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    Home » American Recipes

    Texas Roadhouse Chili

    BY: Ben Rayl UPDATED: February 12, 2025 1 Comment

    RecipePrintComments
    5 from 3 votes

    This 30-minute Texas Roadhouse Chili recipe is a hearty dish with smokey, sweet, and spicy flavors. The recipe is easy to make with comforting ingredients that are sure to please everyone.

    Texas Roadhouse Chili
    Contents
    • ⭐ Why this recipe works
    • 🍽 Key Ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make chili
    • 💭 Cooking tips
    • 📖 Recipe variations
    • 🥗 What to serve with
    • 🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
    • 🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
    • 🍳 Related Recipes
    • 👪 Serving size
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ⭐ Why this recipe works

    Our copycat Texas Roadhouse chili is easy to make for any home cook and is just as delicious as the restaurant version. The whole dish is prepared in a single skillet for easy cleanup, and the ingredients are commonly found in most household pantries.

    This copycat Texas Roadhouse chili recipe is hearty and flavorful, thanks to the beef, beans, and spices.

    It has a lovely smokey flavor from the smoked paprika, and the cumin provides a lovely warmth. The beef gives the chili a rich flavor, while the kidney beans add some texture and heartiness - and the tomato paste gives it that signature dark color and sweetness.

    The best part about this copycat Texas Roadhouse chili is that it can be easily customized to your liking for a sweeter taste for kids or a spicier flavor for adults.

    This hearty and flavorful chili is sure to please even the pickiest eaters! It's perfect for a big family gathering and pairs well with other Mexican recipes like beef empanadas, taco casserole and burritos for serving this chili on Taco Tuesday.

    🍽 Key Ingredients

    This Texas Roadhouse chili recipe uses staple pantry spices and sauce ingredients like tomatoes and red kidney beans to base the spicy beef chili.

    Texas Roadhouse Chili ingredients

    Spices - The spices of chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and brown sugar provide the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and smokey flavors for the chili. You can even add rep pepper flakes to bring the heat up a notch.

    The sauce - We're using beef broth to enhance the beef flavor for the rich chili sauce. Crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce give the chili a deep color and bold tomato flavor, while the kidney beans provide authentic texture and heartiness.

    Beef mixture - Lean ground beef (90%), garlic, and onions provide the perfect base for this copycat Texas Roadhouse chili. Chuck, bottom round, rump, and even beef stew meat are great ground beef options for chili recipes.

    Substitutions

    Smoked paprika

    If you don't have smoked paprika on hand, you can substitute regular paprika or even Hungarian paprika for a similar flavor.

    Chili toppings

    • Sliced and seeded jalapenos
    • Sour cream
    • Shredded cheddar cheese, Monterrey jack, or a Mexican blend
    • Sliced green onions
    • Tortilla chips
    • Sliced avocado

    🔪 How to make chili

    Making this copycat Texas Roadhouse chili recipe is easy for any home cook, and with my simple cooking instructions, you'll make the best chili EVER - and one that will make everyone's mouth water at the dinner table!

    Preparations

    • Finely dice the onion and garlic cloves.

    Cooking instructions

    Step 1
    Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the chopped onions and garlic.

    chopped onions and garlic.

    Step 2
    Cook until translucent and fragrant, then add the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks.

     ground beef cooking

    Step 3
    Once the beef has browned (around 6 minutes cooking), add the cumin powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper, and tomato paste.

    cumin powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper, and tomato paste.

    Step 4
    Stir well to incorporate the spices into the beef, then add the kidney beans, beef broth, crushed tomatoes, and tomato sauce.

     beef, then add the kidney beans, beef broth, crushed tomatoes, and tomato sauce.

    Step 5
    Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the chili simmer for 25 minutes uncovered. Stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom and burning.

    chili mixture cooking

    Step 6
    Once the chili has reduced and thickened nicely, remove the skillet from the heat and leave it to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with a selection of toppings and a side of rice.

    chili in a bowl with topping avocado tortilla chips cheese jalapenos sour cream

    💭 Cooking tips

    Slow cooking

    If you're looking for an even easier way to make this Texas Roadhouse chili, you can use a slow cooker or Instant Pot. Simply brown the beef, garlic, and onions in a skillet, then add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker or Instant Pot and cook on low setting for 6 hours or high setting for 4 hours.

    chili in a bowl with topping avocado tortilla chips cheese jalapenos sour cream

    📖 Recipe variations

    Chili recipes are versatile, and this copycat recipe from the Texas Roadhouse is no exception. You can add other vegetables like corn, bell peppers, peas, and fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley. Or you can upgrade it with some of these comforting variations.

    Chili Mac N Cheese

    For a fun twist on this Texas Roadhouse chili, boil 1 cup of macaroni pasta and mix them into the chili with half a cup of cheddar cheese. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, top with 1 cup of shredded cheese, and broil for 5 minutes.

    Creamy chili

    If you want a creamy chili with sweetness, mix in 1 cup of sour cream just before turning the heat to simmer for 25 minutes.

    Extra spicy

    I like my Texas chili recipe spicy. If you do too, try this spicy variation of this Texas Roadhouse chili by chopping 1 or 2 jalapenos and mixing them into the chili along with 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes and a tablespoon of hot sauce.

    chili in a bowl with topping avocado tortilla chips cheese jalapenos sour cream

    🥗 What to serve with

    There are so many delicious dishes to enjoy with this copycat Texas Roadhouse chili recipe like a green salad, a plate of corn tortillas, or taco shells, or try some of my favorite easy, delicious recipes to serve with it:

    Jalapeno cornbread

    This deliciously moist and flavorful cornbread with jalapenos and cheddar cheese is perfect for devouring with this chili recipe. It takes 45 minutes to make and lasts for many days if you have some leftovers!

    Rice

    Jasmine rice, basmati rice, or even brown rice are all great choices to serve as a side with this chili.

    Baked potatoes

    Chili and baked potatoes are a match made in heaven!

    chili in a bowl with topping avocado tortilla chips cheese jalapenos sour cream

    🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make copycat Texas Roadhouse chili in advance?

    Yes, you can make this chili in advance, and it gets even better when the flavors have time to develop. Simply cook the chili according to the recipe instructions, then let it cool and transfer it to the fridge in an airtight container.

    Can I use ground chicken instead of beef?

    Yes, you can absolutely use ground chicken or even ground turkey in place of the beef. Use a rotisserie chicken and chicken broth instead of beef broth.

    texas roadhouse chili

    🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating

    Copycat Texas Roadhouse chili is delicious eaten fresh, but if you have leftovers, they are easy to store and taste even better reheated over the next few days.

    Fridge - Store the leftover chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Freezer - Let the chili cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

    Reheating - Reheat the chili on the stove over medium heat until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of beef broth or water to thin it out as it reheats.

    Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave on high power in a microwavable bowl with a lid. Heat at 1-minute intervals until piping hot, and stir it after every interval.

    🍳 Related Recipes

    Check out these fantastic comfort food recipes, including my olive garden giant cheese stuffed shells, chili queso dip and my texas chicken spaguetti recipe.

    • Three cheese lasagna
      Three-Cheese Lasagna (Easy & Delicious)
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      Mac and Cheese Tuna Casserole (Easy Recipe)
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      Best Ever White Chicken Lasagna Recipe
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      Best Butter Beans Recipe Ever

    Busy week? You should try my mouth-watering salisbury steak recipe ready in only 30 minutes!

    👪 Serving size

    This copycat Texas Roadhouse chili recipe makes around 8 cups of chili, which is enough to serve 6-8 people as a main dish. Depending on how many people you're feeding, you can also easily scale the recipe down or up.

    This copycat Texas Roadhouse chili is a delicious and easy way to enjoy a classic chili recipe. It can be made in advance and freezes well, making it a great meal to have on hand for busy weeknights. Serve it with jalapeno cornbread or rice for a complete meal. I hope you enjoy it and don't forget to comment below!

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Try one of my comfort dinner recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!

    📋 Recipe

    texas roadhouse chili

    Texas Roadhouse Chili (Easy 30-minute)

    This 30-minute Texas Roadhouse Chili recipe is a hearty dish with smokey, sweet, and spicy flavors. The recipe is easy to make with comforting ingredients that are sure to please everyone.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved! Share
    Course: Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 270kcal
    Author: Ben Rayl

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1(15 oz) can crushed tomatoes - 15oz
    • 1 ½ cup beef broth - optional chicken, bone or veggie broth
    • 1(15 oz) can red kidney beans - (rinsed and drained)
    • 1(8 oz) tomato sauce
    • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic - minced
    • 1 white onion - diced
    • 2 tablespoons chili powder
    • 2 tablespoons cumin
    • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
    • 1 ½ tablespoon brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

    Toppings

    • jalapenos - sliced and seeded
    • sour cream
    • green onions - chopped
    • cheddar cheese
    • avocado
    • tortilla chips

    Instructions

    • Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the chopped onions and garlic.
    • Cook until translucent and fragrant, then add the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks.
    • Once the beef has browned (around 6 minutes cooking), add the cumin powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper, and tomato paste.
    • Stir well to incorporate the spices into the beef, then add the kidney beans, beef broth, crushed tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
    • Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the chili simmer for 25 minutes uncovered. Stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom and burning.
    • Once the chili has reduced and thickened nicely, remove the skillet from the heat and leave it to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
    • Serve with a selection of toppings and a side of rice.

    Notes

    Slow cooking
    If you're looking for an even easier way to make this Texas Roadhouse chili, you can use a slow cooker or Instant Pot. Simply brown the beef, garlic, and onions in a skillet, then add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker or Instant Pot and cook on low setting for 6 hours or high setting for 4 hours.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.3g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 3mg | Iron: 4mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Linda

      August 19, 2022 at 10:06 pm

      5 stars
      This is my new chili recipe!

      Reply

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    Chef Ben Rayl

    Hi, I'm Ben!

    I believe comfort food unites us, and I want to inspire you to cook at home with everyday ingredients. It is easier and takes less time than you think, costs less than eating out, and tastes a million times better.Read More

    Feel free to share our recipes on your blog using a photo and link back to the original recipe.

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