• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Intentional Hospitality
  • Recipes Index
  • Occasions
  • Resources
  • Printables
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes Index
  • Occasions
  • Resources
  • Printables
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes Index
    • Occasions
    • Resources
    • Printables
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Recipes » Soup » Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe

    Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe

    Oct 11, 2022 · Last updated: Aug 25, 2022 by Gina Dickson · This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

    I appreciate your shares! xox

    • Yum It
    • Share
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe
    texas roadhouse copycat chili in a bowl with beans and their menu for the chili that says with beans
    Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe in a bowl with chips and cheese

    If you want thick Texas chili, then you need to make the Best Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe. It's fan tested, the best copycat Texas Roadhouse Chil you can make at home, hands down!

    This thick Texas-style chili is filled with traditional smoky seasonings and a touch of heat, then topped with cheddar cheese. The question is, beans or no beans?

    Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe close up in a bowl with cheese on top

    A cool crisp evening calls for a big bowl of chili, and this Texas Roadhouse copycat chili recipe will be perfect for a family dinner or while watching the big game.

    Jump to:
    • 😋 Why you will love this recipe
    • 🛒 Texas Roadhouse chili ingredients
    • Tip: Why do you put brown sugar in chili?
    • How-To Video
    • How to make Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe: step-by-step
    • 🔀 Substitutions
    • 🌶️ What extras can you put in chili?
    • 💭 Recipe tips
    • Does Texas Roadhouse chili recipe have beans?
    • ❓FAQ
    • More soup recipes
    • Recipe

    If you like making copycat-style chili, then visit copycat Wendy's chili on this site. Both chili recipes pair well with this amazing beer bread recipe. If you like your chile with some heat, then make a jar of my Cowboy Candy. It's the perfect sweet heat to top chili with!

    😋 Why you will love this recipe

    • This is an authentic copycat recipe of the restaurant Texas Roadhouse. It's sure to become a favorite meal when the weather is cool.
    • It's cheaper to make this great chili at home than to take the whole family out to eat.
    • This homemade chili recipe is easy to spice up, or add your family's favorite beans or not.
    • It's a great recipe to make a double batch and freeze for a quick dinner on a busy night.

    🛒 Texas Roadhouse chili ingredients

    chili, brown sugar, paprika, jalapenos, salt, garlic, cumin, italian seasoning, onion
    • Lean ground beef - 80%/20% - You could also use beef chuck cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
    • Garlic - only use fresh diced
    • Onion - yellow onion or white onion would be good
    • Tomatoes - Do not use fresh but canned tomatoes
    • Red kidney beans - A true Texas chili does not have beans. They work great in this recipe.
    • Jalapenos - Use a little or a lot, depending on your taste buds' tolerance to spicy food
    • Brown sugar - Sweet and spicy makes this a great bowl of chili.
    • Crushed red pepper flakes - These add another layer of heat to your chili
    • Masa harina - (secret ingredient) This is just traditional corn tortilla flour. It acts as a thickening agent and gives this chile a thick stew-like consistency.
    • Cheddar cheese - optional topping
    • Red onions - optional topping
    • Pickled Jalapenos - optional topping

    See the recipe card for a complete list and quantities.

    Tip: Why do you put brown sugar in chili?

    There are a lot of savory and spicy ingredients in a good bowl of chili, so adding a touch of sweetness balances the flavor profile of a great bowl of chili.

    How-To Video

    How to make Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe: step-by-step

    steps for chili, 1.cooked hamburger, 2. adding veggies. 3. adding spices  4. adding tomatoes, jalapenos and beans

    1. In a dutch oven or large pot on medium-high heat, cook the beef. Stir often to help break it apart.

    2. Place onion and garlic into the pot and cook for two minutes, stirring often.

    3. Drain any extra grease from the pan and return to heat. Stir in chili seasoning: chili powder, cumin powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, Italian seasoning blend, and brown sugar. Stir the chili mixture well to coat the hamburger. Turn heat to medium-low and continue cooking for one minute.

    4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, vinegar, chili flakes, and diced jalapenos.

    stir in mesa to chili after heating, all to simmer for a few minutes to thicken

    5. Bring to a soft boil over medium heat.

    6. In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of water and the masa harina. Whisk until smooth. Stir in the masa harina mixture and cook for 10 more minutes so the chili will thicken

    [adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="PjLiDfhK" upload-date="2021-10-10T00:00:00.000Z" name="Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe" description="Hungry for chili? You can make the Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe easily at home. It's a thick Texas-style chili filled with traditional smoky chili seasonings, a touch of heat then topped with cheddar cheese." player-type="default" override-embed="default"]

    🔀 Substitutions

    • Instead of ground meat, substitute beef stew meat such as chuck beef cubes that have been cut into 1/2 inch pieces.
    • You don't have to use beef base meat. Ground turkey or chicken.
    • Try fire-roasted crushed tomatoes instead of plain canned tomatoes
    • Change up your beans. Try pinto, navy beans, or black beans.
    • Make the chili vegan by skipping the meat and adding a variety of beans.
    • Add in diced sweet potatoes and sautéed mushrooms instead of beans.

    🌶️ What extras can you put in chili?

    • Top your chili with Cowboy Candy and a side of cornbread.
    • Sever over Air Fryer Baked Potatoes and top with cheese.
    • Serve over steak fries and top with cheese for a hearty chili cheese fries meal.
    • Pour over tortilla chips, and add melted cheese and toppings typically found on nachos.
    • Make a sourdough bread bowl filled with chili and toppings.
    • Serve topped with saltine crackers, onions, a dollop of sour cream, and hot sauce.
    • Add macaroni noodles instead of beans for a great chili mac dinner.

    💭 Recipe tips

    • Always start with quality ingredients such as grass-feed hamburger meat. Also, be sure your seasonings are fresh. They keep in your pantry for 6 months but then lose some of their flavors.
    • To drain the fat off the hamburger, I like to take the pan off the heat and set it on hot pads, so one side is a bit higher than the other. After a few minutes, I place a few wadded-up pieces of paper towel in the lower end of the pan to soak up the grease. Discard the paper towel and repeat.
    • If your chili is too watery, here are some great tips for how to thicken chili in a slow cooker or Crock-Pot. Here you will find a variety of ideas that use everyday pantry items to thicken the chili.
    • If you have leftovers, be sure to freeze it in an airtight container. Place in your freezer for up to 3 months.

    Does Texas Roadhouse chili recipe have beans?

    The restaurant serves its chili with beans. With this in mind, the restaurant was not originated in Texas. Its founder, W. Kent Taylor, started the restaurant in Clarksville, IN. Texas is in the restaurant's name, but the menu was created for a broad clientele.

    texas roadhouse copycat chili in a bowl with beans and their menu for the chili that says with beans

    ❓FAQ

    Everyone has an opinion on true Texas chili and how to make it taste so good.

    What is the secret ingredient to amazing chili?

    It's important to start with fresh, quality spices, veggies, and meat however, allowing your chili to simmer low and slow is the secret to great-tasting chili. Chili is always better heated up the next day too.

    What makes Texas chili different?

    A Texas chili recipe is thick and hearty, with the flavor focused on the chilis compared to traditional chili. Its texture is more like eating a bowl of thick stew. Also, many recipes do not contain tomato sauce but instead crushed tomatoes.

    Does real Texas chili have beans?

    Traditionally Texas chili does not have beans. However, beans are a great addition to Texas chili.

    Is Texas Roadhouse chili spicy?

    Texas Roadhouse chili has some spice to it. However, when you make this copycat recipe at home, you can spice it up even more or not at all by omitting the jalapenos or adding some cayenne.

    Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe in a bowl with cheese and chips by it. cowboy candy jalapenos in a bowl and on top of the chili

    More soup recipes

    • Authentic Instant Pot Cincinnati Chili (Skyline Copycat)
    • Copycat Wendy's Chili Recipe
    • Vegan White Bean Chili
    • Canned Vegetable Soup

    If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Recipe

    Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe

    Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe

    Gina Dickson
    The Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe is a thick Texas-style chili filled with traditional smoky chili seasonings, a touch of heat then topped with cheddar cheese and red onions. It's a homemade hearty meal your whole family will enjoy as a favorite a cold winter night.

    Note:

    To save you ink, video and equipment images will not print.

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share by Email Share by Text
    Tap to prevent your screen from going dark while making this recipe.
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Soup
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 431 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 lbs Ground beef Use lean ground beef 80%/20% - You could also use beef chuck cut into 1/2 inch cubes instead.
    • 2 tablespoons Garlic Use fresh diced cloves garlic, not the kind already chopped in a jar.
    • 1 cup Onion Diced - yellow onion or white onion would be good
    • 2 teaspoons Cumin powder
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon Smoked paprika
    • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
    • 2 teaspoons Salt
    • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
    • 2 14 oz Tomatoes Canned crushed tomatoes. Do not use fresh but canned tomatoes
    • 1 14 oz Kidney beans Canned, rinsed, and drained
    • 1 tablespoon Vinegar White
    • 1/8 cup Jalapenos Use a little or a lot depending on you your taste buds tolerance to spicy food
    • 1/8 teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes These add another layer of heat to your chili, a little or a lot
    • 1/2 cup water
    • 2 tablespoons Masa harina This is just traditional corn tortilla flour. It acts as a thickening agent and gives this chile a thick stew-like consistency.
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese optional topping
    • 1/4 cup Red onions optional topping, chopped

    Need an ingredient to make this recipe? Click this Instacart button and get what you need sent right to you.

    Instructions
     

    • In a dutch oven or large pot on medium heat, cooking the beef. Stir often to help break it apart.
    • Place onion and garlic into the pot and cook for two minutes, stirring often.
    • Drain any extra grease from the pan and return to heat. Stir in chili spices, chili powder, cumin powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, Italian seasoning blend, and brown sugar. Stir the chili mixture well to coat the hamburger. Turn heat to medium-low and continue cooking for one minute.
    • Stir in the crushed tomatoes
    • Add kidney beans
    • Stir in vinegar chili flakes and diced jalapenos.
    • Bring to a soft boil over medium heat.
    • In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of water and the masa harina. Whisk until smooth.
    • Stir in the masa harina mixture and cook for 10 more minutes so the chili will thicken.
    • Serve topped with cheddar cheese and diced red onions.

    Need an item in the this recipe? Click the Instacart button and have it sent right to you.

    Video

    Notes

    • Always start with quality ingredients such as grass feed hamburger meat. Also, be sure your seasonings are fresh. They keep in your pantry for 6 months or so but then start to lose some of their flavors.
    • To drain the fat off of the hamburger, I like to take the pan off the heat and set it on hot pads so one side is a good bit higher than the other. After a few minutes, I place a few wadded-up pieces of paper towel in the lower end of the pan to soak up the grease. Discard paper towel and repeat.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 431kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 27gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 882mgPotassium: 537mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 642IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 4mg
    Share Your CreationTag @intentionalhospitality and hashtag #intentionalhospitality so I can see what you made. Don’t forget to leave a star rating.

    This post was originally published in June 2021. It was updated in October 2022 with new images and updated tips.

    I appreciate your shares! xox

    • Yum It
    • Share
    • Email

    About Gina Dickson

    Hey y'all, I am here to help you build community and nurture faith around your table. You will find fun party ideas and delicious recipes for easy-to-make meals and party food. I want to help you create a table where people come together, enjoy a meal and linger with good conversation.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

      Have a question about this recipe, or just want to share how much you like it?

      I appreciate you leaving a star rating below to help others discover my recipes online. Also, be sure you don’t miss a new recipe or fun fellowship idea, subscribe now.

      Thanks y'all,
      Gina

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Mark

      October 24, 2021 at 11:10 am

      Uhm, your recipe forgot the chili powder ingredient measurement. Kinda important. Should be 1 tsp

      Reply
      • Gina

        October 24, 2021 at 11:41 am

        Yep, I sure did, thank you. I corrected the recipe card. :)

        Reply
      • Frenchie L'Noir

        November 14, 2021 at 11:29 am

        I'm sure you mean well and all, but I spent 13 of my years in Texas and I will never add beans to my chili. That's more on par with those folks from Cincinnati!

        Reply
        • Gina

          November 14, 2021 at 9:09 pm

          I love this comment! My husband is going to judge a chili contest today and we were just saying the true test in the end if he has some that are tied will be if there are no beans, rice, or macaroni. I agree, no beans are best but on the menu, at Roadhouse you can order with beans or without. Oh, and I do love my 5 way Cincinnati chili, best place to put beans.

          Reply
          • Pam Kohart

            June 14, 2022 at 10:22 am

            5 stars
            I have made this recipe two times, and I love it because it's so close to the recipe my mother used to make chili when I was growing up. A pot of chili fed five hungry kids! Only, we didn't know what jalapenos were then in a small town in Ohio. LOL. Also she did not use masa to think of hers, but she let it simmer on low on the stove for a long time and we would use saltine crackers in it at the table. When I make it now, I use the masa, but I mix in some water with it to make kind of a paste. Then I pretty much don't have any lumps. It stirs in much better. Now you have made me hungry for chili even though it's going to be 95° today.

            Reply
            • Gina

              June 14, 2022 at 1:51 pm

              Pam, I grew up in northern Indiana and never knew about jalapenos until we moved to GA. I also grew up calling green peppers in our garden, mangos. What a surprise when we vacationed in Florida and asked for mangos. I like your tip for the mesa. I will add that to the post. Thank you.

        • Don

          November 14, 2021 at 9:39 pm

          Your are 1000percent correct Texas Chill never has beans in it. They will be served on the side though

          Reply
    2. Jay from Texas

      November 14, 2021 at 7:47 pm

      Beans… sigh. Texas Roadhouse is from Kentucky. Beans… in chili… not in Texas. It is known. Putting beans in Texas chili is like putting tofu clumps in haggis… it’s no longer what it was. That said. This chili flavored beefy bean stew looks tasty and I’ll try it.

      Reply
      • Gina

        November 14, 2021 at 9:15 pm

        I love the comments I'm getting about beans! The restaurant menu has beans and no beans so I did do beans in this recipe. But I agree a true Texas chili means no beans. I hope you enjoy the recipe. I would like to hear what you think if some tweaking needs to be done to make it more authentic. :)

        Reply
    3. Melissa

      January 01, 2022 at 11:16 am

      Recipe sounds delicious but what kind of vinegar? Wasn't sure what kind to use in chili. Thanks

      Reply
      • Gina

        January 01, 2022 at 1:10 pm

        Melissa, I used white vinegar. I will go edit the recipe card to say that. Thanks for pointing it out. Hope you enjoy the recipe!

        Reply
        • Robin

          January 12, 2022 at 8:52 pm

          This recipe is fine. People from texas should maybe not choose a recipe from Texas Roadhouse (from Kentucky). I used diced tomatoes and needed a little extra liquid so i used water.

          Reply
          • Gina

            January 12, 2022 at 9:20 pm

            Excellent point Robin! I'm always on the search for a good chili recipe so maybe some of those Texas chili lovers need to send me theirs to try. ;)

            Reply
    4. Dee

      November 15, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      So this recipe does not even come close to Texas Roadhouse chili, I am a prep cook there, and information is false, there are no beans in our chili.

      Reply
      • Gina Dickson

        November 16, 2022 at 3:59 pm

        Texas Roadhouse puts beans in their chili at the Augusta, GA, location. We can not get it without beans. I am attaching an image of the Texas Roadhouse app page for the Augusta, Georgia location. The recipe ingredients are taken directly from the nutrition and allergy facts sheet. texas roadhouse app screen shot of the chili with beans and a copycat bowl of chili

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome, y'all

    ❤️ Welcome! Our tables are a gathering place where we can relax, show love, and encourage others while enjoying a meal together. I aim to help you make delicious easy recipes that inspire fun, fellowship, and belonging around your dinner table.  Read More…

    intentional hospitality sign up form for more recipes and hosting tips with sign up button on bottom of image

    🏈 Super Bowl Recipes

    • Game Day Party Food Bars
    • Meatball Appetizer Recipes For A Party
    • Best Copycat Texas Roadhouse Chili Recipe
    • 50 Budget-Friendly Party Finger Food Recipes

    Diet Time Recipes

    • Ultimate Detox Diet Salad
    • Low Calorie Snack Recipes

    Valentines Day

    • Valentine's Day Party Foods
    • Best Love Potion Valentines Day Cocktail Recipe

    Helping Others

    • How To Start A Meal Train
    • 12 Ways How You Can Help A Cancer Patient

    Dinner Party Ideas

    • 60 Fun Dinner Party Themes and Ideas
    • Greek Dinner Party
    party in freezer cookbook cover with people toasting

    Party Tips

    • Party Tips: How Long Does Brewed Tea Last At Room Temperature?
    • How Much Taco Meat Per Person (Recipe For A Party)

    Canning Recipes

    • Canned Chili Recipe
    • Canned Vegetable Soup
    Featured in for intentional hospitality

    Party ideas 🎉

    • Best Dress Up Party Themes For Adults 2022
    • 20 Best Party Themes For Adults
    • Greek Dinner Party
    • Italian Dinner Party Recipes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Explore

    • All Recipes Index
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up to join the member's community emails.

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Intentional Hospitality

    2.3K shares