How to Thicken Chili (9 Ways to Make Chili Thicker Like a Pro) (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links.
Please read my disclosure policy.

There’s nothing more disappointing than a thin chili. If your chili resembles a bowl of soup more than it does a thick, rich stew, don’t panic. There are countless ways to thicken up your chili without affecting its taste. In fact, some of these methods may make your stew even more delicious!

Chili is a hearty, wholesome dish that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with tasty side dishes like cornbread, rice or roasted sweet potatoes. Thicken up your bowl with any of these tried-and-proven methods.

Best Ways to Thicken Chili

1. Reduce the Sauce Via Simmering

Here’s an easy way to thicken up your chili without needing to add extra ingredients. Simply remove the lid from the pot and allow the chili to simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. As the liquid reduces, the stew thickens.

2. Thicken Chili with Cornstarch or Arrowroot

Cornstarch and arrowroot powder have been used to thicken dishes for centuries.

3. Thicken Chili with Flour

No cornstarch or arrowroot? Plain old flour will do the trick! Any kind of flour will do- from all-purpose to gluten-free options.

4. Add Tomato Paste

Tomato paste not only adds even more flavor to the dish, but also helps with thickening. You can use homemade or store-bought tomato paste for this purpose.

5. How to Thicken Up Chili with Baking Powder

Did you know that baking soda can be used to thicken sauces? This combination of sodium bicarbonate and cornstarch quickly makes any stew more robust. To avoid a bitter taste, mix the powder with cold milk or water before adding it to the pot.

6. Add Tortilla Chips

Who doesn’t love tortilla chips in their chili?! These crispy chips add texture to the dish and also help with thickening.

7. Add Cornmeal

Like flour and cornstarch, cornmeal is also an excellent thickening agent. Mix two parts cold water and one part cornmeal and add the slurry to the chili.

8. Add Mashed Beans

This super-simple trick is an easy way to thicken chili without having to add more ingredients. If there are beans in your chili, use a potato masher and go to town. The mashed beans will instantly create a thicker stew.

9. Add Shredded Cheese

When shredded cheese melts, it creates a thick, gooey texture for your chili. Melted cheese is undeniably delicious, so this method kills two birds with one stone.

How to Thicken White Chicken Chili?

Making a white chili? You may not want to use ingredients like tomato paste because it can change the color of the stew. The best methods for a white chili are simmering, mashing the beans or adding flour.

How to Thicken Chili in a Crockpot?

If you made your chili in a crockpot, any of these methods can be used to thicken it. You can remove the lid and turn the crockpot on high to simmer and reduce the stew. You can also add ingredients like flour, cornstarch or shredded cheese.

You May Also Like

• Best Sides for Chili
• How to Thicken Spaghetti Sauce
• Texas Roadhouse Chili