How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (2024)

Heidi 4 Comments

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This is the best chili recipe with chunky ground beef and beans in a rich sauce loaded with all the classic chili flavors.

How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (2)

When football season hits and the fall leaves start to fly, there’s not much I crave more than a big bowl of beef chili loaded with all the fixins’. I love my Killer Beef with Three Bean Chili spiked with enchilada sauce and beer, and my recipe for Deer Valley’s Famous Turkey Chili is always popular. But when it comes to paring things down to the classics, this thick and rich Ground Beef Chili recipe is simply the best. It reminds me of Wendy’s old-fashioned chili recipe because the ground beef isn’t browned beforehand. Instead, it’s cooked directly in the chili-flavored tomato sauce so it stays tender and flavorful. I like this beef chili with plenty of shredded cheddar cheese and diced onions, with even more jalapeño for extra spice.

How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (3)

What’s in the Best Chili

  • Yellow onion
  • Green bell pepper
  • Celery
  • Garlic
  • Vegetable or canola oil
  • Tomato paste
  • Water
  • Tomato sauce
  • 80/20 ground beef
  • Chili powder
  • Ground cumin
  • Kosher salt
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Chili beans or kidney beans
  • White vinegar, to balance the richness
How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (4)

How to Make the Best Chili

Chop the veggies so they’re all the same bite-size bits. This way the veggies all cook at the same rate and you get a little of everything in every bite.

Saute the onion, celery, garlic, and green bell pepper then add the tomato paste. Once the veggies are softened, add the tomato paste and cook for a few minutes so it loses its raw taste and develops its tomato flavor.

How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (5)

Add the water and ground beef to the pot. Instead of browning the beef, it gets added raw to the hot tomato mixture, breaking it into small pieces. This method cooks the beef directly in the sauce so it absorbs the flavor and minces fine.

How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (6)

Add the spices with the tomato sauce to the meat mixture. Stir well and bring to a rolling simmer.

How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (7)

Add the beans to the chili. Bring to a medium boil then drop to a simmer and cook uncovered for 2-3 hours. I used chili beans this time around, but any type of kidney bean (light, dark) is tasty, too.

How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (8)

How to Thicken Chili

  • To thicken chili, cook it uncovered so the liquid reduces as the flavors develop.
  • Refrigerate the chili overnight then reheat when ready to serve.
  • Or, add ¼ cup fine-ground cornmeal to thicken the chili more if desired.

Can You Freeze Chili?

Chili freezes very well and is the perfect candidate for make-ahead meals. Freeze in gallon-size freezer bags for larger portions or individual sizes for smaller. Before serving, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, or microwave on Defrost mode before rewarming to serve.

How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (9)

Substitutions and Variations

  • Instead of 80/20 ground beef, go with 85/15 for leaner ground beef. Or try ground turkey or chicken instead.
  • Swap the green pepper out for red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, or use a combination.
  • Add more veggies like diced butternut squash, zucchini, or sweet potato.
  • Add a beer in place of part of the water. I like a lager here best.
  • Ratchet up the spice level with minced jalapeño chili added at the end of cooking for more heat. Or, add ¼ teaspoon more cayenne pepper or red chili flakes when adding the spices.

What to Serve With Chili

  • Cheddar and Jalapeño Skillet Cornbread
  • Classic Waldorf Salad
  • How to Make THE BEST Cornbread
  • Salad with Pears, Gorgonzola and Candied Pecans
  • Kale Salad with Wild Rice and Butternut Squash

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo andtag me on Instagramwith #foodiecrusheats.

How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (10)

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How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe

This is the best chili recipe with chunky ground beef and beans in a rich sauce loaded with all the classic chili flavors. It's so easy to make!

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword chili

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 413kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 large yellow onion , diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper , seeded and diced
  • 2 celery stalks , diced
  • 3 garlic cloves , pressed or minced
  • 4 ounces tomato paste
  • 3 cups water
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 ½ pounds 80/20 ground beef
  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 15-ounce cans chili beans or kidney beans , drained and lightly rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottom pot over medium heat. Add the onion, green bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently until the vegetables start to soften, about 5-7 minutes. Stir the tomato paste into the vegetables and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Add the water to the pot and stir well, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the ground beef. Use a wooden spoon to break the beef into small pieces. Add the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and kosher salt and black pepper then bring to a medium boil. Add the beans. Stir and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 2-3 hours to reduce and thicken, stirring every so often.

  • Before serving, add the vinegar and taste for seasoning. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, minced onion, and sliced jalapeño peppers. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for 4 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 413kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1117mg | Potassium: 845mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1737IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 5mg

More Chili Recipes to Try

  • Cincinnati Chili
  • Deer Valley’s Famous Turkey Chili
  • White Bean Chicken Chili with Butternut Squash
  • Killer Beef and Three Bean Chili
  • Slow Cooker Fajita Chicken Chili

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Reader Interactions

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  1. How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (16)Mary Casem

    How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (17)
    Great spicing, just the right amount. It sent me back for seconds—and that’s unusual! I would like to tone down the tomato flavor when I make it again though, and I’m not sure how. Maybe leave out the tomato paste? O add beef bouillon? It really was an easy recipe. Well done!

    Reply

    • How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (18)Hayley

      Thanks Mary, we’re so happy you liked it! If you wanted to tone down the tomato flavor a bit you could either cut back on the amount of tomato paste and/or tomato sauce. We hope tha thelps!

      Reply

  2. How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (19)Mandy

    You should update the ingredient list near the top. I almost wrote off the entire recipe due to the absence of garlic.

    Reply

    • How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (20)Heidi

      Chili always needs garlic! Thanks Mandy.

      Reply

How to Make THE BEST Beef Chili Recipe | foodiecrush.com (2024)

FAQs

How do you increase the flavor of beef in chili? ›

To enhance the flavor of your chili, brown the meat before adding it to the pot. This step not only caramelizes the meat, but gives your chili more texture, adding a depth that cannot be achieved by simply simmering it in the chili.

What is the best meat for beef chili? ›

The best chili meat is a combination of meats, often a mix of ground chuck, ground sirloin, brisket, diced tri-tip, and/or some bacon or sausage. Do your best to mix smaller pieces with larger pieces to stack textures and make it your own! Happy cooking!

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

What makes chili taste better? ›

"Adding fresh ingredients — like diced onions, cilantro, and jalapenos — will take any canned chili to another level," Dunleavy said. "The fresh burst of flavor will brighten and elevate the chili while also adding great texture and crunch."

Do you cook onions or meat first for chili? ›

In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions, garlic, and red pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the beef and increase the heat to high; cook, stirring with wooden spoon to break the meat into ¼-inch pieces, until the beef is browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

Does chili need tomato paste? ›

Tomato paste is a great way to add bonus tomato flavor, and thickness, to a chili recipe. To get the best flavor it needs to be browned. Add a couple tablespoons (or a whole can if you want a thicker soup base) directly to the pan after cooking the meat and onions.

Is chili better the longer it cooks? ›

A low and slow cook time—at least an hour total—is key for drawing out the most flavor in a pot of chili. Yes, a quick chili is most welcome on weeknights, but it won't have quite the same results. A slow cooker works wonders, but if you're short on time, try a pressure cooker.

What are the best beans for chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

Which onion is best for chili? ›

Sweet onions are great for caramelizing due to their higher sugar content. You can cook them into your chili, serve them raw over top, or even elevate your chili with a sophisticated caramelized onion topping! Some of my favorite sweet onions are Walla, Walla, Maui, and Vidalia Onions.

Why do you put brown meat in chili? ›

Browning the ground beef first sears in the flavor. It also gives it the texture we're accustomed to. If you put it into the chili raw, it has a different texture & flavor, and most people prefer the taste of pre-browned meat.

What chili has the best flavor? ›

In talking with many pepper enthusiasts, we've found the Habanero to be universally considered to be one of the best tasting peppers.

Why is cinnamon good in chili? ›

Cinnamon. The beauty of ground cinnamon is that it brings a warmth to your chili, without being spicy. It works well with other flavors commonly found in chili (like tomato, cumin and chile powder) so you only need a little bit to achieve the desired balance.

Does sugar make chili taste better? ›

Now for the piece de resistance: 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar. The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you've just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy.

Why do you put brown sugar in chili? ›

The brown sugar gave it a sweet/tangy flavor that reminded me of BBQ-sauce! Th chili was so good - it was hard to stop eating it! I did had some extra veggies (1 cl. garlic, 1 celery stalk, 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, 1 hot pepper) and used a can of diced tomatoes rather than tomato juice.

Why add vinegar to chilli? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

Should you simmer chili with lid on or off? ›

For quicker-cooking chili like this recipe, don't cover the pot. We want the liquid in the chili to reduce, and leaving the lid off is crucial. If you're simmering the chili for a longer time, partially cover the pot to prevent the liquid from evaporating too quickly.

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