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Home » Recipes » Main Courses » Chili with Potatoes

Chili with Potatoes

April 5, 2020 By Katie Moseman 30 Comments

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Yes, you should put potatoes in chili! Try this chili with potatoes recipe for a chili that’s thick, hearty, flavorful, and very easy to make.

Chili with potatoes in red bowl with off white towel

Chili with Potatoes

I’m far from a food purist.  It’s very hard for me to get carried away with food debates.  Should beans be in chili?  Should corn be in chili?  All I can say is: it depends!  Am I in the mood for beans or corn in my chili?

Well, then.

Which leads me to today’s recipe.  With (gasp!) potatoes. 

You heard me.

I was puttering around the kitchen, attempting to assemble a motley crew of leftover this and that into a respectable meal, when I found some cans of beans, a can of tomatoes, and a lone potato.  So I used my kitchen know-how to assemble a chili with potatoes.

As my devil-may-care attitude might suggest, this recipe is very flexible.  I have changed it up in many ways depending on what I have on hand.  You can, too.

Why Potatoes are Great

Potatoes have a natural thickening effect, so if you like chili that’s nice and thick, you’re going to love this chili. 

It also gets even better as it cools down, as do most chilis, so don’t be afraid to take the pot off the heat and let it come down in temperature and thicken up.  For the same reason, leftovers are fantastic!

How to Change the Chili Heat Level

You can change the heat level of the chili beans as desired.  I prefer my chili beans in mild sauce, but you can step up to medium if you prefer.  Or, add hot sauce (or even spicy salsa) to the chili.

Making Substitutions in Chili

You can use different chili beans instead of pinto and kidney beans.  Swap one can out for black beans or great northern beans. 

Ingredients for chili with potatoes including pinto beans in a can, kidney beans in a can, and canned diced tomatoes

Ingredients

Add more vegetables by stirring in extra peppers or some sauteed onions (unlike peppers, onions need to be cooked first before adding), or swap one type of pepper for another—just watch out for the spicier peppers!

How to Top and Serve Chili

Top your chili bowl with shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream.  Add chopped chives if you’re feeling fancy.  Add hot sauce for an extra kick.  Try serving the chili with some good cornbread—regular or gluten free—and you’ll have yourself a complete meal. 

Or, blow your mind by serving the chili over baked potatoes.  Then load it up with the usual chili toppings plus crumbled cooked bacon.  You can thank me later.

Chili with potatoes in red bowl with off white towel
5 from 9 votes
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Chili with Potatoes

Yes, you should put potatoes in chili! Try this chili with potatoes recipe for a chili that's thick, hearty, flavorful, and very easy to make.

Course Main, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword chili, easy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 219 kcal
Author Katie Moseman

Ingredients

  • 15 ounces canned pinto beans in mild chili sauce
  • 15 ounces canned kidney beans in mild chili sauce
  • 15 ounces canned diced peeled tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 cup cooked ground beef crumbles
  • 1 medium russet potato
  • 1 red bell pepper

Instructions

  1. Add the beans, tomatoes, chili powder, sugar, pepper, oregano, and cooked ground beef to a large pot. Stir, then bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.

  2. Dice the potato (you can peel it first if you want to, but it's perfectly fine to leave the skin on). Remove the stem and seeds from the bell pepper, then slice into thin slices. Add the diced potato and sliced bell pepper to the pot.

  3. Stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes, then remove the lid, stir, and simmer for 10 minutes more. The chili is done when the potatoes are soft and the bell pepper slices are tender. Let cool slightly before serving.

Nutrition Facts
Chili with Potatoes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 219 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 23mg8%
Sodium 522mg23%
Potassium 860mg25%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 17g34%
Vitamin A 1099IU22%
Vitamin C 40mg48%
Calcium 88mg9%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Chili with Potatoes
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Filed Under: Main Courses, Recipes, Soup

Previous Post: « Gluten Free Tampa Dining
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Comments

  1. Amber Myers

    April 6, 2020 at 4:44 pm

    5 stars
    Yum, I’ll have to try this. I love to make chili, but I’ve never put potatoes in it before.

    Reply
  2. Tasheena

    April 6, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so savory, and yummy! Looking forward to making this our next chili night.

    Reply
  3. Shelley King

    April 6, 2020 at 7:50 pm

    I have never even heard of chili with potatoes and now I am intrigued. I wonder what my family would think? I think I am going to try this and find out! Looks amazing!

    Reply
  4. Tabitha Blue

    April 6, 2020 at 9:24 pm

    Oh what a great way to make it an even heartier dish! This is perfect for big families like ours!

    Reply
  5. Beth

    April 6, 2020 at 9:34 pm

    5 stars
    Potatoes in chili sound like a great addition! I’ll have to try it soon.

    Reply
  6. Chef Dennis

    April 7, 2020 at 3:51 am

    5 stars
    Hmm yum! I will definitely try this chili with potatoes one of these days. This looks really yummy and satisfying! I can’t wait!

    Reply
  7. Catalina

    April 7, 2020 at 6:56 am

    5 stars
    That’s such an awesome idea to use potatoes with chili. I am sure this will be our new favorite dish!

    Reply
  8. Marysa

    April 7, 2020 at 8:21 am

    I like the idea of adding potatoes to chili. Chili has such a strong flavor profile, I think it is nice to break it with a starch.

    Reply
  9. Lynndee

    April 7, 2020 at 8:56 am

    We love chili but the recipe that we follow doesn’t have potato in it. I’m going to try your recipe. Looks good!

    Reply
  10. Terri Steffes

    April 7, 2020 at 9:41 am

    I have had a chili topped potato many times, but incorporating the potato into the chili sounds amazing. Yummy. I can’t wait to give that a try.

    Reply
    • Wendy

      December 5, 2023 at 4:47 am

      What is chili topped potato?

      Reply
      • Katie Moseman

        December 5, 2023 at 9:35 am

        Baked potato with chili on top. Usually with chili fixings, too: melted cheese, sour cream, etc.

        Reply
  11. Rena

    April 7, 2020 at 10:06 am

    I have to say I’ve never thought about adding potatoes to my chili and now I’m wondering why not?!?

    Reply
  12. Jenn @ EngineerMommy

    April 7, 2020 at 12:55 pm

    This chili sounds so delicious to me. I love the combination of ingredients in this dish. Perfect comfort food if you ask me!

    Reply
    • Keith

      January 30, 2024 at 7:25 pm

      We grew up with potatoes in our chili. It may have been a carry over from the great depression as a means to stretch out a meal but if it was, we didn’t care. My wife thinks it strange but as mentioned here, its a great addition!

      Reply
      • Robin Cooper

        January 23, 2025 at 4:19 pm

        My mom’s chili recipe always had a potato diced up in it. Her reasoning is that it was added originally to help reduce the over salting she had done by mistake. Everyone loved it and potatoes became a permanent part of her recipe. One that I still carry one with my family.

        Reply
  13. rika

    April 8, 2020 at 1:20 am

    5 stars
    Yum! I love chili and never had one with potatoes. I am so excited to try this.

    Reply
  14. Swathi

    April 8, 2020 at 1:27 am

    5 stars
    This chili with potato sounds like great filling and delicious . I need to try it , I haven’t tried with potatoes. canned beans make chili making easy.

    Reply
  15. Rene

    January 28, 2021 at 10:58 am

    Try serving chili with a sweet potato as a side. Perfect flavor combination.

    Reply
  16. Ashley A Wilso

    December 21, 2021 at 9:56 am

    i have ALWAYS cooked chilli with potatoes in it, and was surprised so many people haven’t. The great thing about this is just as called out, it thickens the chilli itself too. My mom used to ‘flash fry’ her potatoes to prevent them breaking down as much by getting her cast iron hot, putting some oil in there and just searing the outside of the potatoes slightly/quickly before throwing them in the pot. (I don’t know if it really makes difference, but i think i may try it this go round) 🙂

    Reply
  17. Janice

    December 29, 2021 at 2:26 pm

    I’ve eaten chili with quartered potatoes and it’s very good. It began when I put too much chipotle peppers with adobo sauce. I knew it would be too hot foe my son. Remembering my grandmother saying if I got something too salty or too hot potato quarter would soak a good bit up. She had a restaurant and discovered that trick when workers over salted so she didn’t have to toss the dish.

    Reply
    • Wendy

      December 5, 2023 at 4:52 am

      Your Grandma Sounds Smart. I Have Never Heard That Before.

      Reply
  18. Martha

    March 31, 2023 at 11:16 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe. I added some Thai chili sauce for heat. Delicious! Thanks

    Reply
  19. A

    August 18, 2023 at 12:55 pm

    The potatoes didn’t soften even after an hour. apparently it has to do with cooking it in something acidic (the tomatoes). Next time I will parboil the potatoes before.

    Reply
  20. michele lee empoliti

    November 2, 2023 at 3:12 pm

    I have had the chili w/potatoes and it is great I thought what tried it thats how I do my chili all the time

    Reply
  21. Sp

    January 21, 2024 at 2:20 pm

    My mama from Mississippi and used to make chilli with potatoes every holiday so 🔥

    Reply
  22. Jewel

    February 6, 2024 at 3:11 pm

    just wondering if I could make this in a slow cooker?

    Reply
    • Katie Moseman

      February 22, 2024 at 10:40 am

      Yes, I’d cook the ground the beef first though.

      Reply
  23. Christine

    April 30, 2024 at 11:58 am

    5 stars
    I grew up with carrots and potatoes in my chili. I still add both to this day.

    Reply
  24. Kellie Kearney

    September 5, 2024 at 9:40 pm

    Adding potatoes to chili is such a great idea! It adds thickness and heartiness, making it even more satisfying. Can’t wait to try this recipe!

    Reply

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