Kid Friendly Chili Recipe
Nothing like a bowl of chili on a cold winter night. This comfort food brings back nostalgic memories of childhood, a warm belly full of chili…ahhhh
Although I love chili of all kinds and do not shy away from new chili recipes, my kids unfortunately don’t share my pure love of it. I’ve adapted this recipe many times, finally perfecting it to this kid friendly cowboy chili recipe.
How to make chili kids will like?
There are a few ways you can prepare chili so that kids will like it. The first way is to cut the spice with a little bit of sweetness. Most kids do not like spicy foods, by adding a little bit of brown sugar to this recipe, it perfectly cuts the spiciness of the dish, making it more appetizing to kids. We also use tomato soup in this recipe which helps add a bit of sweetness without sacrificing the classic savory taste of the chili.
Another thing that is different about this recipe is that it does not include diced tomatoes. Many kids shy away from chunky soups because of big pieces of tomatoes. By eliminating the diced tomatoes but still using a bulky tomato base, like marinara, you get the same amazing chili, without bug chunks of tomatoes.
Adding vegetables your children like will also help win them over for loving this dinner! My kids love corn, so I put a big helping of corn in this chili, with a lot less beans. You could add peppers if your children like those, or alternatively you could puree vegetables, like onions, to get the flavor without the kids noticing a different texture.
Kid Friendly Chili Toppings
Chili is such a easy way to make a healthy meal for your kids. Sometimes fun toppings will encourage your kids to eat more. We love toppings such as, shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, corn chips, and hot sauce. We often serve chili with corn or tortilla chips, especially the scoopable chips! Kids love scooping! You can make it fun by saying “you get to eat your spoon for dinner tonight!” Sourdough bread or corn bread for dipping in the chili are other favorite sides.
Kid Friendly Cowboy Chili
This delicious chili recipe is a crowd pleaser. Adults and children alike devour this family favorite comfort food. A touch of sweetness perfectly compliments the classic chili spice in this dish.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion
2 cans kidney beans, rinsed & drained
1 can black beans, rinsed & drained
2 cans tomato soup
2 cans tomato sauce
1 jar marinara sauce
3 cups frozen corn
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic
4 tsp cumin
4 tsp chili powder
1–2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
optional; shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream, corn chips for topping
Instructions
Brown ground beef in a large cast iron pot or soup pot.
Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine Simmer on low until heated through, about 20 minutes. Simmer longer to increase the depth of flavor.
If desired, top each bowl with shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream and corn chips.
Notes
This is a “meal for now, meal for later” recipe. Save half of it to be used as a freezer meal for later. Gallon freezer bags or another air tight container works great, just allow the chili to cool before placing it in the freezer!
Leave A Comment