Ground Beef Chili has all the flavors of your favorite classic chili recipe but is made in half the time! It’s comfort food that warms the soul with each hearty bite.
This recipe makes the perfect weeknight meal served with Corn Bread Muffins, and a Chopped Salad. Add in Cinnamon Sugar Pizza for dessert, and you’ll hit a home run with your family.
It’s well-known that each person with a chili recipe thinks theirs is the best. And that’s OK! I feel the same way about my Award-Winning Southern Soul Chili. While calling something the best is fine by me, sometimes, you need a delicious recipe that’s easy to make, delicious, and downright good.
Enter my recipe for Ground Beef Chili. It’s simple, with just a bit of prep time, and loaded with rich flavor.
What Is The Secret To This Homemade Chili Recipe?
The secret ingredient in my recipe is bacon. Yep, BACON! Its savory and slightly salty profile adds an extra layer of umami goodness to my quick chili recipe. Plus, bacon gives a depth of flavor that compliments the ground beef, beans and spices beautifully.
Ground Beef Chili Ingredients And Substitutions
- Ground Beef – you can swap out ground turkey or chicken if you like.
- Beef Stock – beef broth or vegetable stock can also be used.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Onion
- Green Pepper – red or yellow bell peppers can also be used.
- Garlic
- Bacon
- Brown Sugar
- Chili Powder
- Cumin – dried oregano is an excellent substitution.
- Tomato Paste
- Crushed Tomatoes – canned tomato sauce is a good substitution as well.
- Salt and Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes – you can also use cayenne pepper.
- Red Kidney Beans – black beans or pinto beans are great substitutes.
Scroll Down For Measurements
Frequently Asked Questions With Answers
Yes. Drain and rinse the beans before adding to the chili.
Yep, you sure can! Cook the ground beef, onions, garlic and green peppers in a skillet until the beef is no longer pink. Add to a crock pot along with the other ingredients. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Yes. This recipe is great to make ahead and freeze. Make the chili according to the instructions, then let it cool. Place the chili in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Easy To Make Beef Chili
- Toppings – cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, sliced or minced jalapeños, fried tortilla strips, tortilla chips, corn chips.
- Bread – Green Chile Cheese Cornbread, Parmesan Bread Sticks, Creamed Corn Cornbread Muffins.
- Salad – Everyday Green Salad, Avocado Tomato Cucumber Salad, Tomato Cucumber Salad.
- Serve this Ground Beef Chili recipe spooned over Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, or turn it into a rice bowl over Garlic Rice.
Craving More? Try These Chili Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium chopped onion
- 1 medium chopped green pepper
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 4 slices chopped bacon
- 1 pouns ground beef
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups beef stock
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 15-ounce cans red kidney beans – drained and rinsed
Instructions
- Place a large Dutch Oven over a medium low heat and add olive oil. Add chopped onions, diced peppers and cubed uncooked bacon into Dutch oven and cook until onions are soft and translucent. Then, add minced garlic and sauté, being careful not to burn.
- Once sautéed garlic becomes more fragrant, add ground beef and cook until it's no longer pink. Carefully drain off any excess oil.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the Dutch Oven, stirring the chili after adding each ingredient. Bring Chili up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes with the lid on the pot.
- Remove the lid from the Dutch Oven, stir the chili, and then cook for an additional 30 minutes without a lid until Chili is slightly reduced and thickened. Serve and enjoy!
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Hi Donya, Can this recipe be made in a slow cooker ?
Yes, the instructions are in the post.
~Donya