Easy Chili Recipe ($10 Family Dinner Idea)

Published: Through Brigette on February 5, 2026 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series brought to you by Brigette from our team! Each week she shares simple, delicious and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, using everyday ingredients and super quick meals.

Why you’ll love this easy chili recipe

This chili is So easy and versatile! It has been very cold here in South Carolina (and yes, we are complete wimps compared to the rest of the country, haha)and cooking a big pot of hot chili on the stove is the perfect dinner during the frigid weather. It’s a budget-friendly way to warm up!

You can use any minced meat you like (beef, turkey, game, chicken) – and thanks to the beans, you can eat a lot of servings with a pound of meat. And speaking of beans, you can use a mixture of different types or stick to regular pinto beans.

There are so many toppings you can add to customize it to your taste! Think shredded cheese, crumbled corn chips, sour cream, chopped green onions, cilantro, sliced ​​jalapeños or chopped avocado. We’re currently dealing with some dairy sensitivities at my house, so we skipped the cheese and sour cream – and I didn’t even miss them.

If you have leftovers, this chili is fantastic the next day over baked potatoes.

Chili dinner menu:

• Easy Chile
• Blue corn chips
• Chopped cilantro, green onions (and whatever other toppings you want to add!)

Ingredients for Chili:

• 1 large onion (or two small ones) (Aldi) — $0.30
• 4 cloves of garlic (Aldi – $1.75 for a 3ct pack) —$0.25
• 2 Tablespoons of olive oil (Aldi – $7.25 for 33T) – $0.44
• 1 pound ground turkey (or minced meat of your choice) (Food Lion, reduced) –$2.47
• one box of Texas chili seasoning (Publix) — $0.75*
• 2 14 oz cans crushed tomatoes (Harris Teeter – $0.50 per can) – $1
• 1 6 oz can of tomato paste (Aldi) — $0.77
• 1-2 cups chicken broth (Aldi – $1.79 for 25 bouillon cubes. I used 2 cubes and 2 cups of water) — $0.14
• 4 cans of pinto beans (I used 3 cans of Bush’s sidekicks from Publix last week – $0.25 each after rebate, plus 1 can of organic pinto beans from Aldi – $0.99) – $1.74
• 1/2 bag of organic blue corn chips (Aldi — $2.19 for 1 bag) — $1.09
• chopped cilantro, chopped green onions (Aldi) — $0.35

*Alternatively, you can use 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon onion and garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper to taste.

Total for dinner: $9.30 (serves 6+)

This is how you make easy chili:

1. Finely chop the onion and garlic.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and stir in the chopped onion and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until done.

3. Add the ground turkey and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

4. Stir in all the spices until well mixed.

5. Add the beans, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and chicken stock and stir well.

6. Bring to the boil over low heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and add more salt and pepper to your turkey chili if necessary.

7. Sprinkle with crumbled corn chips and chopped cilantro and green onions.

Recipe

Easy Chili ($10 family dinner)

Author Brigette

Course dinner, main course, soup

Kitchen American

Preparation time 15 minutes minutes

Cooking time 15 minutes minutes

This easy chili recipe is the perfect cozy winter meal and a budget-friendly way to warm up. Perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep or game day. It’s hearty, comforting and always a crowd pleaser.

Cooking modePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients 1x2x3x

• 1 large onion or two small (Aldi) — $0.30
• 4 clove garlic Aldi – $1.75 for a 3ct pack – $0.25
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil Aldi – $7.25 for 33T – $0.44
• 1 pound ground turkey or ground meat of your choice (Food Lion, reduced) – $2.47
• 1 box Texas chili spices Publix — $0.75*
• 2 14- oz cans of crushed tomatoes Harris Teeter – $0.50 per can – $1
• 1 6- oz can tomato paste Aldi-$0.77
• 1-2 cups chicken stock Aldi — $1.79 for 25 bouillon cubes. I used 2 cubes and 2 cups of water – $0.14
• 4 cans pinto beans I used 3 cans of Bush’s sidekicks from Publix last week – $0.25 each after rebate, plus 1 can of Aldi organic pinto beans – $0.99 – $1.74
• 1/2 bag organic blue corn chips Aldi – $2.19 for 1 bag – $1.09
• chopped coriander chopped green onions (Aldi) – $0.35

Instructions

• Finely chop the onion and garlic.

• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and stir in the chopped onion and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until done.

• Add the ground turkey and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

• Stir in all the spices until well mixed.

• Add the beans, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and chicken stock and stir well.

• Bring to the boil over low heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary.

• Sprinkle with crumbled corn chips and chopped cilantro and green onions.

Comments

*Alternatively, you can use 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon onion and garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper to taste.
You can use any minced meat you like (beef, turkey, game, chicken) – and thanks to the beans, you can eat a lot of servings with a pound of meat. And speaking of beans, you can use a mixture of different types or stick to regular pinto beans.
There are so many toppings you can add to customize it to your taste! Think shredded cheese, crumbled corn chips, sour cream, chopped green onions, cilantro, sliced ​​jalapeños or chopped avocado.

Power supply

Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 35G | Egg white: 24G | Fat: 12G | Saturated fat: 2G | Polyunsaturated fat: 4G | Monounsaturated fat: 5G | Trans fat: 0.03G | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 669mg | Potassium: 994mg | Fiber: 6G | Sugar: 10G | Vitamin A: 820IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 4mg

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