If you love Texas Roadhouse Chili but you want to make your own recipe, we have the copycat for you. It will help you to bring the taste of Texas Roadhouse into your own home without the extra calories and fillers. You can use whole ingredients that will make the entire meal healthier. It is also perfect for family meals or freezer meals for the wintertime.
I’ve never really been a fan of chili until I tried it at Texas Roadhouse. Now, it is one of my favorite dishes to eat. I will make this in a huge batch (I will sometime double or triple the recipe below) and then I freeze it to thaw throughout the fall and winter. I’ve also used this for potluck meals and holiday gatherings.
Our Texas Roadhouse recipe is tasty, smokey, meaty, and cheesy. Try it for yourself to see how you like it.
Tips and Tricks
If you want to make the best chili, you can’t just throw everything into a pot at hope for the best. No, you need to put some love into the dish, which is why everyone likes something a little bit different. You can adjust this recipe to your own liking, even if that takes it a bit further away from Texas Roadhouse.
Some people will add more liquids so that their chili is a bit looser, others will add more beans for protein, and some will even add corn for a bit of sweetness. Whatever you decide to do is up to you.
Remember your basics of cooking and add something salty, something sweet, or something a little meaty to change it up. Some people swear by adding a teaspoon of vinegar to it. The type of vinegar depends on who you talk to, but sherry, cider, cane, or balsamic will work well. You can pretty much use whatever you have on hand.
Feel free to make your chili your own by trying a meat other than beef. You can use turkey, chicken, pork, or even venison. They will all have a slightly different texture and taste, but of course, they will all still be good. You can even adjust your chili just by cooking the meat in a different way.
If you are a vegetarian, you can try to add roasted vegetables or Beyond Meat instead of traditional meat. I love to add more beans, lentils, and squash to help round out the tastes in vegetarian chili.
Another good tip for making the best chili is to get high-quality chili seasoning. I know you can get a store brand at every supermarket, but you won’t get the best experience. You should either buy your chili seasoning from a premium brand or you can mix your own. This will allow for more customization and control over what goes into the seasoning.
You will need to find ground chilies and use whatever spices you want. I like to use oregano, garlic powder, cumin, onion powder, and cayenne in my mixture. It is always a little different because I don’t really measure it out.
How to Make Texas Roadhouse Chili At Home
If you want to make your own simple version of Roadhouse Chili, we’ve got the best possible recipe. It may look like it has a ton of ingredients, but they are all fairly easy to get at your local grocery store. It doesn’t take long to make at all (about an hour) and you will be eating a good, filling, healthy meal.
Ingredients
- 4 Pounds Beef Chuck
- 3 Tablespoons Canola Oil (Or Oil Of Your Choice)
- 2 Tablespoons Diced Garlic
- 1 Cup White Onion (Diced)
- 2 Teaspoons Chili Powder
- 1 1/2 Ground Cumin Seeds
- 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1/8 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning Blend
- 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 2 Cups Crushed Tomatoes
- 2 (15 Ounce) Cans Red Kidney Beans
- 1 Tablespoon Vinegar
- 1/4 Cup Jalapenos (Sliced And Seeded)
- 1/8 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 Tablespoons Masa Harina
- 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/2 Cup Red Onions (Diced)
Instructions:
- Cut your beef chuck into ½ inch cubes.
- Pour your oil into a large pot or a dutch oven. Turn your stove on high and allow the oil to heat completely before moving onto the next step.
- Put your garlic and onion into the pot, cook for about two minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-high and add the beef cubes into the pot. Brown the meat while stirring constantly.
- Once the meat has started to brown (you shouldn’t see any red), lower the temperature to medium and continue stirring for the next few steps.
- Add your Italian seasoning, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, brown sugar, vinegar, tomatoes, beans, black pepper, salt, diced jalapenos, and red pepper flakes. Mix everything together well, being sure to scrape down and into the middle of the pan.
- Simmer the mixture for about 10 minutes. Add the Masa Harina to help thicken the chili to the texture you want.
- Cook everything for another 10 minutes. The chili should continue to thicken.
- Serve your chili hot and top it with whatever you want. Some options I love include sour cream, shredded cheese, avocado, or tortilla strips.
How Can You Store Chili For Later Use?
If you want to store your chili in the fridge to eat for leftovers, you can eat it for 3-4 days after you put it away. Just be sure that you are always using a clean spoon or ladle when you dip into it, or it will go bad more quickly.
You want to put your chili into the refrigerator quickly after you are done cooking it. I recommend no more than two hours after you have finished cooking it. I like to store chili in an airtight glass container.
If you want to freeze your chili, just freeze it in an airtight container. I like to portion mine out into single meals, but you can store it in a bigger batch if you want to defrost for a few days. Chili will store for 4 to 6 months. Before you freeze it, make sure to get an equal amount into each container, as the meat tends to sink to the bottom.
What to Serve With Texas Roadhouse Chili
One of the reasons we all love to go to Texas Roadhouse is because we get the base meal and then we get some of those amazing sides. If you love chili like I do, you might think that it is a meal by itself.
However, some people love the side dish options as well.
If you are stuck with what will work with these unique flavors in Texas Roadhouse chili, here are some of my suggestions:
Salad:
While chili is quite meaty and thick, it is also filling. You might want something that is lighter and has nutrition you won’t get with the chili. If you want to go with the Texas theme, I’d go for a good southwestern salad that has chicken, corn, avocado, black beans, and a creamy dressing. You can also go with a really simple wedge salad that has a light dressing.
Cornbread:
Of course, cornbread is the perfect companion dish to Texas Roadhouse chili. I love so many different types of cornbread, but I really love a piece with denser cornbread here. I dip it into my chili bowl and enjoy it that way. Skillet cornbread is a great option for this because you can cut it into points, which are easier to dip into the chili bowl.
Coleslaw:
Another great option is some good old fashioned coleslaw. It is fresh, crunchy, and it is easy to make. It pairs really well with chili and you can eat as much or as little as you like. You can make your own slaw with pre-shredded veggies or make your own. Coleslaw saves really well so you can have it with your leftovers as well.
Broccoli:
If you want to get some fresh veggies into your diet, broccoli is a great one to pair with chili. It will help you to add some green to your meal and you can honestly just throw the broccoli into the bowl.
Chips & Salsa:
Chili has those amazing spicy notes, and if you want to prepare your belly for it, chips and salsa can help. This is a classic appetizer for your meal that will get everyone in the mood for the main course. Of course it also helps that you can use the chips with your main course, so you won’t have to make another dish. Just make sure people don’t pig out.
Margaritas or Beer:
If you want a good drink on the side, I’d go for a full Texas Roadhouse experience and make some good drinks. Either of these choices will help to cut the fat and make the chili go down better.
Of course, you can also set out sliced avocado, cheese, ranch, tortillas, and even croutons to put on top of your chili.
History of Texas Roadhouse Chili
Texas Roadhouse is a major American chain restaurant that opened on February 17, 1993, in Clarksville, Indiana. Most clients enjoy the steaks and ribs, but the chili 
has become a cult favorite. Known for the rustic, western looking buildings and fast, happy service, it is the restaurant of choice for many social gatherings.
The sides, namely the freshly baked bread, also bring in many people. They serve absolutely massive portions of food, so almost everyone leaves with a container for later. Of course, many people also love the drinks that they serve, which tend to be a bit stronger than the average chain restaurant.
With a nostalgic jukebox playing in the background, fast service, spacious restaurants, and a revolving menu, it is no shocker that Texas Roadhouse is popular. In the 300 restaurants in 46 states, you will also find live line dancing, world-class bars, and even themed nights.
While none of us can know the exact Texas Roadhouse Chili recipe, we can get pretty close. It is also a recipe that allows for customization and healthier ingredients, which is important as well.
No one on a diet is going to go to Texas Roadhouse for some chili, but you can get pretty close on your own with this recipe. To cut calories, I suggest eating it alone and just taking a smaller portion, but you can also use healthier ingredients if you wish.
