This recipe makes a whopping sixteen cups. That’s enough to feed a crowd or to hoard in the freezer for those dreary cold nights when it gets dark way too early and the cupboard is bare. On any given Saturday morning, I might start this early and give it a long, lazy simmer while I sip my coffee, read the paper, or throw in a load of laundry. I can call up friends and have an impromptu, casual gathering with very little elbow grease.
Video: How to Make the Best Beef Chili
Cook This Beef Chili Low and Slow
It’s the long, lazy simmer that really sets this meaty chili apart. Onions, garlic, peppers and tomatoes slowly thicken the chili until it is almost creamy. You can cut the time down to about 45 minutes, but if you’re not in a rush, let it simmer up to 1 1/2 hours. You’ll will be rewarded with fantastic, deep flavor. And of course like all good chilis, it’s always better the second or third day.
For Outstanding Chili, Make Your Own Chili Powder
Instead of puréeing reconstituted dried chilies as most “from scratch” recipes do, I skip straight to using pure ground chili powders like ancho and chipotle powders to save a step. Ancho chilies are dried poblano peppers and are relatively mild with an earthy flavor, whereas chipotle peppers are dried, smoked jalapeños, and as such, provide a lot more heat, so use the powder judiciously. Generic chili powder is a mix of chilies and other seasonings like dried onion and garlic, and I prefer to add those “extra” flavors myself.
Ways to Adapt Beef Chili
The amount of chili powder in the recipe provides just a little kick, but you can bump up the heat by adding more chipotle powder if you like it hot.Use black, kidney, or pinto beans or a mix, if you happen to have them on hand; they’re interchangeable in this recipe.Also if you want to sneak in a few extra vegetables, you could add diced zucchini, diced squash, or even carrots and celery, but I don’t usually guild this lily. I love it as is.Swap out the beef, if you like, with ground turkey, pork, or a mix.
Best Chili Toppings
As for the “go-withs” there are plenty of toppings to choose from. Set out bowls of them so each person can select his or her own. Here are a few of my top contenders:
Sour creamShredded sharp cheddar or Monterey jackChopped onionsChopped radishesShredded lettuceFresh cilantroChopped jalapeños
What to Serve With Beef Chili
Bake a pan of cornbread while the chili simmers and you will have a comforting supper, ready and waiting whenever you are.
Freezing Leftover Chili
Leftover chili will last for at least a week in the fridge, or it can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating, or reheat the frozen soup straight from the freezer in a saucepan over low heat.
More Chili Recipes to Try!
Chili Con Carne Pressure Cooker Ground Beef Chili Cincinnati Chili Easy No-Bean Chili Buffalo Chicken Chili
2 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium onions, finely chopped 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 pounds lean ground beef 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder, or to taste 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder, or to taste 1 tablespoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons oregano 2 sweet bell peppers (red, orange, yellow, or mixed), diced 1 (28-ounce) can whole, peeled tomatoes (or same amount of crushed or puréed) 2 cups water 2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans or black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
For the garnishes:
Sour cream Grated sharp cheddar Thinly sliced radishes Sliced scallions Chopped onions Avocado slices Shredded lettuce Chopped fresh jalapeños Fresh cilantro
Add the beef and salt. Cook, breaking the meat up with a potato masher or the edge of a spoon, for 5 minutes, or until it is no longer pink. Add more hot water during cooking, 1/2 cup at a time, if the mixture seems too thick. This chili keeps for about a week, covered, in the refrigerator and up to 3 months when frozen.
