Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe (Beans Optional)

Name: Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe (Beans Optional)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 small yellow onion or white onion ((diced)); 2 cloves garlic ((minced)); 1½ pounds ground beef; 1 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 tablespoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon ground cumin; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 cup beef broth; 1 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes; 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 1 15 ounce can black beans ((drained and rinsed)); 1 15 ounce can red kidney beans ((drained and rinsed)); ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ((optional for spicy)); cheddar cheese ((shredded)); tortilla chips; red onions ((finely chopped)); green onions ((thinly chopped)); sour cream

Published: Jan 24, 2023 by Jen Talley · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

Jump to Recipe

This Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe can be made with beans or without beans. It is the best Texas Roadhouse Chili Copycat Recipe!

A bowl of chili with cheese, sour cream, green onions and red onions on top.

Have you visited one of the famous Texas Roadhouse restaurants? They have juicy steaks, yummy ribs, and delicious chili. This recipe is the closest thing to their chili. I even did a side-by-side comparison!

If you haven't visited this restaurant chain, this is still one of the best chili recipes. Chili is a great choice for a cool weather or to feed a crowd.

Enjoy this copycat Texas Roadhouse chili recipe in the comfort of your home and with your whole family.

If you are interested in making your own Chili Seasoning Substitute for your own homemade chili recipe check out my post to see what spices are a great starting point.

Looking for another easy ground beef recipe, try these Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Texas Roadhouse red chili is made with very simple ingredients.
This easy recipe is great for all cooking skills.
Use the beans in the recipe for a traditional chili recipe, or make it without beans for a Texas style chili.

Recipe Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients to make ...recipe... All these ingredients should be readily available in your local grocery store.

The ingredients to make Texas Roadhouse chili.

Olive Oil is used to cook the onion.

Yellow Onion or White Onion is an essential flavor in chili.

Fresh Garlic is an easy way to add extra flavor.

Ground Beef is the main ingredient that makes this a hearty meal.

Brown Sugar is very sweet, but only a little is added which balances the spice of the chili.

Chili Powder is the spice that will have your taste buds asking for more.

Onion Powder adds flavor to the chili.

Garlic Powder is another layer of seasoning.

Ground Cumin Powder adds a warmth and very mild smokiness to the chili.

Salt magnifies the flavor of all of the ingredients.

Black Pepper adds a bit of spiciness.

Cayenne Pepper is optional if you like spicy chili.

Beef Broth is the secret ingredient that adds richness to the chili.

Crush Tomatoes bring moisture to the chili.

Tomato Sauce is an important part of the chili sauce.

Tomato Paste is packed with tomato flavor.

Black Beans are optional but add bulk to this hearty chili.

Red Kidney Beans are also optional for this hearty bowl of chili.

Toppings for Chili

Last time I ordered Texas Roadhouse Chili it was topped with cheddar cheese and red onion. However, at home, you can use any topping you like!

A bowl of tortillas chips with three small bowls of sour cream, cheese, green onions and red onions.

Cheddar Cheese is traditional for chili. Use a sharp cheddar to get a more concentrated cheddar flavor.

Tortilla Chips are a great way to add a crunchy texture to the chili.

Red Onions give the chili a fresh spicy bite.

Green Onions are a little milder than red onions.

Sour Cream adds a creamy tang to the chili.

How to Make Texas Roadhouse Chili

Here are some quick visual instructions. The full recipe with ingredient measurements and detailed instructions is below!

Heat the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven on medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until it softens. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute.

A pot with olive oil and onion and a pot with cooked onions and garlic.

Turn the stove up to medium-high heat and use a wooden spoon to brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic.

Add the spices to the cooked ground meat and stir them around for 30 seconds before adding the other ingredients.

A pot with cooked onion and raw ground beef and a pot with cooked ground beef and spices being added to it.

Add the beef broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and beans to the pot.

Adding beans to a pot of chili and a pot of simmering chili,

Simmer the chili mixture on low for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine together.

Top the chili with your favorite toppings such as cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream and red onion. Enjoy your delicious Texas Roadhouse chili!

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Allowing the chili to slowly simmer uncovered for longer will help thicken the chili and meld the flavors together.
You can also add masa harina (corn tortilla flour) as a thickening agent.

Texas Roadhouse Slow Cooker Chili

Slow cooking chili is a great way to have dinner ready after a busy day. Enjoy your chili in the comfort of your own home.

Cook the onion and garlic in a pot.

Add the ground beef and brown it.

Add the ground beef mixture and all the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Texas Roadhouse Instant Pot Chili

Cooking chili in the Instant Pot is the best way to make a flavorful chili in a short amount of time.

Use the sauté setting on the Instant Pot to cook the onions, garlic, and brown beef.

Add the seasoning and sauté for 30 more seconds.

Add the rest of the chili ingredients and use high pressure for 10 minutes with a natural pressure release.

Storage and Reheating

Leftover chili is just as good, if not better the next day. It reheats wonderfully!

Storage: Chili can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Reheating: Reheat chili on medium-low on the stove until it is warm. You can also place some chili in a microwave-safe bowl and covered it. Heat the chili, and check it every 30 seconds until it is warm.
Freezing: Chili freezes really well. Add the cooled chili to freezer bags in portioned amounts for your family. It can be stored in the freezer for 4-6 months.

Substitutions

Ground Turkey can be a substitute for ground beef.
Chuck Roast can be cut into small cubes and used to replace ground beef. Increase the cook time to 2 ½-3 hours to make sure the beef is falling apart tender.
Ground Beef, Ground Beef Chuck, and Ground Round can all be used interchangeably in this recipe.
Beef Bouillon (or beef cubes) and warm water work as a substitute for beef broth. I prefer the Better than Bouillon Beef Broth.
Red Kidney Beans and Dark Red Kidney Beans can be used interchangeably.
Dried Beans can be cooked to replace the canned beans. Use 1 ½ cups of cooked beans to replace each can.
Red Pepper Flakes can be used as a substitute for cayenne pepper if you want spicy chili.

Variations

Texas Roadhouse Chili No Beans: Texas Roadhouse chili can be made with or without beans. Follow the same recipe, but don't add the beans.
Chili with Corn: Add 1 cup of frozen corn to the chili to add little bites of sweetness.
Chili With Stew Meat: Brown the stew meat in olive oil before the onions and garlic. As soon as it is browned add the onion and sauté for a few minutes before adding the garlic. if using stew meat it is very important to all the strew meat chili to gently simmer for 3 hours to allow the meat to tenderize.
Chili Mac: Make your favorite mac and cheese recipe such as this Viral TikTok Mac and Cheese. Then, add your cooked chili and the mac and cheese to a bowl. Top it with some shredded cheddar cheese and other toppings.
Chili Baked Potatoes: Top baked potatoes with chili and your favorite toppings. To make it extra rich first mash the baked potato insides with butter and then add the chili on top.

What to Serve With Chili

This Texas Roadhouse copycat chili recipe is one of the best chili dishes! Now try some of these awesome sides to go along with it. These are the best side dishes to serve with chili.

Try a side of cornbread with this easy copycat recipe.

A Southwest Salad with lettuce, cilantro, corn, black beans and avocado is a great healthy side dish for this chili.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Texas Roadhouse chili made of?

Although Texas Roadhouse doesn't list their exact ingredients for their chili, some of the flavors are that of most chili recipes. This Texas Roadhouse chili is made of ground beef, onions, garlic, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, tomato sauce, and spices. Some of the spices include chili powder, garlic powder and onion powder.

Why do you put brown sugar in chili?

The brown sugar doesn't make the chili sweet, but it does round out the savory flavor and spices. It will make you want to go back for second helpings.

Is chili better the longer it cooks?

The longer the chili cooks, the more the flavors blend together. In addition, the chili will become thicker with less sauce. If you find that your chili is getting too thick try adding ¼ cup of water to it and it can continue to gently simmer.

More From Thyme for the Table

If you want to see more delicious recipes follow on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Let's cook together on YouTube! See you there! Don't forget to tag me so I can see what you are making!

📖 Recipe