Game Day Chili (no beans, pasta optional)
My game day chili has no beans and an optional addition of pasta. It’s thick with a little kick of spice and a hint of sweetness from honey. Each bite has the perfect balance of flavors. Whether you’re cooking it up for a football game or enjoying a cozy night at home, you’ll love every bite!
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If you’re looking for game-day soup recipes from scratch you’ve come to the right place! Here on Plum Branch Home, I’ve got quite a few soup recipes you can browse. This chili is just one of them.
If you’re throwing a football game day party, you’ve got to check out these top party ideas to score big with your guests! These tips will be helpful, from fun games to keep guests entertained at halftime to setting the scene with team spirit!
The Best Game Day Chili
In my opinion, there are two types of chili: game day chili and regular chili. My mom makes an amazing regular chili, which is my inspiration behind this recipe.
The main difference between the two types is that game-day chili has an added spicy kick and a balanced sweet and savory flavor.
No matter who you talk to if they’re making a game day chili, at least here in the South, there’s a secret ingredient. For mine, it’s balsamic vinegar. It balances the flavors while lightening up the dish.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Outstanding Flavor: Like I said above, the flavors in this chili are fantastic! It’s sweet, it’s savory, and it’s got a kick to it.
Thick Texture: This chili is thick and hearty, just like we like it!
Customizable: You can customize my recipe with an addition of beans or pasta to make it more your style.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- yellow onion (diced)
- 16.4oz can of diced tomatoes
- beef broth (or stock)
- tomato paste
- sea salt
- ground black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- chili powder (salt-free)
- smoked paprika
- balsamic vinegar
- raw honey
- small shell pasta (optional)
Helpful Kitchen Tools for This Recipe
How to Make Game Day Chili
Add ground beef and diced onion to a medium-sized pot and cook over medium-high heat until beef is fully cooked about 6-8 minutes.
Use a spoon or stainless steel masher to break the hamburger into small chunks while it’s cooking.
When the beef is cooked, strain out any excess liquid/fat. Discard or save in the fridge for later use. Set the pot with cooked beef aside for now.
Pour canned diced tomatoes into a blender and blend on high until the chunks break down into small pieces, almost smooth. Just a few seconds
Pour blended tomatoes into the pot with ground beef. Turn heat to medium.
Add beef broth, tomato paste, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir to combine.
Turn heat to low-medium and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
OPTIONAL FOR ADDING PASTA: If you want to add in pasta wait until the soup is bubbling then add it in and stir. Cook soup covered with a lid for 10-15 minutes until pasta is tender. Stir occasionally throughout this cooking time.
Slow Cooker Method
If you prefer to make this chili in a slow cooker, place all the ingredients besides the pasta into a slow cooker. You can still use raw ground beef for this method. Cook the chili on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
If you want to add pasta, do this about 30 minutes before serving. This cooks the pasta without it getting mushy.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in a large glass airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze this chili for 3 months, but I recommend not adding pasta if you plan to do this.
Reheating Leftovers
You can place the glass storage container with the lid off straight into the turned-off, cold oven. Once it’s in there, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and warm until the desired temperature.
Never place a frozen glass dish in a hot oven; it will shatter.
You can also choose to thaw the chili in the fridge the night before and then warm the leftovers on the stove in a pot.
Sides That Go Well With Chili
You can serve so many sides with chili, or you can serve it by itself. It just depends on how hungry you are and how many people are eating with you. Here are some sides that will go great with a bowl of chili:
- cornbread
- sourdough dinner rolls
- sourdough honey butter dinner rolls
- sourdough cheddar bay biscuits
- coleslaw
- corn muffins
- sourdough beer bread
Recipe FAQs
I highly recommend it. It adds a slight sweetness and lightens up the heaviness. As well as deepens the other flavors in the chili.
No, you don’t. You can leave it out and finish the recipe without the pasta.
Yes, you can, but I highly recommend leaving the pasta out if you plan to freeze it.
Of course!
Game Day Chili (no beans, optional pasta)
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 of a yellow onion (diced)
- 16.4 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth (or stock)
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp chili powder (salt-free)
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 tsp raw honey
- optional - 1/3 cup small shell pasta
Instructions
- Add ground beef and diced onion to a medium-sized pot and cook over medium-high heat until beef is fully cooked about 6-8 minutes.
- Use a spoon or stainless steel masher to break the hamburger into small chunks while it’s cooking.
- When the beef is cooked, strain out any excess liquid/fat. Discard or save in the fridge for later use. Set the pot with cooked beef aside for now.
- Pour canned diced tomatoes into a blender and blend on high until the chunks break down into small pieces, almost smooth. Just a few seconds
- Pour blended tomatoes into the pot with ground beef. Turn heat to medium.
- Add beef broth, tomato paste, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir to combine.
- Turn heat to low-medium and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- OPTIONAL FOR ADDING PASTA: If you want to add in pasta wait until the soup is bubbling then add it in and stir. Cook soup covered with a lid for 10-15 minutes until pasta is tender. Stir occasionally throughout this cooking time.
Notes
Slow Cooker Method
- Place all the ingredients besides the pasta into a slow cooker. You can still use raw ground beef for this method. Cook the chili on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
- If you'd like to add pasta, please do this about 30 minutes before serving. This cooks the pasta without it getting mushy.