The Problem with The Pioneer Woman’s Chili Recipe (2024)

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Recipe Review

The Kitchn Editors

The Kitchn Editors

updated Dec 11, 2019

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Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman) is everybody’s favorite aspirational rancher. When she’s not busy testing out recipes with her family or taking care of her sprawling ranch, she’s building her booming food empire that has amassed leigons of loyal fans. So when looking for a simple chili recipe that would please a crowd, I knew Ree would have something up her sleeve.

Ree’s recipe (which she dubs “simple, perfect chili”) comes together with just a handful of ingredients and only takes 30 minutes of active cooking time, so I was excited at the promise of it. How would such a humble chili compare to other, more complex recipes out there? Could it really stand up to the chili likes of Ina Garten, Guy Fieri, and Carla Hall? I headed to my kitchen to find out.

How to Make Ree Drummond’s Chili

While some chili recipes call for a laundry list of ingredients, Ree keeps it simple and only uses 10 core ingredients. She starts with a hearty amount of ground beef in a pot with chopped garlic. To that, she adds tomato sauce, salt, and a blend of spices, and simmers it for an hour.

In a separate bowl, you’ll mix masa harina (a type of corn flour typically used to make tortillas) with water to make a thick paste and stir it in. This is what Ree uses to thicken her chili and make it hearty. Then add pinto and kidney beans, stir, and serve. Ree suggests garnishing with cheddar cheese, chopped onions, tortilla chips, and fresh lime.

What I Thought of the Results

While this chili was super easy to make, it wasn’t… very tasty. The end result was more like something you would pour over a chili cheese dog instead of a stand-alone dish. It was pretty gloopy, one-dimensional, and bland — and the recipe itself had some fundamental issues, too.

For starters, the recipe calls for an eight-ounce can of tomato sauce. While teeny-tiny cans of tomato sauce do exist (at least that’s what the internet tells me), the standard size is 15 ounces and I was unable to find a smaller can even in my well-stocked grocery store. Apart from having a sad seven ounces of tomato sauce leftover, the chili itself could have actually used the extra. It was super thick and needed significantly more liquid, so a bit of tomato sauce would have helped. (The chili was so dense you could have scooped it up and served it as a Sloppy Joes without anyone questioning it.)

The addition of masa harina also proved to be an issue. It made the already-too-thick chili even thicker and gave it a slightly gritty texture. While the idea of thickening a soup with corn flour is smart, it didn’t work in this recipe.

Overall I was really disappointed with this chili. Although it delivered on its time promise, the final product was way too thick and lacked flavor. Sorry, Ree, but this chili is anything but “perfect.”

If You Make The Pioneer Woman’s Chili …

1. Make sure to add at least one cup of water: Ree’s recipe instructs you to add 1/2 cup of water at a time as needed, and it is definitely needed. Without it, the chili would be far too thick to enjoy on its own. I ended up adding about two cups of water and still found it to be too thick.

2. Drain the fat after cooking the beef: After browning the ground beef, Ree instructs you to drain off the excess fat. While I would usually skip this step and deem it as excessive, the amount of beef used in this recipe makes it necessary. (Because nobody wants an oil-slicked chili.)

3. Serve it with fresh lime: Because this chili is so hearty, it needs some acid to brighten it up. Ree suggests serving this with lime, which helped a bit.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 10

Drummond’s chili is more like the stuff that tops chili cheese dogs and not a stand-alone dish. While it’s edible, the texture is overly thick and off-putting.

More Celebrity Recipe Reviews

  • Guy Fieri’s “Dragon’s Breath Chili”
  • Ina Garten’s Chicken Chili
  • Carla Hall’s “Chili con Carla”
  • Who Wins the Title of Best Chili Ever?

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Pioneer Woman

Recipe Review

The Problem with The Pioneer Woman’s Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What kind of vinegar do you put in chili? ›

A little bit of vinegar goes a long way, so as a rule of thumb, stick with 1 tablespoon of vinegar per pot. Our top picks are apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or sherry vinegar, though any kind of vinegar on hand will get the job done and give your chili the boost it needs.

What makes chili even better? ›

Try adding spices like paprika, chili powder, cumin, coriander, Mexican oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, cinnamon, cayenne, or even chipotle. Prior to preparing your chili, check the expiration date on your dried herbs and spices. If they're too old, the flavor of your chili may suffer.

What are the best beans for chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

How to make homemade chili more flavorful? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

Why do you put baking soda in chili? ›

Ground Beef: Provides the hearty meaty base for the chili. Opt for 85% lean; the fat enriches the meat, enhancing the dish's overall flavor and texture. And don't stress about the fat—post-cooking, it's easy to skim off any excess. Baking Soda: Helps tenderize the beef by locking in moisture, making it more succulent.

What does balsamic vinegar do to chili? ›

Acid is one of those elements in cooking that is more powerful than you may think. And with all the fat and richness of chili, vinegar can cut through and punch up, adding depth while simultaneously illuminating the layers you work so hard to develop in your chili.

What does cinnamon do for chili? ›

Much like adding chili powder and other common chili spices, cinnamon is a super versatile spice that adds warmth without the heat to Firecracker chili.

Does paprika go in chili? ›

Ingredients In The Best Chili

Beef – Ground beef, lean or regular will work just fine. Spices – Chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, and cayenne are our flavor weapons today. Beans – We're just using drained and rinsed red kidney beans from the can today.

What does tomato paste do for chili? ›

Mix in tomato paste: Using tomato paste as a thickening agent will give your final bowl of chili a tangy flavor. Add one can of tomato paste to your pot of chili, stirring the mixture and letting it cook on medium heat for about thirty minutes. 8.

Which onion is best for chili? ›

Sweet onions are great for caramelizing due to their higher sugar content. You can cook them into your chili, serve them raw over top, or even elevate your chili with a sophisticated caramelized onion topping! Some of my favorite sweet onions are Walla, Walla, Maui, and Vidalia Onions.

What gives chili the best flavor? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

What kind of tomatoes to use in chili? ›

If you're using canned tomatoes, look for San Marzano tomatoes canned without salt and sugar if you can find them. That way you can add your own seasonings. San Marzanos also have the best flavor for home made tomato sauce. What is a substitute for tomatoes in a chili recipe?

What is the key to the best chili? ›

Spices: I like simple flavor, some cumin, coriander, allspice, salt, and fresh tomato, onion, and garlic. Secret Ingredients & Technique: Fresh chile is key and any will do, I prefer Datil because of its unique flavor. Whole pork and steak cuts (not ground!).

What brings out the flavor in chili? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

Does sugar make chili taste better? ›

Now for the piece de resistance: 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar. The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy.

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