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Rich, hearty, and loaded with flavor, this beef chili recipe is just the thing for game day, a casual get-together, or a cozy night in.
This beef chili recipe is my absolute go-to. It’s everything you want in a classic ground beef chili: rich, hearty, and full of flavor, with just the right amount of spice. A combination of warm spices, tomatoes, and ground beef simmers low and slow until the flavors meld and the chili is thick and satisfying. It’s perfect for a chilly evening, game day, or feeding a crowd, and it tastes even better the next day.
I make my chili without beans because my kids aren’t fans, but you can easily add them if you like. You’ll find instructions below, along with tips for adjusting the heat to suit your crowd.
“We’re Texans and love your chili! It is so well flavored without being hot…Thank you for another great recipe!”
What You’ll Need To Make Beef Chili
- Ground beef & baking soda: I recommend 85% lean ground beef. Baking soda helps the meat retain moisture and brown more readily, keeping it tender during the long simmer.
- Onion, garlic & red bell pepper: Form the aromatic base of the chili. I mince them fairly finely so they practically melt into the sauce as it simmers.
- Spices & herbs: Ancho and chipotle chile powders, cumin, oregano, coriander, and smoked paprika give the chili its smoky flavor. A little cinnamon is optional; it adds warmth without making the chili taste like dessert.
- Beef broth: Adds savory depth and reinforces the beefy flavor of the chili.
- Crushed tomatoes & tomato paste: Give the chili its tomato base; the paste adds extra richness and helps create a thick consistency.
- Cornmeal: A small amount thickens the chili as it simmers without making it heavy.
- Molasses: Optional, but a little helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes and the heat of the chiles.
- Lime juice: Stirred in at the end to add acidity and brighten the rich, slow-cooked flavors.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Adding Beans & Adjusting the Heat
To add beans: Rinse and drain one or two cans of kidney beans, pinto beans, or black beans, then stir them into the chili during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
For a milder chili: Cut back on the chipotle chile powder, which supplies much of the heat. Ancho chile powder is milder, with an earthy, slightly fruity flavor. You can always add a little cayenne toward the end if you decide you’d like more kick.
How To Make Chili
Prep the beef: Toss the ground beef with the salt, baking soda, and water, then let it sit while you prepare the vegetables.
Prep the veggies: Finely mince the onion, garlic, and bell pepper in a food processor, or chop them by hand. Pulse in short bursts so you don’t turn them into a purée.
Cook the vegetables and brown the beef: Cook the veggies until softened, then add the beef. Break it up as it cooks, but leave some larger pieces rather than crumbling it too finely—you want the chili to have some texture. Cook until the beef is nicely browned.
Add the spices and simmer: Stir in the ancho and chipotle chile powders, cumin, oregano, coriander, smoked paprika, and cinnamon, if using, and cook briefly until fragrant. Add the cornmeal, broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and molasses, if using, then simmer gently, covered, for about 2 hours. Skim off excess fat and stir in the lime juice. If the chili needs thickening, simmer uncovered a little longer; if it’s too thick, add a splash of water.
Enjoy with toppings of your choosing (cilantro, lime wedges, sour cream, cheese, and/or scallions).
Make-Ahead, Storage & Freezing
Like most chilis, this one tastes even better the next day, so it’s a great make-ahead meal.
- Refrigerate: Divide the chili into shallow containers and refrigerate promptly. Cover and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Store in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Individual portions are handy for lunches or an easy dinner.
- Reheat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen, then reheat on the stovetop, stirring occasionally, until bubbling throughout. Add a splash of water if it has thickened too much.
Video Tutorial
Classic Beef Chili
Ingredients
- 2½ lb 85% lean ground beef
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large yellow onion (or 2 small), minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, minced
- 2 tablespoons ancho chile powder
- 1 tablespoon chipotle chile powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, (optional, for a sweeter chili)
- 2 tablespoons cornmeal
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 (28-oz) can crushed tomatoes
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon molasses, such as Grandma’s Original (optional, for a sweeter chili)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from 1 lime
For Serving (optional)
- Cilantro, lime wedges, sour cream, cheese, scallions
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, salt, baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of water. Using your hands, mix until evenly combined. Let the beef mixture sit on the counter for 20 minutes.
- In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions, garlic, and red pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes.
- Add the beef and increase the heat to high; cook, stirring with wooden spoon to break the meat into ¼-inch (6-mm) pieces, until the beef is browned, 10 to 12 minutes. The beef will release a lot of liquid—do not drain it; you'll skim the fat off at the end.
- Add the ancho chile powder, chipotle chile powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, smoked paprika, and cinnamon (if using); cook, stirring frequently, for 1 to 2 minutes, until well combined and fragrant.
- Stir in the cornmeal, broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and molasses (if using); bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 2 hours.
- Skim any excess fat off the surface of the chili. There will be quite a bit; don't worry about getting all of it, as it adds flavor.
- Stir in the lime juice, then taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. For a thinner chili, you can add a bit of water. To thicken the chili, continue simmering, uncovered, until desired consistency is reached.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
What To Serve With Chili
Warm cornbread is my first choice for soaking up the sauce, and tortilla chips, guacamole, and cowboy caviar are great for snacking while the chili simmers.
And don’t forget the toppings! Set out shredded cheddar, sour cream, sliced scallions, avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges so everyone can finish their bowl just how they like it.
More Chili Recipes You’ll Love
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Haven’t made this yet, but the recipe prompted a question 🙂 I see recipes all the time that tell you to add (like this one) an ingredient like 1/4 t of cinnamon. My question is whether or not that tiny amount of spice is even noticeable in the final product. If you made the recipe with and without it and did a blind tasting, could anyone tell the difference? Just something I’ve always wondered 🙂
Hi John, Great question. Cinnamon is a strong spice that not everyone loves in savory dishes so I don’t use a lot. A little bit adds background warmth to the chili but you can’t really taste it as an individual flavor. I don’t think it would stand out in a blind tasting, but to me that’s a good thing. If you could identify it, that might mean it’s overpowering the other flavors. In general, I go for a balance of flavors with recipes like this. That said, one of my girlfriends made this dish and told me she doubled the cinnamon since she loves that flavor — so always feel free to adjust the spices to your liking. Maybe just wait to the end so that you can adjust to taste.
Disappointing. Sweet and no flavor
Hi Kathy,
Did you skip any steps ? I’ve made this chili many times but with all recipes, I have to follow them exactly or else they don’t turn out right. Then once I get it a few times, I make adjustments if I want to. For this recipe, I have no complaints , I think it’s really rich and flavorful, but I’ve decided to just buy a chili packet of spices and then add the cinnamon, and it comes out great. Hope you give it another try and good luck. 🙂
– Jessica
I have a family member that cannot eat beans so I was thrilled to come across your recipe! Our son has been so hungry for chili and this recipe hit the spot. It is so flavorful and hearty and is good just the way it is. Also a side of pasta, cheese and onions gets along nicely with it too.
Oh, Jenn! BEST CHILI EVER! Had company for Super bowl and this was FABULOUS! I made it the day before almost exactly as your recipe stated. I did not have coriander or Chipotle chili powder and since we like a mild chili it was perfect! I did add a can of black beans and a can of garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained. Super yummy! Adding the beans also stretches the servings to 8.
Served it with the sides you suggested. It was a FEAST! I’ve tried at least 25 of your recipes and they are always excellent! For almost two years I check your recipes first and seldom stray. Thank you so much for all you do to create, adapt and share your kitchen creations. It’s totally revived my joy for cooking!
I thought I had the best chili ever. Well, I don’t, Jenn does. It was a very big hit with my husband and friends. It’s a bit involved but, believe me, worth it. Had to buy molasses and smoked paprika and glad I did as it made a difference. Also, Jenn mentioned two different chili ingredients that I couldn’t find so I used regular chili. I also used the juice of almost a whole lime instead of a tablespoon. Great recipe Jenn. Thanks so much.
Can in use canned chipotle in adobo and make my own ancho chili sauce to add to the mixture? Also, fresh herbs? Not a huge fan of dry spices. I try to use fresh ingredients as much as I can.
Hi Alex, You can use canned chipotle peppers in place of the chipotle chili powder and ancho chili powder, cilantro in place of coriander and fresh oregano instead of dried. You can omit the smoked paprika but you’ll need to use cumin – there’s no fresh sub for that. Hope you enjoy!
i made the chili yesterday for tonight’s dinner. It was soooo good!
Hubbycommented that it was the best chili he ever had. I did add a can of black beans since we like them. Many thanks for this recipe!
Your recipe call for vegetable oil, but the picture of ingredients shows canola oil. Can either be used for this recipe?
Either is fine, SV. Hope you enjoy it!
I made this for the Super Bowl and it was delicious. It was just a little sweet on the front end but had nice heat on the back end.
This is the best chili I’ve ever made! The spice combination is fantastic! It has just the right amount of heat for my family’s tastes.