🌶️🥩 Homemade Beef Chili
A hearty pot of homemade beef chili is perfect for cozy dinners, game day, or meal prep. Packed with tender beef, beans, and rich spices, it’s comfort in a bowl.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 6–8)
- 2 lbs ground beef (or stew beef, cubed)
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, cilantro
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Brown the Beef
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking into small pieces.
- Drain excess fat if needed.
2️⃣ Sauté Aromatics
- Add onion, garlic, and bell peppers to the beef.
- Cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
3️⃣ Add Tomatoes and Spices
- Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and beef broth.
- Add chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- Mix well and bring to a gentle boil.
4️⃣ Simmer
- Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add beans in the last 15–20 minutes of cooking.
- Adjust seasoning as needed.
🍽️ Serve With
- Cornbread or warm bread
- Rice or tortilla chips
- Toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, cilantro
💡 Tips
✔ For deeper flavor, simmer longer — even 2 hours if you have time.
✔ Add a small square of dark chocolate or a splash of coffee for richness.
✔ For extra heat, add chopped jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce.
✔ Leftovers taste even better the next day once flavors meld.
If you want, I can also give a slow cooker version so you can set it in the morning and come back to a perfectly cooked chili.
