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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Cooking Method / Recipes for Two / Chili for Two

Chili for Two

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 2/22/22Updated: 2/25/22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

bowl of chili with cheese on top

This chili for two is thick, delicious and the perfect amount for two people.

two bowls of chili

Small Batch Chili

When we became empty nesters I discovered there were certain recipes I just stopped making. Not because we didn’t like them but because they just made too much and I got tired of eating it night after night and one of these recipes was chili.

So I took my favorite recipe and I reduced it down to a small batch chili recipe and now, it’s the perfect amount for two. Just enough to satisfy any chili craving without a lot of leftovers! And it goes perfectly with my small batch cornbread recipe.

bowl of chili with a spoon in it.

Ingredients Needed

  • Meat. I used ground beef but you could also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
  • Onion. Use white or yellow onion.
  • Oil. I use olive oil but vegetable or canola will work too.
  • Garlic. Fresh minced garlic is best.
  • Chili Seasoning. Make your own with a combination of chili powder, ground cumin, salt, pepper and sugar. For more spice, add in more chili powder or cayenne pepper.
  • Tomato Paste
  • Beef Broth. Chicken broth will work too.
  • Diced tomatoes with juice
  • Red Kidney Beans. You can switch it up and use red beans, pinto beans or black beans. Be sure to drain and rinse.
  • Balsamic Vinegar. This is the recipe’s secret ingredient and gives the chili a nice depth of flavor.
small batch chili ingredients

How to Make Chili for Two

  • Heat oil over medium heat and add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft.
  • Add in hamburger and cook until meat is cooked through.
adding seasoning to chili
  • Add in seasoning – chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, sugar.
  • Stir in tomato paste.
adding tomatoes into chili
  • Pour in beef broth, diced tomatoes and drained beans.
  • Add in balsamic vinegar and bring to a low boil and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  • Garnish with shredded cheese or whatever you like!
pot of simmering chili

What to put on top of Beef chili

  • Shredded cheese
  • Diced onion. Green or white onion.
  • Jalapeno peppers or green chiles
  • Avocado or Guacamole
  • Fritos
  • Crackers
  • Tortilla Chips
  • Sour Cream
a bowl of chili with a spoon in it

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use instead of ground beef?

You can use ground chicken or ground turkey instead. They both have less fat which gives them less flavor so you may need to add it a bit more seasoning.

What can I use instead of red kidney beans?

You can substitute in black beans, white beans, pinto beans, red beans, or anasazi beans.,

Can I double or triple this recipe?

Absolutely, it doubles and triples really well to feed more people.

Can I add vegetables into the chili?

If you’d like to add some veggies, dice up some green peppers, red bell pepper, carrots or corn and add in with the onion and garlic. Saute veggies until fork tender.

Pair This with:

  • Smash Potatoes
  • Rice Pilaf
  • Cashew Rice
  • Roasted Parmesan Asparagus
  • Balsamic Carrots
spoonful of small batch chili

For more delicious full batch chili recipes try these:

  • White Chicken Chili
  • Black Bean Chili
  • Slow Cooker Chili
  • Instant Pot Turkey Chili
  • Slow Cooker Chili Lime Chicken

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

5 from 3 votes
spoonful of small batch chili

Chili for Two

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
A traditional chili just like mom use to make. This chili for two is thick, delicious and the perfect amount for two people.
serves: 2 people
Prep:10 minutes
Cook:30 minutes
Total:40 minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb. ground beef or ground turkey or chicken
  • 1/2 cup onion chopped
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder mild
  • 1/2 Tbsp cumin
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 Tbsp balsamic
  • 3/4 cup beef broth
  • 15 oz. petit cut diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 cup kidney beans drained and rinsed

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft.
  • Add in seasoning – chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and sugar.
  • Add tomato paste, beef broth, diced tomatoes with juice and drained and rinsed beans.
  • Pour in balsamic vinegar.
  • Bring to a low boil and reduce heat, simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Tips & Notes:

Instead of kidney beans you can use: black beans, pinto beans, red beans, white beans or anasazi beans.
You can also substitute ground chicken or turkey for ground beef.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 521kcal (26%) Carbohydrates: 46g (15%) Protein: 32g (64%) Fat: 25g (38%) Saturated Fat: 9g (56%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 10g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 81mg (27%) Sodium: 1491mg (65%) Potassium: 1544mg (44%) Fiber: 12g (50%) Sugar: 17g (19%) Vitamin A: 3222IU (64%) Vitamin C: 37mg (45%) Calcium: 116mg (12%) Iron: 8mg (44%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Main Dish
Cuisine:American
spoonful of small batch chili
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  1. Nammi says

    Posted on 2/23 at 4:23 am

    I need to make my self some chilli now. this looks so inviting

    Reply
  2. Julia Long says

    Posted on 2/22 at 12:42 pm

    Hi Leigh Anne – I just discovered you when I was searching for a Lemon Oatmeal Cookie recipe. We live in the PNW also and have two grown children who live “away” as well. I just wanted to comment on how beautiful your page is AND to suggest that another substitute for ground beef is tvp or textured vegetable protein, which you can find in the freezer aisle. We also are trying to cut dairy, and have found that for toppers, pickled red onions, chopped fresh cilantro, toasted pepitas and lime juice add so much flavor we don’t miss the dairy products.

    Thank you for all the yummy recipes!

    Julia

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne Wilkes says

      Posted on 2/22 at 1:08 pm

      So glad you found me and love all your chili suggestions – thanks!!!

      Reply

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