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The Best Freezer Chili

When we do our big freezer meal assembly days, we always try some new recipes and rotate through some of our favorites, but this Chili is one of the recipes that we make every single time. Because it really is the best freezer chili recipe of all time. I would venture to say that it may in fact be the best chili recipe ever. blue bowl with chunky ground beef chili topped with white sour cream. Text reads "The Very Best Freezer Chili Recipe" #freezermeals101 @verybestchili #makeaheadMy neighbor Christie and I get together to do our marathon freezer meal prep sessions. I was telling her how good my chili was the first time we got together for meal assembly and I could tell that she was skeptical, but she texted me after her family tried the chili and let me know that this would be the only chili recipe we would use from now on.

I occasionally make other chilis for the freezer such as White Chicken Chili, Taco Chili, and Thick and Chunky Beef Chili, but always in addition to this one, never instead of. It’s just that good!

While I haven’t entered the recipe in a chili contest, over the years, friends and family have all asked me to share the secret to this meal and told me that it’s the best chili they’ve ever had. I often set out a Crock-Pot® of it for birthday parties and family gatherings. I sometimes use vegetarian Mexican Ground Round in place of the beef. close up of freezer chili with a dollop of sour creamThe recipe is one that is almost as old as my marriage. It’s the first meal I attempted to make for my new husband. I used a cookbook we had gotten as a wedding gift. Over the years, I’ve adapted it and tweaked it and this is the result.

The Best Freezer Chili Recipe:

  • 1 1/2 lbs. browned ground beef
  • 1 onion, coarsely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 19 oz. can kidney beans with liquid
  • 14 oz. can Heinz chili style beans with liquid*
  • 28 oz. can diced tomatoes with liquid
  • 5 1/2 oz. can tomato paste
  • 1 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 2 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • dash pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. maple syrup (this is my secret ingredient!)

*Note: The chili-style beans can be hard to find. If your grocery store doesn’t carry them, you can substitute pinto beans instead.

collage of freezer chili in a bag, on a spoon being lifted from a crockpot and in a bowlAssembly instructions:

  1. Put all ingredients in a large resealable bag and squish them together to combine. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Stovetop Cooking instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Heat in a large pot over medium heat until the desired temperature is reached.
  3. Allow it to simmer so that the flavors meld.

Slow Cooker Cooking Instructions:

  1. Thaw.
  2. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 3-5 hours.

ladle lifting some freezer chili from a crock potThis Chili recipe is one of the meals featured in our Soups and Stews Freezer Meal Plan. The Menu Plans include recipes, prep lists, shopping lists, and printable labels.

Recipe notes and suggestions:

To make this dish vegetarian/vegan, substitute Mexican Ground Round for the beef.

This chili is gluten-free and dairy-free.

If you want, you can top it with sour cream, shredded cheese, or cubed avocado.

bag with freezer chili

The Best Freezer Chili
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chili
Servings: 6
Calories: 226 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef browned
  • 1 onion coarsely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 19 oz. can kidney beans with liquid
  • 14 oz. can Heinz chili style beans with liquid*
  • 28 oz. can diced tomatoes with liquid
  • 5 1/2 oz. can tomato paste
  • 1 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 2 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • dash pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. maple syrup
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. Put all ingredients in a large resealable bag and squish them together to combine. Remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Stovetop Cooking Instructions:
  1. Thaw.

  2. Heat in a large pot over medium heat until the desired temperature is reached.

  3. Allow it to simmer so that the flavors meld.

Slow Cooker Cooking Instructions:
  1. Thaw.
  2. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 3-5 hours.

Recipe Notes

The chili-style beans can be hard to find. If your grocery store doesn't carry them, you can substitute pinto beans instead.

Check out some of our other make-ahead chili recipes:

Instant Pot White Chicken Chilicup of white chicken chili topped with sour cream

Taco Chili Freezer Mealbowl of taco chili garnished with cheese and dill

Thick and Chunky Beef Chilibowl of thick and chunky hearty chili topped with tortilla chips