Amy and I are mostly cooking for just the two of us these days. As empty nesters, it can be tricky to find recipes that don’t leave us with piles of leftovers but are still satisfying to make and eat. This chili has become one of our go-to meals. It’s straightforward, uses ingredients we almost always have on hand, and is perfectly scaled for 2-3 servings (with a little left over for lunch) Of course, if you’re feeding more than two people, this recipe is easy to double, triple, or even more. It’s built around the basics—our own grass-fed ground beef, pantry staples like beans and tomatoes, and a few simple seasonings. We use butter for cooking, which adds a rich base to the chili. It’s practical, adaptable, and fits well into our routine.

Chili Recipe (For Two or Three)

[fusion_button link="https://tynerpondfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chili-Recipe-For-Two-.pdf" title="" target="_self" link_attributes="" aria_role_button="0" alignment_medium="" alignment_small="" alignment="" modal="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" sticky_display="normal,sticky" class="" id="" color="default" button_gradient_top_color_hover="" hue="" saturation="" lightness="" alpha="" button_gradient_top_color="" button_gradient_bottom_color_hover="" button_gradient_bottom_color="" gradient_start_position="" gradient_end_position="" gradient_type="" radial_direction="" linear_angle="" accent_hover_color="" accent_color="" type="" bevel_color="" bevel_color_hover="" border_top="" border_right="" border_bottom="" border_left="" border_radius_top_left="" border_radius_top_right="" border_radius_bottom_right="" border_radius_bottom_left="" border_hover_color="" border_color="" size="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" fusion_font_family_button_font="" fusion_font_variant_button_font="" font_size="" line_height="" letter_spacing="" text_transform="" stretch="default" margin_top="" margin_right="" margin_bottom="" margin_left="" icon="" icon_position="left" icon_divider="no" hover_transition="none" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_color="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_delay="0" animation_offset=""]Print Recipe[/fusion_button]

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)
• 1 small can tomato paste (6 ounces)
• 1 diced Red Pepper (optional)
• 1 cup beef broth (adjust based on desired consistency)
• 1 medium onion (diced)
• 2-3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1.5 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional, for added depth)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Butter (for sautéing)

Instructions:

Brown the Ground Beef:

Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add a small amount of cooking oil and brown the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Once cooked, remove the beef from the pot and set aside.

Sauté the Onion and Garlic:

In the same pot, add a little more oil if needed. Sauté the diced onion over medium heat until softened (about 3-4 minutes). Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring frequently.

Add Spices and Seasoning:

Stir in the chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Toast the spices for 30 seconds to release their aroma.

Combine Ingredients:

Add the cooked ground beef back into the pot. Stir in the diced tomatoes, pinto beans, and tomato paste. Add 1 cup of beef broth and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (if using). Mix well.

Simmer:

Bring the chili to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot partially and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more broth if the chili is too thick.

Adjust Seasoning and Serve:

Taste the chili and adjust with additional salt, pepper, or chili powder as needed. Serve hot, garnished with shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions, if desired.

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Ingredients and Costs:

Cost per serving  based on three servings, with Tyner Pond Farm grass-fed ground beef and other ingredients from Walmart, yields the following breakdown: Ground Beef (1 pound): Source: Tyner Pond Farm Price: $10.59 per pound TYNER POND FARM Pinto Beans (1 can, 15.5 oz): Source: Walmart Price: $0.78 per can Diced Tomatoes (1 can, 14.5 oz): Source: Walmart Price: $0.72 per can Tomato Paste (1 can, 6 oz): Source: Walmart Price: $0.62 per can Beef Broth (1 cup, approximately 8 oz): Source: Walmart Price: $1.33 per 32 oz carton Cost for Recipe: $1.33 ÷ 4 = $0.33 Onion (1 medium): Source: Walmart Price: $0.62 per pound Average Weight of Medium Onion: 0.5 pounds Cost for Recipe: $0.62 × 0.5 = $0.31 Garlic (2-3 cloves): Source: Walmart Price: $0.50 per bulb (approximately 10 cloves) Cost for Recipe: $0.50 ÷ 10 cloves × 3 cloves = $0.15 Butter (for sautéing, approximately 2 tablespoons): Source: Walmart Price: $3.56 per pound (16 tablespoons) Cost for Recipe: $3.56 ÷ 16 × 2 = $0.45 Spices: Chili Powder (1.5 tablespoons): Source: WalmartPrice: $1.00 per ounce (approximately 2 tablespoons) Cost for Recipe: $1.00 ÷ 2 × 1.5 = $0.75 Smoked Paprika (0.5 teaspoon): Source: Walmart Price: $3.68 per 1.75 oz (approximately 10 teaspoons) Cost for Recipe: $3.68 ÷ 10 × 0.5 = $0.18 Cayenne Pepper (0.25 teaspoon): Source: Walmart Price: $2.00 per 1.75 oz (approximately 10 teaspoons) Cost for Recipe: $2.00 ÷ 10 × 0.25 = $0.05 Worcestershire Sauce (1 teaspoon): Source: Walmart Price: $1.98 per 10 oz bottle (approximately 60 teaspoons) Cost for Recipe: $1.98 ÷ 60 × 1 = $0.03

Total Cost:

Ground Beef: $10.59 Pinto Beans: $0.78 Diced Tomatoes: $0.72 Tomato Paste: $0.62 Beef Broth: $0.33 Onion: $0.31 Garlic: $0.15 Butter: $0.45 Spices Total: $1.01 Total Recipe Cost: $14.96

Cost per Serving (3 servings): $14.96 ÷ 3 = $4.99

Summary:

Each serving of this chili costs approximately $4.99 when using Tyner Pond Farm grass-fed ground beef and other ingredients sourced from Walmart. This calculation is based on dividing the total recipe cost by three servings. Note: Prices are based on available data and may vary by location and over time.   [fusion_button link="https://tynerpondfarm.com/shop/Grass-Fed-Beef-c140847802" title="" target="_self" link_attributes="" aria_role_button="0" alignment_medium="" alignment_small="" alignment="" modal="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" sticky_display="normal,sticky" class="" id="" color="default" button_gradient_top_color_hover="" hue="" saturation="" lightness="" alpha="" button_gradient_top_color="" button_gradient_bottom_color_hover="" button_gradient_bottom_color="" gradient_start_position="" gradient_end_position="" gradient_type="" radial_direction="" linear_angle="" accent_hover_color="" accent_color="" type="" bevel_color="" bevel_color_hover="" border_top="" border_right="" border_bottom="" border_left="" border_radius_top_left="" border_radius_top_right="" border_radius_bottom_right="" border_radius_bottom_left="" border_hover_color="" border_color="" size="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" fusion_font_family_button_font="" fusion_font_variant_button_font="" font_size="" line_height="" letter_spacing="" text_transform="" stretch="default" margin_top="" margin_right="" margin_bottom="" margin_left="" icon="" icon_position="left" icon_divider="no" hover_transition="none" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_color="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_delay="0" animation_offset=""]Shop Tyner Pond[/fusion_button]