By Becky Hardin
Published Nov 14, 2022
Chili con Carne is a one-pot comfort meal that the whole family will love! Hearty ground beef is made delicious with a mixture of bold seasonings, onions, tomatoes, and red kidney beans. Top each bowl off with some sour cream and shredded cheese for the best bite!
Why We Love This Chili Con Carne Recipe
After one heaping serving of Chili con Carne, no one is leaving the dinner table still hungry! However, it’s so good that you might just be sneaking back in the kitchen for more no matter how full you may be. Even your pickiest eaters will be craving this dinner over and over again!
- Filling . Ground beef and kidney beans in every bite mean that this protein-packed meal is sure to fill every belly at the table.
- Comforting . A big, warm, flavorful bowl of chili does wonders for the body and soul! This comforting dinner recipe is ideal for chilly nights.
- Easy . One-pot recipes are always my favorite! They’re easy to make and even easier to clean up.
Variations on Chili con Carne with Beans
You can use unsalted butter, but I would add a little extra salt to still bring out the flavor of the onion and garlic.
Feel free to switch out the red onion for a yellow, white, or sweet onion if you prefer.
If you prefer to use fresh garlic, crush the garlic clove with the side of your knife so it releases the flavor slower.
Replace the ground beef with ground chicken or ground turkey for a different protein.
You can replace the chipotle chili powder with chili seasoning , which is what most chili recipes use. You will lose a little of the unique flavor of this dish but it will still work well.
You can omit the cumin if you’re not a fan.
You can use another similar type of beans in a pinch, like black or pinto beans. However, red kidney beans are definitely the best option for this recipe.
How to Store and Reheat
This chili con carne can be made up to 2 days in advance of when you plan to serve it. In fact, many people swear that chili tastes better the day after it’s made! Store leftover chili con carne in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop.
How to Freeze
Freeze chili con carne whole or in individual portions in airtight containers or Ziplock bags for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this chili con carne in a bowl with traditional toppings, such as sour cream, grated cheese, cilantro, avocado, or pico de gallo , and a side of tortilla chips .
You can also serve it over rice, with a side of cornbread , over french fries for chili cheese fries , spooned over split baked potatoes , over pasta or stirred into chili mac , or on soft rolls for sloppy joes .
More Beef Recipes To Try
- Stovetop Burgers
- Beefaroni
- Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes
- Baked Cheeseburger Sliders
- American Goulash
- Birria Tacos
- Boiled Ground Beef
- Stuffed Shells with Meat
Notes from the Test Kitchen
- Don’t skip browning the beef; this adds a lot of flavor.
- To keep the beef moist, mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda with a tablespoon of water, stir to combine, then mix it into the meat before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan; this will cause the onions and meat to steam rather than brown.
- You can easily modify the heat level of your chili by modifying the amount of chili powder you use. I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon and adding more, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired spice level.
- Feel free to simmer the chili for more than 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- If the chili seems a bit watery, simmer it until it thickens up.
- To round out the flavors, add a teaspoon of red wine vinegar to the chili just before serving. You won’t taste it, but it will enhance the flavors of the dish!
5-Star Review
“This is the best recipe I have found. I made it yesterday and could not stop tasting it before dinner. Would give it more stars if possible. Thanks.” -Barbara
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 tablespoons salted butter (¼ stick)
- ▢ 1 red onion diced
- ▢ 1 tablespoon minced garlic (from about 4 cloves)
- ▢ 1 pound ground beef
- ▢ 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
- ▢ 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (1 large can)
- ▢ 6 ounces tomato paste (1 can)
- ▢ 30 ounces red kidney beans (2 (15-ounce) cans) – do not drain!
Video
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, melt the butter. 2 tablespoons salted butter
- Add in the red onion and crushed garlic and cook until the onions start to turn translucent, about 1-2 minutes. 1 red onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Brown the ground beef in the skillet with the onions and garlic, about 3-5 minutes. 1 pound ground beef
- Season the beef with chipotle chili pepper, cumin, dried oregano, and salt. 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder, 1½ teaspoons ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and red kidney beans. 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 6 ounces tomato paste, 30 ounces red kidney beans
- Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
- Let cook for thirty minutes, covered, and stir occasionally. Serve hot.
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
Becky’s Tips
- Don’t skip browning the beef; this adds a lot of flavor.
- To keep the beef moist, mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda with a tablespoon of water, stir to combine, then mix it into the meat before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan; this will cause the onions and meat to steam rather than brown.
- You can easily modify the heat level of your chili by modifying the amount of chili powder you use. I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon and adding more, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired spice level.
- Feel free to simmer the chili for more than 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- If the chili seems a bit watery, simmer it until it thickens up.
- To round out the flavors, add a teaspoon of red wine vinegar to the chili just before serving. You won’t taste it, but it will enhance the flavors of the dish!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Chili con Carne Step by Step
Melt the Butter: In a large Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of salted butter.
Cook the Onion: Add in 1 diced red onion and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and cook until the onions start to turn translucent, about 1-2 minutes.
Season the Beef: Brown 1 pound of ground beef in the skillet with the onions and garlic, about 3-5 minutes. Season the beef with 1 tablespoon of chipotle chili powder, 1½ teaspoons of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
Simmer and Serve: Add 28 ounces (1 large can) of crushed tomatoes, 6 ounces (1 can) of tomato paste, and 30 ounces (2 (15-ounce) cans) of red kidney beans. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Let cook for thirty minutes, covered, and stir occasionally. Serve hot.
Chili is often just shorthand for chili con carne. However, chili can be made with chicken, turkey, vegetables, etc., while chili con carne is most commonly made with ground beef.
That depends on who you ask! Many Texans are adamant that beans do not belong in chili, but I like to add beans for their creaminess and depth of flavor.
Chili con carne can be as spicy as you like. Chipotle chili powder is mildly spicy. You can easily modify the heat level of your chili by modifying the amount of chili powder you use. I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon and adding more, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired spice level.
If your chili con carne is a bit too watery, simmer it uncovered over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until it thickens up.
Chili con Carne Recipe
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter (¼ stick)
- 1 red onion diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (from about 4 cloves)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (1 large can)
- 6 ounces tomato paste (1 can)
- 30 ounces red kidney beans (2 (15-ounce) cans) - do not drain!
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, melt the butter. 2 tablespoons salted butter
- Add in the red onion and crushed garlic and cook until the onions start to turn translucent, about 1-2 minutes. 1 red onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Brown the ground beef in the skillet with the onions and garlic, about 3-5 minutes. 1 pound ground beef
- Season the beef with chipotle chili pepper, cumin, dried oregano, and salt. 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder, 1½ teaspoons ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and red kidney beans. 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 6 ounces tomato paste, 30 ounces red kidney beans
- Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
- Let cook for thirty minutes, covered, and stir occasionally. Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Don’t skip browning the beef; this adds a lot of flavor.
- To keep the beef moist, mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda with a tablespoon of water, stir to combine, then mix it into the meat before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan; this will cause the onions and meat to steam rather than brown.
- You can easily modify the heat level of your chili by modifying the amount of chili powder you use. I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon and adding more, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired spice level.
- Feel free to simmer the chili for more than 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- If the chili seems a bit watery, simmer it until it thickens up.
- To round out the flavors, add a teaspoon of red wine vinegar to the chili just before serving. You won’t taste it, but it will enhance the flavors of the dish!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
