The Best Chili

  4.4 – 123 reviews  • Beef
There are a thousand ways to make chili, but this is the quintessential, totally classic version. We used ground beef, kidney beans and the perfect blend of spices. You can slather it on hot dogs and burgers or serve it as a dip, but it can surely stand on its own. Chances are, you have everything you need right in your pantry. Top it with your favorite garnishes and serve with plenty of tortilla chips.
Level: Easy
Total: 1 hr 30 min
Active: 25 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  1. 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  2. 1 pound ground beef chuck, preferably coarse grind (see Cook’s Note)
  3. 1 large yellow onion, diced
  4. 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
  5. 4 cloves garlic, minced
  6. 2 tablespoons chili powder
  7. 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  8. 1 tablespoon paprika
  9. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  10. Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  11. 2 teaspoons tomato paste
  12. 1 1/2 cups low-sodium beef broth
  13. One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
  14. Two 15.5-ounce cans kidney beans, undrained
  15. Sour cream, shredded Cheddar and sliced scallions, for serving
  16. Tortilla chips, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until just browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon.
  2. Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 10 minutes.  
  3. Add the jalapeno and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 
  4. Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the tomato paste. Cook, stirring frequently, until coated and fragrant, about 1 minute. 
  5. Stir in the beef broth and crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the cooked ground beef and any accumulated liquid, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer the chili, partially covered, until the beef is tender and the sauce is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes.  
  6. Stir in the beans and their liquid and simmer uncovered until the beans are softened and the chili is thickened, about 30 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. 
  7. Top with sour cream, Cheddar and scallions. Serve with tortilla chips. 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 6 servings
Calories 421
Total Fat 18 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Carbohydrates 40 g
Dietary Fiber 12 g
Sugar 8 g
Protein 28 g
Cholesterol 49 mg
Sodium 1101 mg

Reviews

Jennifer Clark
I make it once per month during fall and winter … sometimes more often. Add chopped asparagus during last summer to fell more virtuous.
Michael Dawson
A crowd favorite and most requested meal in my house!!!!
David Martinez
Easy and turned out great
Jeffrey Schultz
Great and easy
Marie Thomas
It’s a great recipe, I added a green pepper and a poblano. I also added some chipotle chili powder. I doubled the cooking time, with each added 30 minutes it tasted better.
Jodi Webster
The title says it all. Even my wife who is not a big chili fan enjoyed it. I will make it again, maybe add a little more heat and substitute beef chunks instead of ground beef.
Brenda Graham
Easy, delicious and foolproof! I make it all winter long. Easy to tweak the spices to your personal heat level.
Cynthia Stein
Very good!! My to chili recipe
Sara Matthews
Easy and tasty. The level of spice was perfect. Will definitely be making again.
Barbara Davenport
Easy and very beef forward. The sauce was really nice (not too thick or thin)!

 

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