If you are looking for an incredible chili recipe that you can make on those busy weeknights, my ground pork chili recipe can help you get dinner on the table in just 30 minutes. I share lots of ways to customize the flavors, use up the vegetables in the back of your refrigerator, and add corn dumplings that cook right in the pot with the chili.
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❤️ Sandi’s Recipe Summary
The Quick Bite: This homemade ground pork chili is hearty and full of flavor. Vary the spice, and see below for some delicious flavor variations. Make this family meal in just 30 minutes.
Fall and winter are my favorite times to make chili, which may sound strange given we are from Texas, where chili cook-offs happen in the summer! Chili is comfort food for our whole family, well, except for my picky eater. It is a versatile meal that works for lunch, dinner, and packing in a Thermos for a school lunch.
You can make this homemade chili as I wrote the recipe, or you can vary the ingredients, including swapping the type of beans, adding other vegetables, and adding different levels of spice by varying the chili peppers. I tested all sorts of versions of this recipe over the years, and it has helped me avoid food waste by using up the vegetables hiding in the back of my refrigerator.
I often make these Gluten-Free Corn Dumplings with the chili. The steam cooks them right in the pot. You can also serve rice, tortilla chips, or gluten free cornbread with this chili.
Try my recipe and see how tasty and satisfying this chili with pork can be. It is perfect for a cold winter day or whenever you’re in the mood for something hearty and delicious. If you are looking for more recipes that use pork, check out these 10 Family Favorite Gluten Free Ground Pork Recipes on my blog.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Ground Pork – This recipe was created to accent the flavor of ground pork, but ground beef, turkey, and bison also work well. Ground pork is typically less expensive, which makes this a great budget meal.
- Onions – Use yellow onions for the best flavor.
- Peppers – Use any color of bell peppers. For more spice, feel free to add other peppers like jalapeños, roasted ancho peppers, and roasted Hatch green chiles. I also like adding ground ancho powder.
- Carrots – This is optional, but the sweetness from the carrots helps accent the ground pork
- Garlic Cloves – I tested this recipe using minced fresh and jarred minced garlic. Both add great flavor. In a pinch, garlic powder will also work.
- Peeled Canned Tomatoes – Our family likes the flavor of this chili best when I use canned San Marzano tomatoes. Regular diced tomatoes also work, but their flavor isn’t as rich as the San Marzano tomatoes.
- Kidney Beans – I used canned beans, and it is important to drain and rinse them before adding them to the pot.
Substitutions:
- Substitute ground beef or ground turkey for the ground pork. I also tried making this recipe with Impossible meat. It wasn’t as good, but if you are vegan, it is a great option. If you do use Impossible meat, I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of oil when browning it.
- If you don’t have kidney beans on hand, use black beans or pinto beans.
If you are looking for another great family-friendly recipe with ground pork, you will want to try this Ground Pork Fried Rice recipe, too!
How to Make Homemade Ground Pork Chili (Step-By-Step)
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Step 1: Use a sharp knife to chop up the onion and peppers.
Step 2: Add oil to a pot and heat on medium heat. Add the chopped onion, peppers, and ground pork. Cook until the meat browns, breaking it into small bits as it cooks.
👀 Sandi Says: Carefully drain the fat into a container. Do not pour the fat down the kitchen sink. It can clog the drain.
Step 3: Cover and bring the chili mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
The longer this pork chili cooks, the more the flavors merge and blend, so if you are not in a hurry, I recommend letting it cook longer. Stir halfway through cooking.
Step 4: Enjoy! You can top your chili with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, scallions, chives, guacamole…or anything you like!
I love to serve this chili with my Gluten-Free Corn Tortillas. These Gluten Free Cheddar Bacon Biscuits or these Gluten-Free Classic Biscuits are good for soaking up some of the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can easily freeze this chili. Thaw in the microwave or on the stovetop. I freeze leftovers in single-serve portions using Souper Cubes. To reheat, put a frozen cube in a small pot. Cover the pot and cook on medium-low heat until it is hot.
Of course, if you enjoy a non-meat vegan substitute, feel free to use it instead of the meat in this recipe. I highly recommend Impossible Meat.
Extra liquid can come from not draining the fat after browning the meat, or using a watery diced tomato brand. If this happens, thicken your chili by adding 1-2 tablespoons of tomato paste and simmering for an extra 10 minutes.
We also love this Padron Pepper Chili recipe. I have lots of great family-friendly gluten free pork recipes!
More Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes:
- Gluten Free Meatloaf with Oats
- Easy Gluten Free Smothered Pork Chops
- Instant Pot Chicken Soup
- Tasty Gluten Free BBQ Ribs
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Hearty Ground Pork Chili Recipe in 30 Minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 diced large onion
- 2 diced carrots
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1-3 tablespoons hatch green chiles depending on how spicy you like it
- 1 28 ounce can of peeled tomatoes
- 2 cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil I used avocado
Method
- In a pot, add 1 tablespoon cooking oil and let it warm for 1 minute on medium heat.
- Add 1 diced large onion, 2 diced carrots, 2 cloves minced garlic, and 1 pound ground pork and cook over medium heat until the pork is browned. Break the meat up while it is cooking.
- Add 1-3 tablespoons hatch green chiles, 1 28 ounce can of peeled tomatoes, 2 cans kidney beans (rinsed and drained), 2 teaspoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons ground cumin,1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder. cover, and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and continue to simmer for an additional 20-30 minutes.
- Top with cheddar, scallions, sour cream or anything else you like.
Nutrition
Notes
- I tested this recipe with ground pork, ground turkey, and Impossible meat. If using Impossible meat, add 1 tablespoon of oil when browning it. You can use any ground meat in this recipe.
- You can use black, pinto, or kidney beans. It is important to drain and rinse the beans in water before adding them to the pot.
- This chili will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Private Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
This recipe was updated from an older November 2019 post with more details.
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
I really enjoyed the carrots in this chili. Good to know that it freezes, but I don’t think we will have any leftovers!
LOL, we didn’t have leftovers often, but now that our kids are not living at home (1 graduated university and the other lives on campus) we have a lot of leftovers. I am glad you loved this chili recipe!
Loved it! Will make it again!
I am so glad you enjoyed this chili recipe. It is a twice a month favorite in our house. It also freezes really well if you make extra.
I didn’t have chipotle chili powder and substituted with smoked paprika. Turned out really good.
I bet the flavor was incredible. Thank you so much for writing with this spice swap!
Thanks for the recipe. Though it can be challenging to find all the ingredients here in China, I really wanted a taste of home during these cold winter days. Plus, my mother in law only eats pork, so perfect recipe!
I am so glad you enjoyed it Bryan. I have friends who have worked in China in the past and they said the same. I wish you all the best 🙂
This sounds delicious! What is the serving size for this?