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A bowl of hearty ground beef chili with sour cream, cheddar cheese, and green onion toppings.

Ground Beef Chili Recipe

Warm up with our ultimate ground beef chili recipe! Hearty, flavorful & easy to make in one pot. Your new family favorite is just a simmer away.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Calories: 385
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 lbs ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat
  2. Add ground beef and cook until well-browned, breaking it up with a spoon (8-10 minutes)
  3. Add diced onion and cook for 5-6 minutes until softened
  4. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant
  5. Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper
  6. Stir constantly for 30 seconds to toast the spices
  7. Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, kidney beans, and pinto beans
  8. Add salt and black pepper, stirring to combine
  9. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low
  10. Cover and simmer for at least 45 minutes, stirring occasionally (up to 2 hours for deeper flavor)
  11. Adjust seasoning to taste before serving
  12. Serve with desired toppings

Notes

Pros (Editorial Review - Positive Notes)

  • Exceptional depth of flavor from toasted spices
  • Perfect balance of heat and richness
  • Hearty and satisfying texture
  • Excellent make-ahead meal that improves overnight
  • Freezes beautifully for future meals
  • Versatile - easily customizable to personal taste
  • One-pot cooking minimizes cleanup
  • Crowd-pleasing recipe for gatherings
  • Uses mostly pantry staples
  • Clear, easy-to-follow instructions

Cons (Editorial Review - Negative Notes)

  • Requires longer simmering time for best results
  • Higher calorie content than some lighter meal options
  • May be too spicy for very sensitive palates without adjustments
  • Not suitable for vegetarian/vegan diets without modifications
  • Uses multiple cans/packaging