Imagine having a freezer stock of hearty and healthy chili all ready for those busy nights during the week! Learn how to freeze chili that remains fresh, delicious, and perfectly portioned for a quick meal at home.

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Can you freeze chili?

Yes! It’s easy to freeze chili in single servings that make the best meal to reheat and serve later.

Traditional chili recipes will freeze well, but some ingredients may change in texture (such as beans that might soften slightly). If you use canned beans, they will hold up better than freshly cooked beans.

For other chili recipes, some separation may occur, especially in chili with dairy or tomato-based broths.

Overall, the flavors often deepen after freezing, making chili even better when reheated!

What’s To Love About Freezing Chili

Chili is one of my favorite go-to easy meals for a simple weeknight dinner. It’s easy to meal-prep or make extra to save for later in the freezer.
This is one of those foods that tastes even better after freezing, believe it or not! The flavors continue to develop and there is no compromise on quality when defrosting.
Once you get in the habit of freezing leftovers, you’ll be amazed at how much you can reduce food waste! The chili recipe here is perfect for freezing in individual portions for quick, ready-to-eat meals.
Chili is really pretty straightforward to make, but some days even the extra step of browning meat is too much to ask! When you make a big batch, it saves time and money. Cook once and freeze the leftovers to eat multiple times.
Customize the ingredients and rest assured that you have a healthy meal cooked and ready in the freezer for those busy days. One less thing to add to your to-do list!

Best Chili Recipe

Not all soups, stews, and chilis are equally suited for freezing. It’s best to avoid freezing foods with heavy dairy content and thick creamy bases (such as Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili) since they will have unpleasant separation when it’s time to reheat.

The chili recipe included here is the best one for both prepping ahead and freezing for later! It typically provides 4 hearty servings with some extra.

Chili Ingredients

1 pound thawed cooked ground beef
1/2 cup diced onion
2 tablespoons diced jalapeno
28 oz can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
14 oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons homemade chili seasoning

How To Freeze Chili

There are 2 ways to get chili ready for the freezer – by preparing the ingredients as a “dump and go” recipe for easy assembly, or by freezing cooked chili. Let’s walk through both!

To store ready-to-cook ingredients in the freezer:

Brown the ground beef, drain, and cool.

Store beef in 1 pound portions in freezer bags.
Chop up several onions and store in freezer bags (or add 1/2 cup to each bag of ground beef).
Remove stems and seeds and dice several jalapeños. Store in freezer bags (or add 2 tablespoons to each bag of ground beef).
Mix up a batch of chili seasoning.

If desired, freeze the bags as is, or combine the seasoning and other ingredients in a bag. Freeze until ready to cook, then heat in the slow cooker until veggies are cooked and all ingredients are warmed through.

To freeze cooked chili:

Cool the chili completely before freezing to prevent condensation and ice crystals.
Choose a freezer-safe container or bag.
Portion into meal-sized servings for easy thawing and reheating.
Leave a little space at the top of the bag for expansion when frozen.
Label with the date to ensure it doesn’t go to waste! Frozen chili will last 3-6 months in the freezer.

Pro Tips

One of the most important things to note about freezer meals is: how to prevent freezer burn. Use these tips!

Cool the chili first before sealing to reduce moisture.
Use airtight containers to prevent exposure to air.
Remove excess air from freezer bags before sealing.
Freeze flat (if using bags) for easier storage.

What are the best freezer-safe containers to use?

There are several reasons I recommend glass containers as the best choice for freezing chili!

They are eco-friendly and long-lasting.
With tomato-based recipes, you won’t get discoloration that often happens with plastic containers.
You can easily defrost in the microwave without interference of plastic containers or bags.

Another favorite option is using Souper Cubes to freeze individual portions. A benefit of containers like these is you can leave them stored in the cubes, or freeze and add the frozen cubes to another bag or container.

Of course, other options can work well, too. For plastic containers, choose high-quality BPA-free containers that seal well. You may need to defrost slightly in the fridge first or set out on your counter to remove the chili from the container before reheating.

You can also use gallon-zip freezer bags, which are the best choice for saving space in your freezer. Smooth out the bags to flatten the chili and remove all air before freezing.

More Chili Recipes

Slow Cooker Quinoa Chili – Need a hearty vegetarian option? Quinoa is a nutritious option to bulk up a dish. Plus it’s loaded with protein and fiber!
Slow Cooker Bison Chili – Try out a twist on beef chili with lean bison and a fantastic combination of peppers and spices. The slow cooker is the best choice to bring out all the flavors in this mix.
Best Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili – This veggie chili is loaded with nutrition, hearty, and filling. It’s the best recipe to customize with the vegetables you have on hand.
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili With Butternut Squash – Turkey-based chili is a leaner option, but you won’t miss out on flavor! Enjoy a sweet and savory mix brought to you with butternut squash and traditional chili seasoning.
Easy White Chicken Chili Slow Cooker Recipe – This creamy chili combines white beans, cream cheese, and salsa verde for a super-filling, zesty chili. It’s a classic!
Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili – Enjoy a regional take on chili with warm, slightly-sweet flavors including cinnamon and cocoa. Serve over spaghetti and add lots of shredded cheese!

How To Best Reheat Frozen Chili

Knowing how to reheat frozen foods properly is essential to enjoying them quickly and ensuring they taste fresh!

You do not have to completely thaw frozen chili before heating, but frozen chili does take longer to heat evenly.

There are a few ways to thaw the chili for easier reheating. Use this quick-guide to help:

Transfer from freezer to fridge (best option). This will take 12-24 hours for even thawing.
Submerge the sealed bag or container in a cold water bath for 1-2 hours.
Use the defrost setting on the microwave in short bursts.

Thawed or not, here are a few options to reheat:

Stovetop: Heat thawed or frozen chili over low-to-medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Microwave: Defrost first, then heat in short intervals.
Slow Cooker: Place frozen chili directly in and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Best Ways To Use Leftover Chili

Enjoy a classic bowl of chili with corn chips or crackers, or get creative by adding it to a new dish!

Chili Cheese Dogs – Add a scoop of chili over hot dogs, and top with shredded cheese.
Chili Mac – Mix a scoop of chili with cooked pasta and top with cheese.
Chili Nachos – Load up tortilla chips with chili and toppings like sour cream, jalapeños, and more cheese.
Chili Stuffed Peppers – Scoop out colorful bell peppers, fill with chili, and bake.
Chili Baked Potatoes – Spoon chili over a Slow Cooker Baked Potato and add toppings for a hearty meal.