Chili con Carne Spicy Stew (Printable)

Spicy Tex-Mex stew featuring beef, beans, tomatoes, and aromatic chili spices for a comforting meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 or lean)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional)

→ Canned & Pantry

07 - 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
08 - 2 (15 oz each) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 1 cup beef broth

→ Spices & Seasonings

11 - 2 tbsp chili powder
12 - 2 tsp ground cumin
13 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
14 - 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1.5 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
17 - 0.5 tsp black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

18 - Sour cream
19 - Shredded cheddar cheese
20 - Chopped cilantro
21 - Sliced green onions
22 - Diced avocado

# Directions:

01 - Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, break it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add diced onion, garlic, red and green bell peppers, and jalapeño if using. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add tomato paste and cook for an additional minute, stirring well.
05 - Pour in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, and beef broth. Stir to combine thoroughly.
06 - Bring mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. For thicker chili, simmer uncovered for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with optional toppings to preference.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It gets better as it sits, so leftovers taste like you ordered takeout from a place that doesnt exist.
  • You can walk away from the stove for most of the cooking time and let it do its thing.
  • Everyone adds their own toppings, so it feels custom even though you made one pot.
  • It freezes beautifully and reheats without losing any of its punch.
02 -
  • Dont skip draining the beans, that starchy liquid will turn your chili gummy and dull the spices.
  • Blooming the spices in the hot pot before adding liquid is the difference between flat chili and chili that tastes layered and alive.
  • If it tastes good after 45 minutes, let it go longer anyway, the flavors keep deepening.
03 -
  • Let the chili sit overnight in the fridge before serving, the flavors marry and intensify in a way that makes day-two chili taste like you simmered it for hours longer.
  • If you accidentally make it too spicy, stir in a spoonful of sour cream or a splash of heavy cream to calm the heat without dulling the flavor.
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