The Best Chili Recipe
This hearty and flavorful chili recipe combines lean ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a blend of spices to create a comforting and satisfying dish perfect for family dinners or gatherings. Simmered slowly to develop deep flavors, it’s easy to customize with your favorite toppings like cheddar cheese, sour cream, and fresh avocado.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 tablespoons chili powder (1 tablespoon for mild, 2 tablespoons for spicier)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 ¾ cups low sodium beef broth (or one 14.5 ounce can)
- 28 ounce can fire roasted crushed tomatoes (or fire roasted diced tomatoes)
- 15 ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 ounce can pinto beans (or black beans), rinsed and drained
Toppings (Optional)
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Chopped red or green onions
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Sauté Onion: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and cook for about 2 minutes until it starts to soften.
- Brown the Beef: Add lean ground beef to the pot and cook while crumbling it until browned, approximately 5 minutes. Drain off any excess grease. Add minced garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds to release its aroma.
- Add Spices and Tomato Paste: Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, brown sugar, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and tomato paste. Mix everything thoroughly to combine the flavors.
- Add Broth: Pour in the low sodium beef broth and stir well, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot to incorporate all flavors.
- Add Tomatoes and Beans: Stir in the fire roasted crushed or diced tomatoes and rinsed beans to the pot.
- Simmer the Chili: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Let the chili simmer gently for 1 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Cover the pot during the initial cooking time and uncover during the last 30 minutes to thicken the chili as desired.
- Serve: Spoon the chili into bowls and add your choice of toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado, chopped onions, and cilantro for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can adjust the chili powder amount to control the heat level of the chili.
- Allowing the chili to simmer longer deepens the flavors; feel free to simmer up to 2 hours.
- Rinsing canned beans reduces sodium and improves texture.
- Use fire-roasted tomatoes for a smoky flavor enhancement.
- Leftover chili keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and freezes great for up to 3 months.
Keywords: chili recipe, ground beef chili, easy chili, homemade chili, comfort food, beef chili with beans
Find it online: https://reemcook.com/the-best-chili-recipe/
