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Best Homemade Beef Chili Recipe

4.5 from 123 reviews

This Best Homemade Beef Chili recipe is a hearty and flavorful dish perfect for cozy dinners. Featuring ground beef, black beans, pinto beans, and fire-roasted tomatoes, it is seasoned with chili powder, cumin, and garlic for a classic, spicy kick. Easy to prepare on the stovetop, this chili simmers to perfection and can be customized with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.

Ingredients

Scale

Chili Base

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium red onion, diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped

Beans and Tomatoes

  • 1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed
  • 1 15 oz can pinto beans, rinsed
  • 1 15 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 1 cup water or broth (chicken, vegetable, or beef broth)

Optional Garnishes

  • Shredded cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Diced onion
  • Diced bell pepper
  • Fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions

  1. Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and chopped garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions become soft and translucent.
  2. Brown beef: Add the ground beef to the pot along with chili powder and cumin. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until the beef is fully browned and no longer pink.
  3. Simmer chili: Stir in the rinsed black beans and pinto beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, and water or chosen broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together thoroughly.
  4. Serve and garnish: Once the chili has thickened and flavors have combined, ladle into bowls and garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream, diced onion, bell pepper, and fresh chopped cilantro as desired.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
  • For extra heat, add a diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne pepper when sautéing the vegetables.
  • If you prefer a thicker chili, simmer uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes.
  • This chili freezes well for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
  • Use low-sodium broth and beans to reduce sodium content.

Keywords: beef chili, homemade chili, chili recipe, ground beef chili, easy chili, stovetop chili, hearty chili, bean chili