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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.
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Has become my go-to chili recipe. Sooo good!
Just delicious! I didn’t find the recipe to be sweet, just flavourful with a lovely woody undertone. I’m not usually a fan of chili, but made this as my husband loves chili (and what better meal during a snow storm in Maine); I loved it! Hubbie is especially thrilled, as this was his most favourite chili ever (and that’s saying something!) and I will most definitely be making it more frequently, as I was relishing each bite! Loved throwing all the veggies in the food processor, made preparation super quick and easy, meat just melted in the mouth, and lined up all the herbs ready to fire in the pot! Again, thank you for yet another winner of a recipe!
Why the baking soda?
Hi Stephanie, The baking soda raises the pH of the meat, helping to lock in moisture and accelerate browning (which helps make it very tender). Enjoy!
After I tasted this chill, I immediately ripped up my previous recipe and put this in its place. It is so so good. The spice combination is just perfect. A must try. Thanks for such a wonderful recipe!
Had this for dinner tonight. Tasted great. Wife and I are not too big on spicy foods so I reduced the chipotle chili pepper to 1 teaspoon. I would advise anyone making this to have all your ingredients out in advance. Get the spices all measured out and in a small bowl ready to add. Also, have the onion, red pepper and garlic all sliced up and ready to add. There isn’t enough time to do those things while the meat is cooking. Local store only had 80 and 90% lean ground beef so went with the 80 and skimmed a lot of fat off it. Still came out great.
Thank you for sharing this delicious Beef Chilli recipe! I have been searching for a recipe like this for a very long time and knew that I could rely on you to post an amazing recipe that my whole family would love!! I followed the recipe exactly with the only addition of a can of red kidney beans. I will be making this chilli again very soon and will not be making any substitutions or changes. I served the chilli over rice with corn chips on the side and everyone enjoyed it so much they came back for seconds! Using the baking soda and salt made a big difference to the beef, I loved how the meat turned into little meatballs! Do you think this recipe would work with ground chicken as a different option to the beef?! Thanks again!!
Hi Marilyn, so glad your family enjoyed the chili! Yes, you can use ground chicken here – if you do, you can skip the baking soda, but don’t omit the salt (just add with the other spices). I’d love to hear how it turns out with chicken!
This chili is delicious — and a perfect party recipe! I was astonished at what a difference it made to tenderize the meat beforehand: the texture was silky smooth. (BTW, I used 80/20 ground beef because our grocery store only sells 90/10 or 80/20, and I thought the higher fat option would work better.) Since no one in my family cares for overly spicy chili, I went easy on the chipotle chili powder — and the combination of the other spices was just lovely. Towards the end of cooking I added one can of red kidney beans and actually wished I hadn’t. I like beans, but I thought they distracted a bit from the sweet, slightly complex taste of the beef/spice/tomato combination — so what I will do the next time is to warm up some beans and put them on the side. Chopped avocado and a little grated cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese on top were nice additions. On the side I served the pumpkin cornbread muffins whose recipe is on this site; the muffins are yummy, but I think I prefer something with a little more crunch (e.g., corn chips) on the side.
Absolutely delicious! My family loved it.
Can I use the baking soda solution on chop meat when I am making a Bolognese sauce.
It worked so well on the chili. Great, great chili recipe.
Also as a thickening agent, can cornmeal be used on other recipes instead of flour or cornstarch.
Yes and yes :).
This really is the best ground beef chili I have ever had. It comes on somewhat sweet initially, but then the overall blend of spices and flavors come in followed by some nice heat. I did not have a lime, but it was perfect to us. The ground beef was very tender too. I cooked the vegetables & the beef, added the spice mix and cooked that as in the recipe. Then threw all ingredients in a crock pot & into the fridge overnight. In the morning I set it on low for 6 hours. I did add a can of rinsed dark red beans during the last half hour. We served it over rice, topped with shredded sharp cheddar and sour cream and a square of cornbread on the side.