Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe(Copycat)
Texas Roadhouse Chili recipe is a hearty dish with smokey, sweet, and spicy flavors. The easy copycat recipe uses simple ingredients and can be made in the comfort of your own home!
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Bring the taste of Texas Roadhouse Chili into your very own kitchen with this copycat recipe. It is thick and smoky with a slight kick of heat and tastes just like the restaurant favorite you know and love.
This Texas Roadhouse chili copycat is a recipe that you will keep coming back to! It uses simple everyday ingredients to capture the savory-sweet tastes of the chili served at the famous Texas Roadhouse restaurants.
Texas chili recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner, big family gatherings or to have it while watching the game! This is my go-to Chili recipe.
Here is another Texas Roadhouse recipe you might enjoy: Texas Roadhouse Herb Crusted Chicken
Why I Love this Recipe
- This homemade chili recipe is the closest thing to the original Texas Roadhouse Chili
- Cheaper to make this chili at home than to take the whole family out to eat.
- Perfect comfort food that you can have in the comfort of your home
- Requires very simple ingredients that you can find in your local grocery store
- Flavorful and hearty meal, thanks to the beef, beans, and spices.
- Quick and easy recipe for a busy weeknight dinner
- Prepared in a single pot for easy cleanup
- Easy to customize as per your taste
- Perfect for meal prep. Can be made in large batches and stored for later use.
Does Texas Roadhouse chili have beans?
The big question is – beans or no beans?
Texas chili traditionally does NOT have beans. However, your Texas Roadhouse Chili may or may not have beans.
The menu was created for a broad clientele. Depending on where this restaurant chain is located, some restaurants make their recipe with red kidney beans while others don’t.
I have added kidney beans to mine to make this recipe more hearty and add more proteins to it. But if you hate beans in your chili, feel free to skip it!
Ingredients Used & Alternatives used in Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe
Ground beef: Main ingredient of the hearty chili. Depending on your preference you can use regular or lean ground beef.
You could also use stew meat such as beef chuck cut into 1/2-inch beef cubes. Chuck is a part of the sub-prime cut of beef and comes with a lot of fat and flavor.
Unless it’s cooked properly, it might end up being chewy. So I prefer to use ground beef for my chili.
If you are trying to avoid red meats, then you can replace ground beef with another ground meat like ground turkey or chicken. But the flavors will be different from a typical Texas Roadhouse chili recipe.
You can also skip out meat completely and double the beans to make it vegan.
Garlic: Use minced, fresh garlic cloves instead of using garlic powder.
Vinegar: Use regular white vinegar for this recipe. Alternatively, you could try out apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
All-purpose flour*: This is an optional ingredient. It is added to thicken the chili in case it turns out too runny for you.
It acts as a thickening agent and gives this chile a thick stew-like consistency. Masa harina can also be used in its place.
Kidney beans*: I used canned red kidney beans. Feel free to skip it if you are not a fan of beans in your chili.
If you are using dried beans instead of canned beans, you would need to soak them overnight. Drain and rinse them before using them in the recipe.
Spices: Chili powder, cumin powder, paprika, and black pepper are added. They provide the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and smokey flavors for the chili. You can even add red pepper flakes to bring the heat up a notch.
Oil – I used olive oil but any vegetable oil will work.
Brown sugar*: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance the flavor profile of a great bowl of chili.
Others: Crushed tomatoes, Salt, Italian seasoning
How to Make the Perfect Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili
Below are the detailed instructions to make delicious Texas Roadhouse Chili. I would highly suggest reading through the following steps for minute details and tips and follow it up with the video.
The recipe at the end is more of a quick reference guide for you to use.
Sauté Onion and Garlic
Heat oil in a large pot* on medium-high heat. Then add the onion and garlic to the hot oil.
Sauté till the onions are soft and the garlic is fragrant.
Cook beef and kidney beans
Next, add the ground beef with the onions and garlic, and break it apart with a spatula or wooden spoon.
Cook the ground beef for about 10 minutes until it’s browned. Make sure it is cooked evenly by stirring the meat around frequently.
Once the beef is browned, add kidney beans, white vinegar, and crushed tomato sauce to the pot.
Add Spices
Add all of the spices and seasonings – the chili powder, cumin, paprika, brown sugar, black pepper, and salt – to the pan. Stir to combine everything with the beef.
Once combined, reduce the stove to medium-low heat. Cover the pot with a lid and allow the Texas chili to simmer for 30-40 minutes. Make sure to stir the chili occasionally to prevent it from burning.
Thicken Chili (Optional Step)
Around 30 to 40 minutes, if the chili looks too watery, then add the flour. Mix and let it cook for another 10 to 15 minutes or until you feel the chili has reached the right thickness.
Again, use the flour only if you feel the chili has too much water.
Serve
Once the chili has become slightly thick, you can remove it from the heat. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Then serve it warm in a bowl. Top it off with some shredded cheddar cheese, sliced jalapenos, sour cream, or any of your favorite toppings!
Tips
- Use high-quality ground beef for the best-tasting hearty bowl of chili.
- Make sure to use fresh seasonings that have been opened in the last six months.
- If you’d prefer a less greasy chili, drain off any fat that accumulates after cooking the meat.
- Add all-purpose flour to thicken the chili if it is too watery.
- This copycat Texas Roadhouse chili recipe can be made in a slow cooker* or Instant Pot*. The best way to do this is to brown the beef, garlic, and onions in a skillet. Then add the other ingredients. Cook on low setting for 6 hours or high setting for 4 hours.
Best Chili Toppings
Texas chili is delicious on its own, but toppings take this dish to the next level.
- Sour Cream – Add some rich sour cream to the chili to bring down its heat. You can also add a sprinkle of green onions on top to add more flavor.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Adds a salty flavor. Other kinds of shredded cheese would work well too such as Pepper Jack, queso, and Havarti.
- Tortilla chips – If you enjoy a bit of crunch with a hearty bowl of chili, tortilla chips are a great choice.
- Avocado – It balances the spiciness and complements the flavor of ground beef in the chili
- Jalapenos – Spicy and flavorful, you can serve pickled or fresh ones.
- Diced Onion – They add a nice crunch. Red onions are our favorite
- Bacon Crumbles – Fry bacon to a crisp and then crumble it before adding it on top of the chili. They add loads of flavor and crunchy texture to it.
Variation of Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe
- If you prefer a chili that is loaded with meats, you can easily add more to this recipe. Use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef for a healthier take.
- Make a vegetarian version by omitting meat altogether or swapping it for soy chunks*.
- It can be made healthier by adding more veggies such as carrots, broccoli, zucchini, yellow onion, and cauliflower in it.
- Omit the kidney beans for a more authentic Texas chili or use black beans instead of red kidney beans for a slightly different taste.
- If you don’t like your chili to be a bit tangy, omit white vinegar.
- If your taste buds can handle it, make a spicier chili by adding some sliced jalapenos or red pepper flakes*.
- For a fun twist on this Texas Roadhouse chili, you can add macaroni pasta instead of the beans, along with cheddar cheese to make Chili Mac & Cheese.
How to Store and Reheat Texas Roadhouse Chili
Fridge
The leftover chili tastes even better in my opinion. The ingredients marinate together to make it taste amazing the next day. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
NOTE: Make sure not to leave your chili out for longer than 2 hours at room temperature.
Freezer
This flavorful chili is also perfect for long-term meal prep. Once the chili is at room temperature, move it to freezer-safe bags or containers and freeze it.
They can stay frozen for up to 3 months. I prefer to freeze it as an individual serving for easy defrosting.
Reheat
An easy way to reheat chili from the fridge is to microwave it in 1-minute increments until warm. You can also reheat on the stove over medium. Stir frequently for a few minutes until warm.
To reheat frozen chili, first, thaw it in the fridge overnight or run the container under warm water until it defrosts from the edge of the container.
Then, transfer it into a saucepan. Heat on medium heat for about 15 minutes or until steamy and heated all the way through.
How to Serve Texas Roadhouse Chili
Chili goes well with many side dishes. But you cannot go wrong with a side of freshly baked bread such as warm focaccia.
You can also serve chili with the other classic side dishes such as a side of cornbread, tortilla chips quesadillas, onion rings, sweet potato fries, and of course, a perfect grilled cheese sandwich.
For a healthier option, I would suggest serving chili with a tasty green salad such as a southwest salad.
Chili also goes well over baked potatoes and hotdogs. You can even make a bread bowl filled with chili.
Commonly asked questions
Is Texas Roadhouse copycat chili recipe gluten-free and dairy-free?
Texas Roadhouse copycat chili recipe is gluten-free since it’s made primarily with spices, beef, and beans. It can also be made dairy free if you avoid dairy-based toppings such as shredded cheese and sour cream.
Is Texas Roadhouse chili keto?
This recipe can be keto-friendly by omitting brown sugar and beans. Brown Swerve*, which is a sugar-free brown sugar alternative can be used in place of brown sugar. Add more meat to replace the beans.
How to spice up your chili?
Hot sauce is one of the best secret ingredients that can really spice up your chili. Turn the heat to low flame and let the hot sauce blend into the chili. Freshly sliced jalapenos, cayenne pepper, paprika, red chili powder or chili flakes can also add heat to the chili.
How to fix if your chili is too spicy?
While chili is being cooked, toss in a few peeled russet potatoes to the pot. The potatoes will absorb some of the liquid from the recipe and along with it, some of the spice as well. If you feel the chili is thickening too much due to this, add some warm water to the potato-chili mixture. Just make sure you remove the potatoes before you serve the dish. Other alternatives include adding melted cheese to the chili or having it with a dollop of sour cream.
How to use leftover chili?
If you are making a large pot of chili, you are most likely bound to have some leftovers. Obviously, you can store it in the refrigerator and reheat it the next day. However, if you feel like exploring your cooking skills, some of the best chili dishes include chili stuffed pepper, chili topped on cheese fries, chili and cheese lasagna, chili empanadas and chili mac.
What are the substitutes for kidney beans?
You could completely skip out kidney beans and replace equal proportion with meat. Otherwise you can use pinto or black beans.
LOOKING FOR MORE COMFORT FOOD??
Here are some of my favorite ones, that I am sure you would love –
Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe (Copycat)
Ingredients
- 2 lb Ground beef
- 443 ml Crushed tomatoes (15 fl oz)
- 540 ml Kidney beans* (19 fl oz)
- 2 cloves Garlic sliced or diced
- 1/2 Large white onion
- 2 tbsp Red chili powder
- 2 tbsp All purpose flour* Optional
- 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning*
- 1/2 tbsp Paprika*
- 1/2 tbsp Brown Sugar*
- 1/2 tbsp White vinegar
- 1/2 tsp Cumin powder*
- 2 tbsp Olive oil*
- 1 tsp Pepper or to taste
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Sauté onions and garlic till the onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant.
- Add in the ground beef and mix it using a spatula till the beef is evenly browned.
- Once the beef is browned, add kidney beans, white vinegar, and crushed tomato sauce to the pot.
- Add all of the spices and seasonings – the chili powder, cumin, paprika, brown sugar, black pepper, and salt – to the pan and stir to combine everything with the beef.
- Once combined, reduce the stove to medium-low heat. Cover the pot with a lid and allow the Texas chili to simmer for 30-40 minutes.
- Stir the chili occasionally to prevent it from burning.
- Close with a lid and let it simmer for 30 to 40 minutes.
- OPTIONAL STEP: Around 30 to 40 minutes, if the chili looks too watery, then add the flour. Mix and let it cook for another 10 to 15 minutes or until you feel the chili has reached the right thickness.
- Once the chili has become slightly thick, you can remove it from the heat. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Serve it warm in a bowl. Top it off with some shredded cheddar cheese, sliced jalapenos, sour cream, crushed crackers, or any of your favorite toppings!
Video
Notes
- Sour Cream – Add some rich sour cream to the chili to bring down its heat. You can also add a sprinkle of green onions on top to add more flavor.
- Shredded cheddar cheese – Adds a salty flavor. Other kinds of shredded cheese would work well too such as Pepper Jack, queso, and Havarti.
- Tortilla chips – If you enjoy a bit of crunch with a hearty bowl of chili, tortilla chips are a great choice.
- Avocado – It balances the spiciness and complements the flavor of ground beef in the chili
- Jalapenos – Spicy and flavorful, you can serve pickled or fresh ones.
- Diced onion – They add a nice crunch. Red onions are our favorite
- Bacon crumbles – Fry bacon to a crisp and then crumble it before adding it on top of the chili. They add loads of flavor and crunchy texture to it.
- Use high-quality ground beef for the best-tasting hearty bowl of chili.
- Make sure to use fresh seasonings that have been opened in the last six months.
- If you’d prefer a less greasy chili, drain off any fat that accumulates after cooking the meat.
- Add all-purpose flour to thicken the chili if it is too watery.
- This copycat texas roadhouse chili recipe can be made in a slow cooker or Instant Pot. The best way to do this is to brown the beef, garlic, and onions in a skillet. Then add the other ingredients to the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Cook on low setting for 6 hours or high setting for 4 hours.
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About the Author
Hi! Akshita & Midhun here! Welcome to our blog where we show simple yet awesome recipes for your cravings.
Akshita being allergic to egg, we are committed to providing egg-free recipes along with some vegan friendly options. Read more about us here!
This is exactly my kind of chili, it is so flavorful and it’s filling too!
I just can’t with all the flavors in this dish. What a treat to be able to make this at home and pay a fraction of the price. Great recipe.
I love any type of chili, meaty or vegetarian. You just reminded me I haven’t had one in a few weeks. It’s time!:)
This looks divine!! My mouth is watering already!
What a delicious looking chili! Such a staple in our house during the colder months.
I also love a good bowl of chili. It speaks comfort food to me too! The Italian seasoning is a surprise spice. I will have to try this!
Wow this recipe is so easy! I have all those ingredients so I’ll make it tonight. Thanks for the recipe ☺️
You can never have enough chili recipes. Yours looks great! Love all the details and tips.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe! Will try it out soon!