Mountain House Chili Mac With Beef

There's nothing better than a hearty bowl of chili. Here's what to do if you accidentally made soup instead!

Mmm… chili! It's the ultimate cold-weather comfort food. But what if your soul-warming masterpiece ends up with a thin and soup-like consistency? Don't panic. Here are some tricks to thicken your chili for the perfect winter meal.

Psst… Does your state have an iconic chili recipe? Find out here.

How to Thicken Chili

1. Cook Your Chili Uncovered

If you want to keep things simple, take the lid off the pot. Simmer chili uncovered for 20-30 minutes to help reduce the liquid and encourage the mixture to thicken up.

2. Add a Cup of Beans

When in doubt, add more beans. Use a potato masher to mash up some black beans or pinto beans. That will allow them to release their natural starches, which will help thicken the liquid. Be sure to even out the recipe with a couple extra pinches of spice (chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper, etc.) to maintain the flavor.

Here are more genius ingredients to add to your chili.

3. Add Masa Harina

For extra richness, add a tablespoon of masa harina, a specialty corn flour. Keep in mind that this will slightly alter the taste and texture of your chili to be a bit cornbread-ish, but it'll still be hearty and delicious.

4. Add Corn Chips or Tortilla Chips

A handful of corn chips or tortilla chips will help absorb excess liquid and give some texture to your chili. Crush up a few chips, dump them into the pot and let the chili simmer for about 10 minutes so all of the can ingredients mingle.

This Hearty Taco Chili recipe calls for corn chips to top things off. Don't be afraid to add more for extra crunch!

The Best Chili Recipes of All Time

Spicy Fajita Chili

You'll want to serve this with rolls or cornbread to soak up every delicious drop. Like more heat? Just use spicier versions of V8 juice and chili beans.—Cathy Bell, Joplin, Missouri

Learn more secrets for making the best chili ever.

Cincinnati Chili

Cinnamon and cocoa give a rich brown color to hearty Cincinnati chili. This dish will warm you up on a cold day. —Edith Joyce, Parkman, Ohio

These are the best chili recipes from across America.

Smoky Peanut Butter Chili

I eliminated beans from my standard chili recipe and added peanut butter and peanuts just for fun. Wow, was it amazing! I tried it on my family and everyone loved it. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Slow-Cooker Quinoa Chili

This recipe turned my husband into a quinoa lover. I made it the day he got good news on a new job, and we'll always remember how excited we were as we ate this beautiful meal. —Claire Gallam, Alexandria, Virginia

Learn how to make another favorite slow-cooked chili recipe.

White Chili with a Kick

Store-bought rotisserie chicken makes this spicy chili easy, but you could also cook your own. We like it with various combinations of sour cream, green onions, cheese and salsa on top. —Emmajean Anderson, Mendota Heights, Minnesota

Meaty Mushroom Chili

Since our two daughters did not like beans in their chili, I adapted a recipe to suit our whole family's tastes. We all agree that mushrooms are an appealing alternative and go very well with the ground beef and sausage. —Marjol Burr Catawba, Ohio

Sweet Potato Chili with Turkey

This sweet potato chili is packed with flavor. Ground turkey lightens it, and sweet potato puree sneaks in a healthy dose of vitamin A. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia

Steak & Beer Chili

A cup of chili is always a pleasant way to warm up on a cold day. This one has a combination of budget-friendly chuck steak and brats in a spicy broth. I like to serve it with a dollop of sour cream. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota

Tex-Mex Chili

Need to satisfy big, hearty appetites? Look no further than this Tex-Mex recipe with beef stew meat, plenty of beans and tasty spices. —Eric Hayes, Antioch, California

Chunky Vegetarian Chili

This robust chili teams rice, kidney and pinto beans, and a variety of colorful vegetables for a hearty meatless meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Try this pinto bean chili recipe next!

Effortless Black Bean Chili

My mom found the inspiration for this chili in a slow-cooker cookbook. After a few updates, all of us love it (even those of us who steer clear of beans). We think it's even better served over rice. —Amelia Gormley, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

White Turkey Chili

Here's proof that chili doesn't have to be red. I combined several recipes and changed flavors until the recipe was just right. Trust me, this one is a keeper. —Tina Barrett, Houston, Texas

Thai-Style Chicken Chili

I love this Asian take on the classic one-pot meal. It's quick, easy, nutritious and delicious. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

Chili Macaroni and Cheese

What could be tastier on a cold winter day than chili or mac and cheese? Put them together and you have a terrific dish that warms you up and fills you up as well! —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

Chili for a Crowd

This chili for a crowd was handed down to me by my aunt, who said she got it from a "grizzled Montana mountain man." I added some zesty ingredients to come up with the final version. Hot food is something that my husband's family isn't accustomed to, so I adjust the spices for them. In fact, with a few simple alterations to the "heat" index, I can serve this chili to anyone. —Lisa Humphreys, Wasilla, Alaska

Butternut Squash Chili

Add butternut squash to chili for a tasty, filling, energy-packed dish your whole family will love. Mine does! —Jeanne Larson, Mission Viejo, California

Game-Stopper Chili

This hearty chili with sausage, beef, beans and barley is perfect for the halftime food rush. People actually cheer when they see me coming with my slow cooker! —Barbara Lento, Houston, Pennsylvania

Black Bean Turkey Chili

This busy-day chili is packed with flavor. We make it ahead and freeze some to eat later. —Marisela Segovia, Miami, Florida

Chicken Butternut Chili

At our house, we just love a good comforting, hearty, tomato-based chili with bold flavors! This unique chili is loaded with veggies and flavor. You can also prepare the recipe in the slow cooker. Just add ingredients to the crock and cook over high heat for about 4 hours. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

Healthy Turkey Chili

I've taken my mother's healthy turkey chili recipe and made it thicker and more robust. It's a favorite, especially in fall and winter. —Celesta Zanger, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Creamy White Chili

Years ago, as a time-starved college student, I got this wonderful recipe from my sister-in-law. She had made a big batch and served it to a crowd one night. It was a hit—and easy and quick. In all my years of cooking, I've never had another dish get so many compliments. —Laura Brewer, Lafayette, Indiana

Slow-Cooker Spicy Pork Chili

Tender pork adds extra heartiness to this slow-cooked chili. You can use pork tenderloin, boneless pork roast or boneless pork chops for the pork called for in the recipe. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Zippy Vegetarian Chili

Hominy and garbanzo beans are interesting additions to this zippy chili recipe that uses canned goods from the cupboard. I often serve it with cornbread or flour tortillas for a speedy meal. It's economical, too. —Karen Hunt, Bellvue, Colorado

Contest-Winning Pepperoni Pizza Chili

Pizza and chili together—what could be better? Fill folks up at halftime when you set out bowls of this chili. —Jennifer Gelormino, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Beer Brat Chili

My husband and I love this chili because it smells so good as it simmers in the slow cooker all day. I can't think of a better way to use up leftover brats. He can't think of a better way to eat them! —Katrina Krumm, Apple Valley, Minnesota

White Chicken Chili

Folks will enjoy a change from traditional chili when they dip their spoons into this flavorful blend of tender chicken, white beans and just enough zip. This is our favorite white chicken chili recipe. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Spicy Touchdown Chili

For me, football, cool weather and chili just seem to go together. Whether I'm cheering on the local team on a Friday night or enjoying a Saturday afternoon of Oklahoma Sooner football with some friends, I enjoy serving this chili on game day. —Chris Neal, Quapaw, Oklahoma

Chicken Chili with Black Beans

Because it looks different than traditional chili, my family was a little hesitant to try this dish at first. Thanks to the full, hearty flavor, it's become a real favorite around our house. I like to serve it with warm cornbread. —Jeanette Urbom, Louisburg, Kansas

Spicy White Chili

I thought the original version of this dish was fine. But my son can't get enough spice, so I added green chiles and other seasonings until I'd created a quick and easy chili he's wild about. —Carlene Bailey, Bradenton, Florida

Pork Chile Verde

Pork slowly stews with jalapenos, onion, green enchilada sauce and spices in this flavor-packed Mexican dish. It's wonderful on its own or stuffed in a warm tortilla with sour cream, grated cheese or olives on the side. —Kimberly Burke, Chico, California

Spiced Apple Chili

Nothing says fall like chili and apples. I use smoked paprika to give this slightly sweet chili a smoky kick. —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota

Chicken & Bean Chili

Chili Time is any time you want to make a hungry crowd happy. This creamy chili is a must at my soup party every year. —Theresa Baehr, Williamsburg, Michigan

Zippy Pork Chili

In addition to eating this chili the traditional way (with a spoon!), my family likes to scoop bites onto tortilla chips. The leftovers are delicious rolled in tortillas and warmed up. It's so comforting to have a pot simmering when cold Kansas winds are blowing. —Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas

Sandy's Slow-Cooked Chili

I like to use my homemade stewed tomatoes and pizza sauce in this recipe. It's the perfect chili—not too spicy. It's a cinch to whip up. —Sandy McKenzie, Braham, Minnesota

Mexican Chicken Chili

Corn and black beans give this satisfying chili Mexican flair the whole family will love. Adjust the cayenne if you have small children or are looking for a little less zip. —Stephanie Rabbitt-Schappacher, West Chester, Ohio

Slow-Cooked Chunky Chili

Pork sausage, ground beef and plenty of beans make this chili a marvelous meal. I keep serving-size containers of it in my freezer at all times so I can quickly warm up bowls on busy days. —Margie Shaw, Greenbrier, Arkansas

Ground Beef Chili

Everyone who tastes my beef chili recipe says that it is restaurant-quality. It's especially good with homemade cornbread. I have always loved to cook, and I enjoy developing original recipes like this one. —Shannon Wright, Erie, Pennsylvania

Texican Chili

This flavorful, meaty chili is my favorite, and it's so easy to prepare in the slow cooker. It's a terrific way to serve a crowd without last-minute preparation. I got the idea from my mother, who used her slow cooker often for soups and stews. —Stacy Law, Cornish, Utah

Easy White Chicken Chili

Chili is one of our best cold-weather strategies. We use chicken and white beans for a twist on the regular bowl of red. It's soothing comfort food. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia

Bean & Beef Slow-Cooked Chili

This chili may be already chock-full, but we love to build it up even more with toppings like pico de gallo, red onion, cilantro and cheese. —Mallory Lynch, Madison, Wisconsin

Hearty Taco Chili

Ranch dressing mix and taco seasoning give extra special flavor to my hearty chili. Folks will come back for seconds. —Julie Neuhalfen, Glenwood, Iowa

Meatball Chili with Dumplings

My family enjoys this delicious recipe—it's like a spicy meatball stew with dumplings!—Sarah Yoder, Middlebury, Indiana

Quinoa Turkey Chili

This heart-healthy turkey quinoa chili is not only tasty, it's a vitamin and protein powerhouse! —Sharon Giljum, San Diego, California

Firehouse Chili

As one of the cooks at the firehouse, I used to prepare meals for 10 men. This firehouse chili recipe was among their favorites. —Richard Clements, San Dimas, California

Spicy Pork & Green Chili Verde

My pork chili is brimming with poblano and sweet red peppers for a hearty kick. Serve it with sour cream, Monterey Jack and tortilla chips. —Anthony Bolton, Bellevue, Nebraska

Black Bean, Chorizo & Sweet Potato Chili

Chili is one of my all-time favorite dishes. This recipe takes chili to the next level by changing up the flavors and adding a surprise--sweet potatoes. —Julie Merriman, Cold Brook, New York

Creamy Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili

My friend Caroline Gray and I came up with this creamy slow-cooker white chicken chili. It's unusual because it calls for Alfredo sauce. —Cindi Mitchell, St. Marys, Kansas

Quick Pork Chili

A dear neighbor gave me a pot of this delicious chili, and I asked for the recipe. The pork sausage is a nice change from the ground beef many chili recipes call for. —Janice Westmoreland, Brooksville, Florida

Santa Fe Chili

This colorful and hearty chili is perfect for heartwarming, holiday get-togethers. My family has been enjoying it for years. —Laura Manning of Lilburn, Georgia

White Bean Chicken Chili

My sister shared this white bean chicken chili recipe with me. I usually double it and add one extra can of beans, then serve with cheddar biscuits or warmed tortillas. The jalapeno adds just enough heat to notice but not too much for my children. —Kristine Bowles, Albuquerque, New Mexico

White Bean Turkey Chili

Looking for a hearty but healthy chili for your crew? Well, look no further, Dorothy Muenzer serves this robust meal to her Perry, New York gang and they keep coming back more. Chock-full of ground turkey, white kidney beans and diced tomatoes, it's so full of flavor, your family won't even miss the ground beef!

Green Chile Chicken Chili

The prep work for this chili is easy thanks to several pantry staples. It's loaded with shredded chicken and beans. The spicy heat can be tamed a bit with cool sour cream. —Fred Lockwood, Plano, Texas

Kids' Favorite Chili

This third-generation hearty chili is a family favorite. It's a sweet and easy chili that's sure to warm up the whole family on those chilly fall nights. —Terri Keeney, Greeley, Colorado

Chunky Chipotle Pork Chili

My leftover pulled pork chili recipe is a busy cook's dream. Make it ahead and reheat later—it's even better the second day. —Peter Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas

Lime Chicken Chili

Lime juice gives this chili a zesty twist, while canned tomatoes and beans make preparation a snap. Try serving bowls with toasted tortilla strips. —Diane Randazzo, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania

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Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-thicken-chili/

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