickener and Beans: Whisk together the masa harina and water, then pour it into the Crock Pot. Add the drained and rinsed kidney and pinto beans. Stir everything gently.

4. Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover the Crock Pot and cook on low heat for 4 hours, or for a longer day, you can cook it on low for 6-8 hours. The longer it cooks, the more developed the flavors will become.

5. Adjust Consistency and Serve: Before serving, check the chili’s consistency. If you prefer a thicker chili, you can mix a bit more masa harina with water and stir it in, letting it cook for another 15-20 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite chili toppings.

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Pioneer Woman Chili

Need chili in a hurry? The Instant Pot is your best friend! This method significantly cuts down cooking time without sacrificing flavor for your Pioneer Woman Chili.

1. Sauté Beef: Set your Instant Pot to the Sauté function. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain any excess grease.

2. Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced garlic and tomato sauce to the Instant Pot. Cook for about a minute until fragrant. Stir in the chili seasonings: chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper.

3. Add Remaining Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together masa harina and water. Pour this mixture into the Instant Pot. For the Instant Pot version, it’s recommended to use diced tomatoes with their juices to provide extra liquid. Add the diced tomatoes (with juice), kidney beans, and pinto beans to 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 high pressure for 20 minutes.

5. Release Pressure and Serve: Once the cooking cycle is complete, you can perform a quick pressure release or allow for a natural pressure release. Stir the chili, check the consistency, and add more masa harina mixture if needed to thicken. Serve immediately with your favorite garnishes.

Pro-Tip for Instant Pot Chili: To avoid the burn notice on your Instant Pot, make sure to scrape the bottom of the pot after sautéing the beef to remove any stuck-on bits before pressure cooking. Using a silicone spatula works great for this.

Tips and Tricks for the Best Pioneer Woman Chili

• Customize the Heat: Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to control the spiciness of your chili. For a milder chili, reduce or omit the cayenne. For extra heat, add a pinch of chili flakes or a chopped jalapeño.
• Spice it Up Further: Experiment with other spices to deepen the flavor profile. Smoked paprika can add a smoky depth, while a touch of cocoa powder can enhance the richness.
• Masa Harina Magic: Masa harina is key to the authentic texture and flavor of this chili. If you can’t find it, alternatives like cornmeal or flour can be used for thickening, but the flavor will be slightly different. Cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) is also an option for thickening.
• Bean Variety: Feel free to experiment with different types of beans. Black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, or even chili beans can be used depending on your preference.
• Vegetarian Option: Easily adapt this recipe into a vegetarian chili by substituting the ground beef with plant-based ground meat or adding more beans and vegetables like diced bell peppers, corn, and zucchini.

Serving Suggestions for Pioneer Woman Chili

Pioneer Woman Chili is a complete meal on its own, but it’s even better with the right accompaniments.

• Classic Cornbread: A warm slice of cornbread is the quintessential side for chili. Its slight sweetness and crumbly texture perfectly complement the savory chili.
• Toppings Bar: Set up a toppings bar and let everyone customize their chili. Offer shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend), sour cream or Greek yogurt, diced red or green onions, jalapeños, avocado, cilantro, tortilla chips, and lime wedges.
• Salads: A fresh side salad with a light vinaigrette can provide a refreshing contrast to the rich chili.
• Grilled Cheese: For ultimate comfort food, serve chili with grilled cheese sandwiches for dipping.

A comforting bowl of Pioneer Woman Chili topped with melted cheese, ready to be enjoyed with your favorite toppings.

Storing and Freezing Your Pioneer Woman Chili

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

• Refrigerator: Store leftover Pioneer Woman Chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: For longer storage, chili freezes exceptionally well. Allow the chili to cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or use the microwave to defrost. Reheat on the stove top or in the microwave until heated through.

Get Ready to Enjoy Your Pioneer Woman Chili!

Whether you choose the stove top, Crock Pot, or Instant Pot method, the Pioneer Woman Chili recipe is guaranteed to become a staple in your kitchen. It’s hearty, flavorful, and endlessly adaptable. Gather your ingredients, follow these simple steps, and get ready to savor a truly delicious bowl of homemade chili!

Pioneer Woman Chili Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground beef, 80% lean
• 2 cloves garlic, diced
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ cup masa harina, white or yellow
• ½ cup water
• 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 15 oz pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes (for Instant Pot version)

Garnish Options:

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Lime wedges
• Sour cream
• Tortilla chips or Fritos
• Diced green onions

Instructions:

Stove Top:

1. Brown ground beef in a large pot, drain grease.
2. Add garlic and tomato sauce, cook 1 minute.
3. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne pepper. Stir.
4. Simmer covered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add water if needed.
5. Mix masa harina with water, add to chili.
6. Add beans, simmer 10 minutes.
7. Serve with garnishes.

Crock Pot:

1. Brown ground beef in a skillet or stove-top safe crock pot. Drain grease.
2. Add garlic and tomato sauce, cook 1 minute.
3. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne pepper. Stir. Transfer to Crock Pot.
4. Mix masa harina with water, add to Crock Pot.
5. Add beans, stir.
6. Cook on low for 4 hours (or longer).
7. Adjust consistency if needed.

Instant Pot:

1. Set Instant Pot to Sauté, brown ground beef, drain grease.
2. Add garlic and tomato sauce, cook 1 minute.
3. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, cayenne pepper.
4. Mix masa harina with water.
5. Add masa mixture, diced tomatoes (with juice), beans to Instant Pot.
6. Pressure cook 20 minutes (Chili/Beans setting).
7. Quick or natural release. Serve with garnishes.

Notes:

• Masa Harina Substitute: Cornmeal, flour, or cornstarch slurry can be used for thickening.
• Nutrition: (Estimate per serving) Calories: 613kcal, Carbs: 42g, Protein: 40g, Fat: 32g.

Enjoy making and sharing this delicious Pioneer Woman Chili recipe!