Hearty, comforting, and filling this beef chili recipe is perfect for topping with sour cream and cheese, spooning over a hot dog, or making into Frito pie.
Prep time: PT20M
Cook time: PT130M
Total time: PT150M
Rating
4.8 stars (162 reviews)
Keywords
chili, beef chili, ground beef, beans, tomatoes
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 yellow onions (medium, finely chopped)
1 red bell pepper (stemmed, seeded and finely chopped)
¼ cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt (divided)
6 garlic cloves (minced)
2 pounds ground beef (85-90% lean)
30 oz can dark red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
28 oz can diced tomatoes
28 oz can tomato puree
Categories
Main Course
Cuisine
American
Steps
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until it is shimmering. Add the onions, bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, cayenne and ½ teaspoon of the salt. Cook until the vegetables have softened, about 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
Add the beef and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Stir in the beans, diced tomatoes (with their juice), tomato puree and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat so it maintains a slow simmer, cover and cook for 45 minutes.
Remove the lid and continue to simmer for an additional 45 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste before serving. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream, if desired. Leftover chili can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The chili can also be frozen for up to 1 month (let the chili thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours before reheating).
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 348 kcal
Carbohydrates: 33 g
Protein: 32 g
Fat: 10 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Cholesterol: 70 mg
Sodium: 810 mg
Sugar: 10 g
Reviews
Ashley K on 2026-06-05 (5 stars): I make beef chili about once a month and THIS is the recipe I always follow because it's excellent! About 2 years ago, I tried other recipes after making this one and finally realized that nothing beats it so don't bother. Just stick with this and you won't go wrong! I do make a few tweaks just based on personal preference but even if you made this chili as is, you will be extremely happy! I highly recommend this recipe! The changes I make are: I only make half because I have a small family, I use a 2nd can of beans because we really like beans (I've used Navy beans, butter beans, kidney beans, and black beans), I omit the red pepper just because we aren't huge pepper fans and I use a 6oz can of tomato paste instead of puree because I like the texture more. Even if you're in a hurry and take it off the stove early (like I've had to do before) it still turns out so yummy!! My husband loves when I make this and I would highly recommend using this recipe when you are searching for a chili recipe. Even with tweaking it to my family's preferences, it still turns out divine and to me, that's a sign of a great recipe!
Cheryl Bower on 2026-02-08 (5 stars): Through the years, I have tried several different chili recipes, and this is the one I always come back to. It is my husband's favorite! Thank you for your wonderful recipes and kitchen tips!
Veronique on 2025-12-09 (5 stars): Best tasting chili i have made, great flavors and so easy, little time to prepare with excellent results 😋
Lisa on 2025-12-02 (5 stars): Absolutely classic!
Irene on 2025-11-08 (5 stars): Love this recipe … helps that everyone comments “best Chili Ever”!!
Kellie on 2025-11-03 (2 stars): I wanted to love this but was very disappointed. It’s pretty bland for chili and definitely no heat if you like no heat it’s still lacking flavor.
Tristan on 2025-10-30 (5 stars): Discovered this recipe a few years ago and now it’s my go to chili recipe. It’s delicious. It’s my family’s favorite!
Fran on 2025-03-06 (5 stars): My husband is a chili snob and he loved this chili. Easy and delicious
John on 2025-02-08 (1 stars): Whatever you do, don't print this. A page or two turned into something like 15. I hope AOC doesn't find out.
MomOfFive on 2025-01-27 (5 stars): I was a bit nervous to try this after a review that that said it was like speghetti sauce. I mean there was a lot of tomato product in this recipe. I had my husband taste it first because of this lol. He right away raved about how good it was. It definitely did not taste like pasta sauce and tasted like chili. Really good with sour cream and cheese. Will make again.
Alyssa on 2025-01-11 (5 stars): So good, and with such simple ingredients! I made a half batch while babysitting and didn't have the extra time to simmer for 1.5 hours (had to make it quickly with a new baby sleeping in the other room!). I simply drained the diced tomatoes prior to adding to the pot to remove the extra water content, then let it simmer for only 5-10 mins instead. It came out really good anyway—my brother and his wife said it was the best chili they've had! Will plan to make it as written some day when I have more time on hand to compare :)
Air on 2025-01-09 (5 stars): So good I could barely wait & let it simmer. 🤣 Gave it a taste test at the very before the simmering and honestly the best chili. Thank you so much! 32° out and this will make my family very happy at dinner. Love!!
N. Stewart on 2025-01-05 (4 stars): Best chili recipe I've found. Thanks for sharing.
Irene on 2024-12-30 (5 stars): Best Chili recipe ever! The family always asking when im making this! Perfect on a chilly day with some fresh bead mmm 😋
Becca1960 on 2024-12-30 (2 stars): You are a good cook and I enjoy reading your recipes, but when I find recipes for chili, I prefer to see "authentic" recipes. Beef Chili is the state of Texas' dish, where you would not find beans listed in any authentic recipes.
