Chili con carne is one of those dishes that feels both comforting and practical: hearty, bold (if you want it to), deeply flavorful and highly adaptable. At its core, it’s a slow simmering mix of meat, peppers, spices, and tomatoes and it gets better the longer it sits, allowing all the flavors to mingle and get acquainted.
Chili con carne is not what I call fancy food, chili is all about layers, layers of flavor; savory meat, warming spices, and heat. It’s comforting on cold days, and does not need a lot of attention, just a stir every now and then. Dress it up with toppings, keep it simple in a bowl, or spoon it over rice or bread; chili con carne is wonderfully flexible and always delivers.
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Key Ingredients in This Recipe
You’ll find the complete list of ingredients and exact quantities in the recipe below.
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Red bell pepper
- Garlic
- Spices: Cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano.
- Crushed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Red kidney beans – other beans like black beans, pinto beans.
- Beef broth – can be replaced by chicken or vegetable broth.
- Cilantro
How to Make Chili con Carne
- Step 1 – Prepare the ingredients. Clean and chop onion and red bell pepper. Mince the garlic or use garlic paste. Drain the kidney beans, but don’t rinse them.
Step 2 – Heat oil in a Dutch oven and add onion, red bell pepper and garlic until translucent and softened.
Step 3 – Add the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
Step 4 – While breaking up the ground beef, add the spices; cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt & pepper. Mix with the ground beef and cook until the ground beef is browned.
Step 5 – Add the remaining ingredients: red kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and beef broth. Stir and bring to a simmer.
Step 6 – Simmer on low-medium heat and stir once in a while. Cover partly and simmer until the chili has reached the consistency you prefer. This will take about 20-30 minutes.
Taste and season with salt & pepper if needed.
- Step 7 – Serve the chili con carne in bowls or plates, add your favorite topping and ENJOY!
Chili Toppings
- Sour cream, creme fraiche or yogurt.
- Grated cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack or Cotija
- Cilantro or parsley
- Green onions or red onions (pickled or not)
- Avocado or guacamole
- Hot peppers
- Pico de gallo or chopped fresh tomatoes
Serve Chili con Carne with
- Cornbread or blue corn muffins
- Tortilla chips
- White or brown rice
- Baked potato
- Crusty rustic bread
Small Batch Chili con Carne
Pin Recipe FacebookIngredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces ground beef
- 15 ounces red kidney beans
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt & pepper
Toppings (optional)
- avocado
- sour cream
- Cheddar cheese, grated
- cilantro
- lime
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients by cleaning and chopping the onion and red bell pepper. Mince the garlic or use garlic paste. Drain the red kidney beans, but don’t rinse them.
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven and add onion, red bell pepper and garlic. Cook until translucent and softened.
- Add the ground beef, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
- While breaking up the ground beef, add the spices; cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt & pepper. Mix with the ground beef and cook until the ground beef is browned.
- Simmer on low-medium heat and stir once in a while. Cover partly and simmer until the chili has reached the consistency you prefer. This will take about 20-30 minutes. (NOTE 1)
- Taste and season with salt & pepper if needed.
- Serve the chili con carne in bowls or plates, add your favorite topping.
- ENJOY!
Notes
- I usually eat my chili con carne rather dry from a bowl.
- My favorite toppings are sour cream, avocado, a little bit of grated cheddar and some lime juice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.