This Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe can be made with beans or without beans. It is the best Texas Roadhouse Chili Copycat Recipe!
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.
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!
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.
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.
Add the beef broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and beans to the pot.
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
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.
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.
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.
📖 Recipe
Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe (Beans Optional)
Equipment
- 1 medium cast iron pot (or regular pot)
Ingredients
Chili
- 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)
Optional Toppings
- cheddar cheese (shredded)
- tortilla chips
- red onions (finely chopped)
- green onions (thinly chopped)
- sour cream
Instructions
- Heat a medium dutch oven or soup pot on medium heat. Add the olive oil and onion to the pot. Sauté the onion for 3-4 minutes until it begins to turn translucent, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute.
- Add the ground beef to the pot. Use a wooden spoon to break it apart. Allow it to cook for about 5 minutes or until all the beef is browned.
- Add the brown sugar, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin powder, black pepper and salt to the browned meat. Cook for an additional 30 seconds while stirring the seasoning through the meat.
- Add the beef broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, black beans, and red kidney beans. Stir it together.
- Bring the chili to a low simmer. Continue to gently simmer uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with your favorite toppings such as cheddar cheese, tortilla chips, red onion, green onion or sour cream.
Video
Notes
- 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.
Food Safety
- Cook ground beef to a minimum temperature of 160 °F.
- Don't use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash your hands after touching raw meat.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
Such a lot of flavour packed into this dish and I love the idea of black beans too. So meaty and comforting.
Charla says
This sure looks divine and I'm loving the combination of black beans and red kidney beans. What a great idea!
Dannii says
This chili was amazing. It has everything in it and so easy to make too.
Jen Talley says
Thanks Dannii! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Ieva says
Thanks for a delicious recipe! We enjoyed it so much last night. Made it with low-fat beef and added a bunch of the suggested toppings. It was great! Loved the spices used (and had all of them in our cupboards too!). Will try it with turkey too next week!
Jen Talley says
That's great Leva! I love being able to load up the toppings at home!
Ned says
Oh my! Chili is a staple on our house and this recipe is on point! Thank you so much! I can't wait to make it again!
Jen Talley says
I'm glad you liked it Ned!
Lynn says
This was delicious! My whole family loved it! Next time I have to make a double batch!
Jen Talley says
Great idea Lynn! It is so good as leftovers and it freezes well too!
Lisa says
We loved this chili so much more that what we get at Texas Roadhouse! Plus, we don't even have to leave the house.
Jen Talley says
I have to agree Lisa, it is even better than the Texas Roadhouse Chili. I tried a side by side comparison and the flavors are very similar, but this recipe wins 🙂
Ksenia says
This made me feel like I was having dinner at Texas Roadhouse! I paired it with a simple baked potato and ribs for my husband, chicken for me and the kids, and it was a huge hit.
Jen Talley says
That's awesome Ksenia! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Kris says
This was SO flavorful and comforting! We served with cornbread and the whole family gobbled it up. Thank you for another fabulous recipe!
Gracie says
A perfect quick throw together delicious dinner! Flavor was spot on! Definitely will make this again!
Jen Talley says
Thanks so much, Gracie! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Sherry says
Your chili recipe was so easy to make and my family loved it! Thank you for a great Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe.
Jen Talley says
Thanks Sherry!
Christine Row says
I’m surprised there’s no nutritional information! This was delicious but it would be nice to know calories, fat, carbs, protein.
Shawn says
Made this recipe last night and everyone who ate it said it was a little too sweet. It had very good flavor. Next time I make it, I may cut down on the brown sugar a little.
Jen Talley says
Thanks for the feedback, Shawn!
Randy says
Would this recipe still work if I used a 30 ounce can of crushed tomatoes and omitted the tomato sauce? Or, is the tomato sauce an "essential" part of this recipe? I've been looking for a recipe that replicates the Road House restaurant chili so I will be making this VERY soon!
Jen Talley says
Hi Randy! That will work, but it will just have a little less of the tomato flavor. If possible, I would also increase the tomato paste from 1 tablespoon to 3 tablespoons to compensate. But, it will be fine if you can't.
Randy says
Jen...just made this chili with a few of my own variations. It is FANTASTIC! I long ago lost my go to recipe that I had "perfected", and have been trying to recreate it, think I just did. I used 30 ounces of canned tomatoes and 1 can of tomato soup (that was the missing ingredient for me). Left out the tomato sauce and tomato paste, and added an additional tablespoon of chili powder. Your recipe is fantastic...whether used as is or as the base with your own modifications. Thank you!
Jen Talley says
Hi Randy! Thanks for coming back to tell me how the chili turned out. I love that you adapted it to make it your own. That is one of my favorite things about chili, that you can really customize it and make it to your preference. Thanks for sharing! Have a great week!
Randy says
Left out that I also added 1 can of rotel. You are so right about chili...so many variations. If anyone reads this...go make this chili, you'll love it!
Jen Talley says
Thanks Randy!
Bruce Munck says
A couple weeks ago I had the Texas Roadhouse Red Chili and was really impressed with its flavor. I certainly hope that this recipe is similar. I will be trying it soon.
Jen Talley says
I hope you enjoy it, I did add in beans because I love beans in my chili, but leave them out if you want it to be as close to the Texas Roadhouse recipe as possible.