The best and easiest chili recipe to help you win any chili cook-off! Five ingredients, it cooks in a crock pot, and it’ll warm you right up on cold, winter days!
Up until we moved to Iowa last July, I was not the best cook. Granted, I was still in school until April, but I will confess and say that we ate a lot of boxed pasta (my poor husband).
After we moved to Iowa, I had a lot more free time to develop my cooking abilities. Last year our ward at church decided to have a Chili Cook-Off as part of the annual Trunk-or-Treat for Halloween. My husband and I were still relatively new, and I thought it would be fun to try and bring a chili recipe to share.
I wasn’t anticipating doing well in the cook-off, given my limited cooking skills, but I thought I would give it a try. I searched my cookbooks and eventually settled on one from a cookbook from some ladies at home that I got when I graduated from high school.
I went to the store and bought the ingredients and when I got home, I realized that I had gotten creamed corn instead of whole kernel corn. I was worried it would be a disaster, but I made the recipe like it said, but substituting the creamed corn.
Guess what? My chili tied for first place!!! I beat out so many women who had been cooking for so much longer than me with one little mistake! I’m still sort of surprised I won, but if you are looking for a good recipe to take to a chili cook-off, then this is the one! I’m bringing it to our cook-off again tonight and we’ll see how it goes!
It’s so easy, only has five ingredients, and takes 10 minutes to put together. Plus, it doesn’t get dry like some chilis when they are sitting in a crock pot all day.
Cook-Off Winning Chili
The best and easiest chili to help you win any chili cook-off! I've won twice with this recipe, and it only has five ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 can black beans
- 1 can creamed corn
- 2 cans tomato soup
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a pan on the stove. You don't need to add any oil or anything, just brown the meat and break it up in the pan. If you want you can add salt and pepper, but I never do. The rest of the ingredients give it a good flavor.
- Add the beef to the crock pot. Add the rest of the ingredients to the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
Notes
Sometimes I puree the tomatoes and chiles because we don't love tomatoes in our house. It keeps the flavor but gives the chili a smoother texture.
I told you it was easy! But seriously, try it. You won’t be sorry! Garnish with Fritos or Doritos, sour cream, and cheese and it will be the perfect chili to win a chili cook-off.
Britni Vigil says
Did you ever try it again with the regular corn rather than creamed? I would love to try this but my husband can’t have canned tomatoes, but it sure looks delicious!
Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.
Chelsea J says
I actually haven’t! Maybe I should one day haha. I’m sure you could easily cut up some fresh tomatoes and peppers and add them in instead of using Rotel!
Britni Vigil says
I’ll have to try it with tomatoes and peppers instead of Rotel. Thanks for sharing this on the weekend re-Treat link party!
Cathy Allison says
I use FRESH tomatoes instead of canned. Very good!!
Chelsea Johnson says
I have a ton of fresh tomatoes right now so maybe I’ll try this!
Leah says
This looks so yummy!! I love chili!
Chelsea J says
Thanks Leah! I hope you get to try it!
Shannon Hawk says
Looks delicious! Chili is great this time of year:)
Chelsea says
Especially when you can just pour everything in a crock pot and let it cook on its own!!
Hilary says
I’m making this for dinner tonight! I can’t wait to taste it!
Chelsea J says
Thanks Hilary! I hope you guys enjoy it! It’s perfect for a chilly fall day.
Aleisha says
You should put a pin button on your posts!
Chelsea J says
There’s one right underneath the first picture 🙂
Patrick Pitzer says
So, u don’t even rinse the black beans??
Chelsea Johnson says
I don’t! I think it helps thicken up the chili not to.
Anonymous says
Is it supposed to be tomato sauce, not tomato soup??
Chelsea Johnson says
No, it’s tomato soup 🙂
Anonymous says
Okay thank you! Do u think u could substitute something for the Rotel?
Chelsea Johnson says
Sorry for the late reply! I don’t think I would try. The Rotel helps give a lot of the flavor.
Shelley Fannin says
So no chili powder!?? That’s crazy!! Can’t wait to try this. We LOOOOVE chili 🙂
Chelsea Johnson says
Amazing, right? It’s so good and even easier!!
Vickie McCarty says
Sounds good! Looks good! Can’t wait to try it!
Chelsea Johnson says
I hope you get to! It’s amazing! It also freezes well!
Cricket says
I won third place at a chili cook-off with your recipe! Only beaten by bison chili and chocolate chili! I am so excited! Thanks for sharing!
Chelsea Johnson says
Congratulations! That is awesome! Chocolate chili sounds like something I need to look into!
Bethany Sieloff says
Do you use condensed tomato soup?
Chelsea Johnson says
Yup!
Erin Freese says
Are you adding only the contents of the soup can or are you doing the normal add water to the can?
Chelsea Johnson says
Just the contents of the soup can 🙂
denise says
Could I make it on the stove for a shorter amount of time? I don’t have 6 hours or a crock pot.
Chelsea Johnson says
Definitely! But you do need to stir it pretty frequently and make sure it is turned down really low. You don’t want it to boil!
Shelly says
How many does this recipe typically serve?
Chelsea Johnson says
I would say 3-4. If you have more people than that, definitely double it.
Meghan says
To make a large batch for several people do you just double every ingredient?
Chelsea Johnson says
Yup! And make sure you have a big enough crock pot!