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The Best Homemade Chili Recipe

The Best Homemade Chili Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 16 reviews

This hearty and flavorful homemade chili recipe is a comforting classic that’s perfect for chilly days. Packed with savory ingredients and warming spices, this chili is sure to become a family favorite.

Ingredients

Bacon:

    8 ounces bacon, chopped

Vegetables:

    1 large yellow onion, diced
    1 red bell pepper, seeds and core removed, diced
    1 jalapeno pepper, diced
    2 carrots, minced
    5 cloves garlic, minced

Ground Beef Seasonings:

    2 pounds lean ground beef
    2 teaspoons light brown sugar
    2 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
    1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    3 teaspoons chili powder
    2 teaspoons ground cumin
    1 teaspoon garlic powder
    1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Other Ingredients:

    1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
    1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes with basil
    3 (15 ounce) cans of beans (1 red kidney beans, 1 black beans, 1 pinto beans recommended), drained and rinsed
    3 cups beef broth (or 2 cups beef broth and 1 cup pilsner beer)

Instructions

  1. Cook the Bacon: In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, fry the chopped bacon until crispy, stirring occasionally. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside for later use.
  2. Sauté the Vegetables: Leave the bacon grease in the pan. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and carrots. Sauté until the vegetables are soft and nearly caramelized, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
  3. Brown the Beef: Add the ground beef to the pan and cook, stirring gently, to avoid breaking the beef into tiny pieces (aim for larger chunks). Cook until the beef is deeply browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.
  4. Add Seasonings: Stir in the brown sugar, salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Cook for about 1 minute until the spices become fragrant.
  5. Add Tomato Paste & Crushed Tomatoes: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 2 minutes, then add the crushed tomatoes. Cook for another 2 minutes to incorporate all flavors.
  6. Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked bacon, beans, and broth (and beer, if using) to the pot. Stir well to combine. Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. If the chili thickens too much, add additional broth as needed.
  7. Serve: Once the chili has thickened and the flavors have melded, scoop it into bowls and serve with your choice of garnishes (see post for suggestions).

Nutrition

Keywords: homemade chili, chili recipe, comfort food, hearty chili

Find it online: https://kitchenbyrita.com/the-best-homemade-chili-recipe/