It’s a busy weeknight evening and you need dinner in a snap. You need it quick and easy with limited ingredients. How about a recipe that’s 3 ingredients? This Chili Pizza is what you’ve been looking for. Throw it together in the time it takes the oven to preheat and get the kids fed in no time.
Chili Pizza
When I was a kid, we had pizza just about every Saturday for dinner. Mom made one with pepperoni, cheese and canned mushrooms. Mom eventually got tired of the same old pizza and saw a recipe for a chili pizza. We all loved it. It was great for a change of pace and she still makes it today.
The chili pizza starts with your favorite pizza crust, packaged or homemade. Top the crust with a can of no bean chili. Cover the chili with a good layer of cheese and bake.
How easy was that? Do you even need the recipe? Keep reading for more tasty things to do with this pizza recipe and some key kitchen items every home must have for pizza night.
Pizza Equipment Every Home Needs
Pizza in our house comes multiple varieties. Homemade, Frozen and Delivery. Regardless of how pizza ends up in your home, all homes need a couple kitchen items for pizza night.
A Pizza Cutter – Yes, you need one! Get a pizza cutter if you don’t have one…. even if you’re in a dorm room. How many times has that delivery pizza crust not been cut all the way through? The pizza delivery guy doesn’t put one in the box for you. Those Frozen Pizzas aren’t cut and need a pizza cutter.
Here are a couple options.
- This Pizza Cutter is the ones I see most often in stores and it is the one I use most often.
- This Pizza Cutter is a little more compact because it doesn’t have a handle. I have one of these as well and it works pretty good.
A Pizza Pan – Most often, I cook frozen pizzas directly on the rack, but a pizza pan is still a must. Frozen pizza crusts are softer when cooked on a pizza pan and crispier when cooked directly on the rack. If you like softer crust, you’ll want a pan that fits the pie. The pizza pan also helps with making homemade pizza or reheating slices.
Here’s a Pizza Pan 2 Pack perfect for pizza night
Pizza Stone – If you cook pizza a lot, you may want to invest in a pizza stone. The stone gets super-hot and gives the crust that pizzeria texture you’re looking for. Pizza stones are also great for calzones, cookies, and some breads.
Ok, Pizza equipment is out of the way. Let’s move on the customizing this recipe!
Ways to Make Chili Pizza Your Own Recipe
Call it a Chili Cheese Pizza – I’ve always called it a chili pizza but I guess it’s technically a Chili Cheese Pizza. It is after all, chili and cheese. If adding the word “cheese” into the recipe title gets the kids to eat it, go for it!
The Crust – I like using a store-bought dough for this. It keeps the preparation time quick. Dough from a pizzeria, the kind that comes in the tube and pops open, a packet mix, or gluten free mix will all work. Use your favorite.
The Shredded Cheese – Use your favorite shredded cheese. I really like using a Mexican blend for this.
The Canned Chili – Grab a can of your favorite canned chili. Hormel or the store brand equivalent is what I use. Skyline Chili would also be great on this!
Make a Chili Dog Pizza
Got extra ingredients? Make your chili pizza into a Chili Dog Pizza!
- Add Sliced Hot Dogs to the pizza after covering it with cheese
- Top with some diced onions.
- Think about trying a little bit of yellow mustard squeezed over the top or some pickle relish after it comes out of the oven.
That’s all I’ve got for this quick and easy recipe. Whether you keep this a 3-ingredient recipe or 5 ingredient recipe, it’s one to keep on hand for those busy weeknight dinners.
Here are a few other recipes for weeknight meals
- Roasted Shrimp
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Mexican Stuffed Peppers (Mostly Make Ahead)
- Monterey Chicken
Chili Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 Pizza Crust, for a 12 inch pizza.
- 1 15 oz Can of No Bean Chili, such as Hormel.
- 1 8 oz Bag of Shredded Cheese, any kind.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425º, or the temperature suggested by the packaged pizza dough you’re using.
- Spread pizza crust onto the pan.
- Top evenly with canned chili, leaving about ½” boarder along the crust.
- Sprinkle evenly with cheese.
- Bake 15-18 minutes until the crust is golden.
- Remove the pizza from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes. This allows the cheese to set up just a little.
- Slice the pizza and enjoy.
Notes
- Add Sliced Hot Dogs to the pizza after covering it with cheese
- Top with some diced onions.
- Think about trying a little bit of yellow mustard squeezed over the top or some pickle relish after it comes out of the oven.
