Rich and hearty homemade Beef Chili Recipe loaded with vegetables and beans is comfort food at its greatest! This (under 30-minute) chili recipe is going to become your go-to recipe for cooler weather.

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Beef Chili Recipe
Ground meat and beans are the basis for a classic chili recipe. You can elevate the flavors of a traditional chili by adding vegetables so for this beef chili recipe, we added carrots and green peppers.
Make this your own by adding other diced vegetables you have on hand. These can include celery, mushrooms, zucchini or red peppers and can be added with the carrots and peppers.

How to Make the Best Beef Chili?
- Brown ground meat, add diced onion and cook until onion is softened.
- Add carrots, green pepper and garlic. Cook until veggies are tender.
- Add diced tomatoes (with juice), broth, beans and ingredients for chili seasoning. Stir well. Simmer 15 min until vegetables and beans are tender.
- Turn off the heat and allow the chili to rest 5 minutes before serving.
TIP: If you don’t like chunky diced tomatoes, then finely cube or puree them before adding to the chili.


Can Beef Chili be Frozen?
Yes, chili may be frozen. Cool chili completely and store in an air-tight container up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat to enjoy!
Since reheated chili tastes just as good as fresh, Chili may also be refrigerated and enjoyed for several days.
Chili Toppings:
This chili is a mild chili with the indicated seasonings, if you want a spicier chili, add more chili powder to taste. 🙂
Serve the beef chili with your favorite toppings of sour cream, cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips, fresh cilantro or green onion.
Be adventurous and serve the hearty chili over a halved and pitted avocado or baked potato! So good and original.

More Cozy Cold Weather Recipes to Try:
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe – a crowd-pleasing chili
- Potato Chicken Soup Recipe – so comforting
- Instant Pot White Chicken Chili – super fast and easy
- Creamy Tomato Basil Soup – comfort in a bowl
Beef Chili Recipe

Ingredients
Beef Chili Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely cubed
- 1 large carrot, cubed
- ½ medium green bell pepper, cubed
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 15.5 oz can kidney beans, , drained and rinsed
- 3 cups beef broth
Chili Seasonings:
- 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 2 ½ tsp chili powder
Instructions
- Brown beef in a Dutch oven over med-high heat, breaking up the meat while stirring.
- Add onion and cook until tender.
- Add diced carrot, bell pepper and minced garlic. Cook until vegetables are tender, stirring as needed. Drain excess fat.
- Pour in diced tomatoes with juice, add beans, broth and seasonings. Stir well to combine.
- Turn heat down to a gentle boil and allow chili to cook 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally (longer if meat and vegetables aren’t desired tenderness).
- Taste chili and additional seasonings if needed. Turn off heat and allow chili to rest 5 minutes.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Curling up with a bowl of hot chili in the winter is a real treat. What is YOUR favorite cold-weather comfort food?



Hi! I’m Natasha Kravchuk, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, food photographer, and writer. Here you’ll find delicious, reliable recipes made with simple ingredients, plus easy step-by-step photos and videos to help you cook confidently at home.
Made this chili but substituted the bell pepper with jalapeño for extra spice. Good recipe and was super yummy!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
This soup looks so nice and hearty. Would love to have this right about now to keep me warm in this cold weather!
I agree Connie! It is so perfect for this weather!
Chili is a classic for my family this time of year!
It is seriously so perfect for this weather! Thank you for the great review!!
This is the perfect chili recipe! So zesty and inviting!!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
I have been on the hunt for a new chili recipe! Thanks so much!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it
Well this beef chili looks absolutely amazing and so comforting! I bet it would bet perfect on this freezing day today
Thanks Allyson! Beef chili is one of my favorite things to curl up with 🙂
My first time making chili was a success! Thanks for an awesome recipe! Want to try the white chicken chili next:)
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Hmmmm so good!!! Thank you Valentina for the recipe and Natasha for posting!!! I reserved some chili without jalapeños for my son and added some jalapeños for my husband who likes spicy foods. It’s delicious both ways!! 🙂
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me :).
So good…it should be called the best chili ever…even crackers were not necessary…thanks for sharing!!!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review
I just made this for my family and the whole pot is gone! Absolutely delicious and satisfying. Thank you for this recipe it’s a keeper, I will definitely be making this again ☺
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Finally a chili recipe that is so good and not too tomato-y. Thanks Natasha!
You’re welcome Danica! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Turned out delicious. Thank you for another great recipe!
We are so happy you liked it! Thank you for the feedback!
Thanks for sharing this recipe. While it wasn’t our favorite, we will tweak to suit our tastes!
Thanks for trying the Chili, Jose. As always, tweak seasonings to suit your personal taste. 🙂
Love this chili! Even my 7 year old had it, which is surprising, cause she is very picky eater. I add some pickled jalapenos and cheddar cheese on top, and had 2 bowls, couldn’t stop eating))).
I am so happy to hear that! Thank you for the amazing review!! We also love pickled jalapeños as a topping for chili (and guacamole!) 🙂
Made this chili for dinner and it was a hit. We don’t like hot, spicy food so this recipe was great for our family. So easy to make, too.
That is wonderful!! Thank you for sharing your great review!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
This was BOMB and sooo easy. We all loved it. I took advice and added avocado it was so good. Thank you ladies.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Hi Natasha,
Can I use 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb ground turkey?
You sure can, Sosi! We’d love to hear your feedback! Enjoy.
Hello Natasha. What kind of beans do you use, canned? Thanks
Hi Galina, this recipe calls for “15.5 oz can kidney beans , drained and rinsed”
Hey, Nat!
What kind of ground beef is it better to use in the chili? Leaner or fatter?
Thanks!
Hi Rachel, ground beef with a higher fat content will usually produced the best flavor and you can spoon out the excess fat but this will still work equally well with a lean ground beef and you can add olive oil if needed for sautéing.
Perfectly dressed all time favourite ! We will enjoy this one for sure. Thank you !
You’re very welcome!
Thanks, Natasha, for the recipe! Just made it for dinner… very delicious, flavorful and rich! A+ 😉😄
You are quick!! I’m so glad you loved the beef chili recipe! YAAASSS!!! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review 🙂