Whole Tomato Chili Recipe (Michigan Style with Beans)
Homemade Chili With Whole Tomatoes
This hearty whole tomato chili is a Midwest classic. Made with beans, spices, and ripe tomatoes, it’s the perfect comfort food for chilly nights. Whether you use canned or fresh tomatoes, they simmer down into a rich sauce that makes this chili flavorful and satisfying.
Because we can a lot of tomatoes, I grabbed a can of whole tomatoes and made this whole tomato chili. Love turkey, you could make a turkey chili with this instead.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in under an hour
- Uses whole tomatoes for fresh, rich flavor
- Easy to adapt with beef, turkey, or chicken
- Michigan-style comfort food with beans
Ingredients
- ground beef (or ground chicken or turkey)
- olive oil
- chopped onions
- chili powder
- cooked/canned whole tomatoes
- kidney beans
- chili beans
- tomato juice
Call it a Midwest or a Michigan thing, I have always put kidney beans in my homemade chili. If you don’t have a lot of meat to put into your chili, adding beans is another protein and a great way to stretch your recipe to feed more people.
Meat Substitutes for Chili
Ground beef is traditional, but turkey or chicken are excellent alternatives. Poultry tends to be milder, so add extra spices for flavor.
Favorite Chili Toppings
Top your chili with:
- Crackers (saltine, Ritz, oyster, cheese)
- Fresh or shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped onions
- Jalapeño slices
- Sour cream
- Hot sauce or green chilis
For a sweeter balance, add a pinch of sugar.
FAQ
Can you make chili with whole tomatoes?
Yes. Whole tomatoes break down as they cook, becoming bite-sized pieces that enrich the sauce. You can also add tomato paste or powder to add a stronger tomato flavor.
Do you season ground beef with chili powder?
Absolutely. Season as you cook, tasting and adjusting heat levels to your preference.
What Chili Spices Do You Put In Chili?
We Use chili powder, onions (sometimes dried minced) and if you love garlic, add some garlic. Additionally you can add green bell peppers and cayenne pepper for a spicy chili (or jalapeño peppers and red pepper flakes).
This whole tomato chili recipe is versatile, flavorful, and perfect for family dinners. Whether you make it with beef, turkey, or chicken, it’s a Michigan-style classic that warms you up fast.
Whole Tomato Chili (Michigan Style with Beans)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 can chili beans
- 2-3 Tablespoons Chili powder (to your taste)
- 1 quart whole tomatoes
- 1 pint tomato juice
Instructions
- In a large pan, add olive oil and sauté onions on medium heat.
- Once onions starts to get translucent, add ground beef.
- Cook ground beef until brown, making sure it breaks down into small pieces.
- Once the beef is browned add a little chili powder to cook into the meat.
- Add the kidney beans (undrained) and can of chili beans.
- Mix together and allow to start to cook.
- Add the whole tomatoes and break them down a bit, allowing to cook down.
- Add the tomato juice and break down the tomatoes some more.
- Allow the chili to cook for a few minutes on low heat and every few minutes work to break down the tomatoes until they are in bite size pieces.
- Add the remaining chili sauce.
- Taste the chili and add more powder to your taste, keeping in mind as the chili sits overnight, it will develop more flavor and heat.
- Allow the chili to cook until the tomatoes are cooked thoroughly (if they were not canned).
- Once the chili is hot, you can serve with your favorite toppings.
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