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Upgraded Canned Chili

Canned chili is already a meal — but a few simple additions turn it into something that tastes homemade. Five minutes of extra effort, big payoff.

Nut-FreeEgg-Free Main Dish
Prep: 3 min Cook: 10 min Total: 13 min Servings: 2–3 Difficulty: Easy

Allergens: Check canned chili label — many contain gluten, dairy, or soy. Varies by brand.

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (15 oz each) chili (any variety)
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn or black beans, drained
  • 1 small onion, diced

Optional Extras

  • Shredded cheese on top
  • Sour cream
  • Hot sauce
  • Chili powder or cumin
  • Serve over rice or with crackers
  • Crushed crackers on top for crunch

Equipment

  • Medium pot
  • Can opener
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Stirring spoon

Instructions

  1. Pour both cans of chili into a medium pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the drained corn or black beans and the diced onion. Stir to combine.
  3. Let it simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and everything is heated through.
  4. Season with chili powder, cumin, or hot sauce if you have them.
  5. Serve in bowls. Top with cheese, sour cream, or crushed crackers if you have them.

Notes

  • On a baked potato: This makes an excellent topping for a baked potato. Make the Loaded Baked Potatoes recipe and use this as the topping.
  • Over rice: Serve over a bowl of rice to stretch it further and make it more filling.
  • With crackers or bread: Dip crackers or toast bread on the side.
  • Mix chili varieties. If you have one can of turkey chili and one can of beef chili, mix them together. Works great.
  • Freeze leftovers. Chili freezes well for up to 3 months.