Easy Skillet Chili Bake

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This easy skillet chili bake recipe is a hearty and tasty one-pot meal perfect for those busy weeknights. The ground beef, tomatoes, beans, and rice are covered in melted cheese and baked to perfection.

Chili bake casserole in skillet.

Chili is one of those comfort food dishes we all know and love. Southern Plate is no stranger to chili recipes either. I have recipes for white bean chicken chili, buffalo chicken chili, crockpot chili, and hot dog chili. But today I’m focusing on my easy skillet chili bake recipe, which is perfect for those days when you don’t want to get out the slow cooker.

This is a filling, satisfying, and meaty main meal. Plus it has the bonus of involving very little effort to make because it’s a one-pan meal. Or in this instance, a one-skillet meal. When I say it’s easy, y’all know I mean it. First, we brown the ground beef in the skillet. Then we add the remaining ingredients: kidney beans, Ro-Tel tomatoes (or diced tomatoes), uncooked rice, water, and chili powder. 

We have to be patient and let that simmer for 20 minutes so the rice can absorb the liquid and cook. Plus, it lets all the flavors mingle together. Then we cover our chili bake with lots and lots of shredded cheddar cheese and then wait for it to melt and get all ooey-gooey. Another option is to pop it in the oven or under the broiler to put the “bake” in chili bake.

But after about 30 minutes your easy skillet chili casserole is ready to serve. In my household, we ditch the utensils and eat it with tortilla chips or corn chips for less clean-up. Yes, please! We often have this dish for supper but it’s great to serve at a game day party or a potluck as well. Now let me show you how easy it is to make.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Ground beef
  • Kidney beans
  • Ro-Tel tomatoes
  • Rice
  • Chili powder
  • Shredded cheddar cheese

Helpful Kitchen Tools

How to Make My Easy Skillet Chili Bake

Brown ground beef in skillet.

Place ground beef in a large skillet and brown it over medium-high heat, chopping it up as you do so.

Drain any grease once it’s done.

Add undrained canned tomatoes and beans.

Pour in the can of kidney beans, juice and all.

Add the can of Ro-Tel, juice and all.

Add rice and seasonings to skillet.

Add in rice and chili powder.

You can also add 1 cup of water. Sometimes I don’t have to add the water, it depends on the amount of juice in my tomatoes and kidney beans. When in doubt, you can always add the water and your rice will absorb what it needs and the rest will cook out.

Stir that all up.

Cover skillet and let the chili simmer for 20 minutes.

Cover with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is done, stirring once if you think about it.

Most of the time I just grab a baking sheet to use for a lid.

Remove lid and add cheese until it melts.

Remove the lid and sprinkle liberally with shredded cheese.

Easy skillet chili bake topped with melted cheese.

Allow the cheese to melt.

Serve with tortilla or corn chips.

Bowl of chili bake served with corn chips.

And now I have to go make this chili bake!

Tortilla chip covered in skillet chili bake.

Yum.

Storage

  • Store leftover chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Simply reheat them in the microwave.
  • You can also freeze chili leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating them in the microwave.

Recipe Variations

Here are some recipe variations to make this chili bake recipe work for you:

  • Ro-Tel is a mixture of diced tomatoes and green chiles. So in its place, you can use a 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes (or crushed tomatoes) and a small 4-ounce can of chopped green chiles.
  • Use any kind of shredded cheese, like mozzarella for maximum melted goodness or Monterey Jack cheese.
  • Saute 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 chopped onion before browning the ground beef.
  • Add more seasoning alongside the chili powder. Popular options include 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of hot sauce, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • Add a Jiffy corn muffin mix on top and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes until golden brown. It’ll be a chili cornbread casserole similar to my Mexican cornbread casserole.
  • Want to add more veggies? Add 3 chopped celery stalks, 1 cup of frozen or canned corn kernels, 1 cup of sliced mushrooms, or 1 cup of chopped bell pepper with the remaining ingredients. They’ll soften as it simmers.
  • Bake the casserole in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes or under the broiler until the cheese melts.
  • Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef.
  • Use black beans, pinto beans, or cannellini beans instead of red kidney beans.
  • Substitute the water for beef broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth instead.

Recipe FAQs

What can I add to chili to make it special?

Here are some chili special ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon of espresso powder or cocoa powder (yes, really) to enhance the chili’s flavor.
  • A teaspoon of ground cinnamon to balance out the savory notes.
  • A teaspoon of natural peanut butter.
  • 1/4 cup of red wine to give your chili more depth, body, and richness.
  • A dash of liquid smoke or smoked paprika if you’re after a smoked chili recipe.

Yes, the longer you simmer chili, the more flavorful it will be. It gives the seasonings time to develop and mingle with the other ingredients.

You can cook your chili uncovered or covered. In the instance of this chili bake though, you want to cook it covered so the liquid doesn’t evaporate. We need that liquid to cook the rice, after all.

This recipe shows just how good and easy it is to cook chili in a cast iron skillet. It’s honestly ideal for low and slow cooking and baking.

How do you serve chili bake?

I love to serve my chili bake with tortilla chips or corn chips. But instead of making a chili cornbread casserole, you could also just serve it with cornbread or homemade biscuits instead. Or some tortillas. You may also enjoy it with your favorite chili/taco toppings:

  • Chopped jalapenos
  • Sour cream
  • Salsa
  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • Chopped green onion
  • Sliced black olives
  • Finely chopped red onion
  • Lime wedges
  • Diced avocado (or guacamole)

How do you make a vegetarian chili bake?

To make this recipe vegetarian, you have a few options:

  • Use a plant-based ground meat alternative.
  • Add an extra can or two of beans.
  • Add a cup of peeled and chopped sweet potato cubes.

You may also like these scrumptious skillet recipes:

Skillet Lasagna

Garden Skillet Supper (a.k.a Ground Beef and Vegetables)

Chicken Broccoli Skillet with Pimento Cheese Sauce

Asian Pork Tenderloin Skillet (Quick & Budget-Friendly)

Kielbasa Skillet

Creamy Chicken Skillet

For more comforting chili recipes, head back to the intro.

Easy Skillet Chili Bake

This easy skillet chili bake recipe is a hearty and tasty one-pot meal. The ground beef, tomatoes, beans, and rice are covered in melted cheese and baked to perfection.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked, casserole, chili, skillet
Servings: 4
Calories: 417kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 can red kidney beans
  • 1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup uncooked rice
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup water (if needed)

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, brown beef and drain well.
    1 lb ground beef
  • Add beans, Ro-Tel tomatoes, uncooked rice, chili powder, and water (if needed).
    1 can red kidney beans, 1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes, 1/2 cup uncooked rice, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 cup water (if needed)
  • Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes or until the rice is done.
  • Uncover and top with cheddar cheese. Continue cooking until the cheese melts.
    1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Serve with tortilla or corn chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 417kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!
 

A person isn’t who they are during the last conversation you had with them – they’re who they’ve been throughout the whole relationship. 

~ Ranier Maria Rilke

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82 Comments

  1. I have made this for my family. A quick filling dinner to make after work. It is also very tasty!
    Thanks Christy

  2. Love your blog and keep your cookbooks close at hand in the kitchen, Christy. I have a question–do you use minute rice or ‘regular’ raw rice in this recipe? I read all the comments to see if anyone asked. (everybody’s smarter than me!) 😉 lol

  3. My family loved this, got a 5 out of from my husband. Thank you for sharing such delicious recipes with us

  4. I made this over the weekend, and it was a big hit with my family. Great blend of tastes, mild enough for my son and spicy enough for others. I topped mine with a little salsa. Fighting over leftovers:).

  5. Christy! Your comment about Rotel made me laugh out loud! Y’all can move to Alabama or … … I just love you.

  6. Should be a March favorite too! I met you several years ago while roaming around the Civic Center in Huntsville. Just a heads up if you don’t mind sharing… The Historic Lowry House is having it’s 1st Chili Cookoff March 30 time: 12-5 p.m. We’d love to have you & friends come.

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