Description
Hearty homemade chili recipe brings bold southwestern flavors to your dinner table. Spicy beef, aromatic spices, and rich tomato base create a comforting meal you’ll crave all season long.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
- 1 cup beef broth or water (for desired consistency)
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans (drained & rinsed)
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans or pinto beans (drained & rinsed)
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsps tomato paste (for richness)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (if using lean meat)
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (adds depth of flavor)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lime juice (for a touch of acidity)
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Diced avocado
- Fresh cilantro or green onions
Instructions
- Sear Meat: Caramelize ground beef in a robust pot over medium heat, draining excess fat to concentrate flavors and create a golden-brown foundation.
- Aromatic Base: Sauté onions and garlic until translucent, releasing their fragrant essence and building depth of flavor.
- Liquid Composition: Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar, creating a rich liquid matrix that will develop complexity.
- Spice Symphony: Dust the mixture with chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, black pepper, sea salt, and cayenne, ensuring a well-balanced and intricate flavor profile.
- Simmering Transformation: Cover and allow the chili to simmer for 35 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent burning and encourage flavor melding. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more broth or reducing to achieve desired consistency.
- Serving Finale: Ladle into bowls and garnish with cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado, or cilantro, completing the culinary journey with vibrant, complementary toppings.
Notes
- Select Quality Meat: Choose lean ground beef with 85-90% meat content to minimize excess grease and maintain a rich, clean flavor profile without compromising texture.
- Control Spice Intensity: Adjust cayenne and chili powder gradually, tasting as you go to personalize heat levels without overwhelming the dish’s nuanced flavors.
- Master Simmering Technique: Keep heat low and steady during the 35-minute cooking process, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and allow spices to develop complex, deep flavors.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap ground beef for plant-based alternatives like lentils or beyond meat for vegetarian options, ensuring protein-rich substitutions maintain the chili’s robust character.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg