There’s something about a pot of chili slowly bubbling away that just feels like home. This is the chili I come back to again and again — bold, hearty, and built for depth. It’s the kind of recipe that fills the kitchen with incredible aroma and somehow tastes even better the next day.
Christian’s World-Famous Chili starts with a rich base of ground beef, Italian sausage, and bacon, then layers in tomatoes, beans, peppers, beer, and a carefully balanced blend of spices. It’s hearty enough to stand on its own but flexible enough to customize with your favorite toppings.
This is my go-to for cold nights, game days, or anytime I want something comforting that feeds a crowd without a lot of fuss. Serve it with corn chips, sharp cheddar, and fresh scallions for a bowl that’s deeply satisfying and packed with flavor.
If you’re building a cozy meal rotation, this pairs perfectly with recipes like Classic Meatloaf for Two or Baked Ziti with Tomatoes and Mozzarella for more comfort food inspiration.
Looking for another crowd-friendly option? Try 30-Minute Korean Ground Beef and Broccoli for a quicker weeknight meal.
Looking for more inspiration? Visit Winter Comfort Favorites.
Christian’s World-Famous Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 lbs bulk Italian sausage
- 1 15 ounce cans chili beans, drained – you can also use plain Pinto beans
- 1 15 ounce can chili beans, in spicy sauce
- 1 28 ounce cans diced tomatoes with juice
- 3 ounce of tomato paste
- 1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 4 ounce chopped green chilis
- 1 slices of bacon, chopped
- 2 beef bouillon cubes
- 1/4 cup beer
- 2 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 /2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 /2 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
- 1 /2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 /2 teaspoon salt
- 1 /2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 /2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 /2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon white sugar
- 1 bag corn chips such as Fritos
- 1 8 ounce package shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bunch of scallions
Instructions
- Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Crumble the ground beef, sausage, and bacon into the hot pan, and cook until evenly browned. Drain off excess fat.
- Pour in the chili beans, spicy chili beans, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Add the onion, celery, green and red bell peppers, green chilis, bouillon, and beer. Season with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, oregano, cumin, hot pepper sauce, basil, salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, and sugar. Stir to blend, then cover and simmer over low heat for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- After 1 hour, taste, and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. The longer the chili simmers, the better it will taste. Remove from heat and serve, or refrigerate and serve the next day.
- To serve, ladle into bowls, and top with corn chips, scallions, shredded cheddar cheese, or anything else you’d like.
