This 3 Bean Chili is made with a homemade chili seasoning, fresh ground beef, fire roasted tomatoes, and three types of canned beans. Great for football or a chilly fall weeknight!

This is one of my favorite budget-friendly ground beef meals, great for stretching a pound of ground beef!

Why we love this recipe

If it were up to my oldest son, we would eat homemade chili every night of the week. I have been using my homemade chili seasoning for years to make a pretty basic chili, but every once in a while I’ll add a couple different elements, just to change it up a bit. This 3 Bean Chili fit the bill perfectly without too much fuss.

Some time ago I decided to try a few different beans, mostly for color variation, and spiced up my seasoning just a little to give it a bit more kick. It’s been a favorite ever since.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitute Suggestions

BEANS – White and red kidney beans as well as black beans are the three we use here. I drain my beans but do not rinse them. If you are concerned about sodium levels, I would suggest rinsing them as well.

SEASONING – If you like you can use a seasoning packet from the grocery store. You can call me a snob if you like, but I haven’t bought one of those in over 20 years. Instead, I mix up my chili seasoning mix and keep it in a closed container in the pantry.

How to Make 3 Bean Chili

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!

Prepare the seasoning by measuring all seasoning ingredients into the same bowl and mix together with a fork.

Brown ground beef in a skillet or dutch oven until no longer pink. Drain off fat from ground beef and return beef to pan.
Add the tomatoes and seasoning mix and stir to combine. Stir in the beans and the broth. Add enough of the water to make it easy to stir.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the mixture becomes too thick, add more of the water and continue simmering until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

What can I add to 3 bean chili?

The beauty of chili is that it’s super customizable. Feel free to add green bell peppers and diced onions, or toss in some chopped jalapenos for some heat.

Should you rinse canned beans before adding them to chili?

I would suggest draining your canned beans, but rinsing them is up to you. Rinsing will help remove excess sodium. You don’t technically have to rinse or drain them if you prefer, but I have noticed that not draining the beans thickens the “sauce” quite a bit. It really comes down to personal preference.

dutch oven overhead photo with 3 bean chili

Storage and Freezing Information

Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a small saucepan over medium-low heat or pop it in the microwave. You can easily freeze your chili if you want to save it for later. Allow it to fully cool before transferring it to a large ziptop bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop.

Serving Suggestions

I love to serve my 3 bean chili with sweet cornbread slathered in butter and honey or with some corn on the cob in the air fryer. If you prefer a yeast bread with your chili, our favorite is this Italian bread recipe. Optionally garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream, cotija cheese, diced onion, or pickled jalapeños. There are so many options!

Three bean chili is a delicious weeknight meal and makes awesome leftovers. In fact, this is one of my favorite weeknight ground beef dinners for nights when I want something a little more substantial than a 30-minute meal. Great for packing into containers and taking to work for lunch. Hope you enjoy it!

More chili recipes

Chili and Cornbread Stuffed Peppers
Chili Mac
Make Your Own Homemade Chili Seasoning
Chicken Chili with Black Beans & Corn
Instant Pot Chili
Crockpot Chili

Looking for more ground beef ideas? See our collection of 90 best ground beef recipes here.

I love to bake and cook and share my recipes with you! I know it’s hard to remember to come back and search, so I’ve made it easy for you with my weekly newsletter! You can subscribe for free and I’ll send you delicious recipes every week right to your email.

This post originally appeared here on Nov 11, 2014.