Homemade Beef and Sausage Chili
Homemade Beef and Sausage Chili is packed with meat and beans and perfect for those cold winter days. So grab a blanket, a book, and a big bowl of chili, and you are all set for a cozy evening.
A big pot of homemade chili is always an excellent option for a family gathering, potluck, tailgating, or football watching with a crowd. It’s always easy to make, easy to serve, and most people enjoy a bowl of warm goodness.
Make this recipe your own by deleting, adding, or replacing the ingredients to make it to your liking. It’s very forgiving, so make it your own. I would even throw in a few jalapenos to kick it up a bit, especially on cold days.
Ingredients Needed for Beef and Sausage Chili
Ground Beef
Ground Sausage
Onion
Chili Powder
Diced Tomatoes
Kidney Beans
Black Beans
Crushed Tomatoes
How to Make Homemade Chili
This is a good basic recipe that other ingredients can be added if desired. With just a few easy steps, you can have a pot of chili going on the stove for you, your family, or your friends to enjoy.
In a large soup pot, scramble beef, sausage, and onion until the meat is no longer pink. Drain any grease in the pot. Add chili powder and stir into the meat. Add diced tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, crushed tomatoes, and water. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes.
Tips and Variations
This is a great recipe and can be changed in endless ways. If you don’t like an ingredient, change it, add to it, or leave it out. Here are some of my suggestions and ways to change the taste.
Meat: I like to use ground beef and spicy sausage in my chili. The pork is already seasoned nicely and gives the dish so much added flavor.
You might even decide to add smoked sausage or Italian sausage to the chili for a change in taste.
Beans: You can certainly use your favorites here, but I always use red kidney beans and black beans. Navy beans and pinto beans would also be a lovely swap.
Spices: Chili powder is always in my cabinet, so this is what I use 99% of the time. But, if so desired, use cumin, salt, pepper, and garlic.
Tomatoes: I use a mix of diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes. Feel free to throw in some tomato paste or a can of Ro-Tel tomatoes as well.
Want to Make a Meatless Chili?
Leave it out if you do not want to add meat to your chili. Instead, I would add more beans. A can or two of kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans would make a nice pot of chili. You might even decide to add some bell pepper and celery to give it added flavor.
What to Serve with Beef and Sausage Chili
Cornbread, crackers, or corn chips are my favorites to serve with chili. With such a hearty bowl of goodness, you really don’t need much else.
Toppings for Chili
You can certainly choose your favorites to top your bowl of chili, but these are mine.
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Diced Jalapenos
Got Leftover Chili?
Leftover chili is the best. Serve it over hot dogs, fries, or even over the top of a baked potato.
Chili freezes nicely, and having some in the freezer has made dinner prep easier at times. It’s nice to heat up it up for dinner or even grab a container for lunch. To freeze: Fill a freezer-safe container with leftover chili and pop it into the freezer for the next meal. Will keep for at least 6 months in the freezer.
More Soup Recipes You Might Enjoy

Homemade Beef and Sausage Chili
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound spicy ground sausage
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 onion diced
- 1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1 15 oz. can kidney beans
- 1 14.5 oz. can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes plus 1 can water (refill this can with water)
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, scramble beef, sausage, and onion until the meat is no longer pink. Drain any grease in the pot.
- Add chili powder and stir into the meat.
- Add diced tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, crushed tomatoes, and water. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes.
- Enjoy with crackers, corn bread, or corn chips. Top as desired with sour cream, jalapenos, and shredded cheese.
Looking for more cozy food? Be sure to check out my Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole from the Lake Martin Living Magazine.
Thanks for this recipe as my husband and sons like a homemade beef chili. I like it as it is an easy one for my son to learn. He is moving out of home soon and this is something he could easily make. I also like it as it uses pantry staples that we usually have on hand.
This is a perfect dinner for our cold night tonight! I am looking forward to a big bowl of homemade beef and sausage chili with some cornbread to go with it! Great recipe!
Yum I love chili. I will have to try this recipe out! Thanks so much for sharing!