Cafeteria Chili

This Cafeteria Chili is guaranteed to take you back to your school days! It fills your belly and warms your soul. Made with pantry staple ingredients, this dish is always a hit with young and old alike!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 10

Servings servings

Calories 497kcal

Author Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds ground beef (it's fine to just use one pound)
½ cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
2 Tablespoons mild chili powder (more or less to taste)
¾ teaspoons garlic powder
3 cups tomato sauce
2 cups tomato juice
1 cup water
2 (16 ounce) cans chili beans

Instructions

In a large pot or dutch oven, cook and crumble 1 ½ pounds ground beef with ½ cup chopped onion. Drain any excess grease and put back into the pot.
Add 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons light brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons mild chili powder, ¾ teaspoons garlic powder, 3 cups tomato sauce, 2 cups tomato juice, 1 cup water and 2 (16 ounce) cans chili beans and stir well. Cover and simmer for about 1 ½-2 hours (stirring occasionally.)
Serve and top with your favorite toppings (sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions).

Video

Notes

Please refer to my FAQ’s and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
A can of diced tomatoes could be added for a bit more texture or some green peppers.
I definitely think simmering for at least an hour and a half really helps to develop the flavors and thickens the chili so I definitely wouldn’t skip this step.
This could be done in the crock pot after the ground beef has been cooked first. I’d cook on low for 6-8 hours.
You can find chili beans where all the other canned beans are in your grocery store.

Nutrition