Chili's Original Chili Recipe: Authentic Texas-Style Flavor Without Beans

By Lucas MorganAug 22, 2026

Prep

10 min

Cook

70 min

Total

80 min

Servings

Jump to recipe

Experience the original Chili's chili that established the franchise's reputation. This hearty, thick chili features a bold blend of spices—chili powder, cumin, and paprika—enhanced by caramelized onions for added sweetness. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, it simmers to perfection, blending rich flavors that evoke nostalgic dining experiences.

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine chili powder, salt, cumin, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

Heat a 6-quart stockpot over medium heat.

Place ground chuck into the stockpot and cook until browned, draining if desired.

While the meat is browning, combine chili spice mix, 3 1/4 cups water, and tomato sauce in a bowl, stirring until well blended.

Add the chili seasoning liquid to the browned meat, stirring well and bringing to a boil.

Sauté onions in cooking oil over medium heat in a skillet until translucent.

Add the sautéed onions to the chili.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup water with masa harina and stir well.

Add the masa harina mixture to the chili and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Chili's Original Chili Recipe: Authentic Texas-Style Flavor Without Beans

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Dinner American One Pot

Chili's Original Chili Recipe: Authentic Texas-Style Flavor Without Beans

Name: Chili's Original Chili Recipe: Authentic Texas-Style Flavor Without Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 0.5 cup chili powder; 0.13 cup kosher salt (you can use less if desired); 0.13 cup ground cumin; 1 tablespoon paprika; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add more if desired); 4 pounds ground chuck (ground for chili); 3.25 cups water; 16 ounces tomato sauce; 1.5 cups chopped yellow onions; 1 tablespoon cooking oil; 1 cup water; 1 tablespoon masa harina

By Lucas MorganAug 22, 2026

Prep

10 min

Cook

70 min

Total

80 min

Servings

Jump to recipe

Ingredients

Servings8

•0.5 cup chili powder
•0.13 cup kosher salt (you can use less if desired)
•0.13 cup ground cumin
•1 tablespoon paprika
•1 teaspoon ground black pepper
•1 teaspoon garlic powder
•1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add more if desired)
•4 pounds ground chuck (ground for chili)
•3.25 cups water
•16 ounces tomato sauce
•1.5 cups chopped yellow onions
•1 tablespoon cooking oil
•1 cup water
•1 tablespoon masa harina

Instructions

1
In a small bowl, combine chili powder, salt, cumin, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
2
Heat a 6-quart stockpot over medium heat.
3
Place ground chuck into the stockpot and cook until browned, draining if desired.
4
While the meat is browning, combine chili spice mix, 3 1/4 cups water, and tomato sauce in a bowl, stirring until well blended.
5
Add the chili seasoning liquid to the browned meat, stirring well and bringing to a boil.
6
Sauté onions in cooking oil over medium heat in a skillet until translucent.
7
Add the sautéed onions to the chili.
8
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
9
In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup water with masa harina and stir well.
10
Add the masa harina mixture to the chili and cook for an additional 10 minutes.