Chili con Carne (Print Version)

Hearty beef and bean stew with aromatic Tex-Mex spices, simmered to perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1½ lbs ground beef (80/20 or lean)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

→ Canned & Pantry

07 - 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
08 - 2 (15 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 1 cup beef broth

→ Spices & Seasonings

11 - 2 tbsp chili powder
12 - 2 tsp ground cumin
13 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
14 - ½ tsp cayenne pepper
15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1½ tsp salt
17 - ½ tsp black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Heat a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add diced onion, garlic, red and green bell peppers, and jalapeño. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until vegetables are softened.
03 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add tomato paste and cook for another minute, stirring well to combine with the spice mixture.
05 - Pour in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, and beef broth. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
06 - Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. For a thicker chili, simmer uncovered for an additional 10–15 minutes.
08 - Serve hot with your choice of sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, or diced avocado.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This chili tastes better after resting overnight, making it perfect for stressfree entertaining or meal prep throughout the week
  • The combination of smoked paprika and cumin creates this incredible depth that makes people swear you spent all day cooking
02 -
  • I once skipped draining the beef and ended up with an oil slick on top that took forever to skim off
  • Adding a splash of vinegar or coffee at the end wakes up all the spices in a way I never expected
03 -
  • A heavy Dutch oven really does matter here because it holds heat evenly and prevents hot spots
  • Mashing a small handful of beans against the side of the pot naturally thickens the chili without any flour or cornstarch
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