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.

Beef chili recipe in a bowl served with crackers on the side.

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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.

Homemade Beef Chili in a pot

How to Make the Best Beef Chili?

  1. Brown ground meat, add diced onion and cook until onion is softened.
  2. Add carrots, green pepper and garlic. Cook until veggies are tender.
  3. Add diced tomatoes (with juice), broth, beans and ingredients for chili seasoning. Stir well. Simmer 15 min until vegetables and beans are tender.
  4. 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.

Ingredients for beef chili recipe

Step-by-step photos how to make 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.

Hearty chili in a bowl topped with sour cream and cheese.

More Cozy Cold Weather Recipes to Try:

Beef Chili Recipe

4.95 from 293 votes
A bowl of Beef chili in a bowl with a spoon
This rich and hearty homemade beef chili recipe loaded with vegetables and beans is comfort food at its greatest! 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 people

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:

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

366kcal Calories14g Carbs24g Protein23g Fat8g Saturated Fat80mg Cholesterol1057mg Sodium810mg Potassium4g Fiber4g Sugar1610IU Vitamin A13mg Vitamin C66mg Calcium3.9mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Beef Chili Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
366
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
23
g
35
%
Saturated Fat
 
8
g
50
%
Cholesterol
 
80
mg
27
%
Sodium
 
1057
mg
46
%
Potassium
 
810
mg
23
%
Carbohydrates
 
14
g
5
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
24
g
48
%
Vitamin A
 
1610
IU
32
%
Vitamin C
 
13
mg
16
%
Calcium
 
66
mg
7
%
Iron
 
3.9
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Tex Mex
Keyword: Beef Chili, Chili Recipe
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 366
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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?

4.95 from 293 votes (188 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Raye
    August 26, 2019

    I Love this Beef Chili Recipe. I made this today and it turn out great and soo delicious. Thank you so much Natasha love your recipes.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 26, 2019

      You’re very welcome! Sounds like you found a new favorite!

      Reply

  • Raye
    August 26, 2019

    I Love this Beef Chili Recipe. I made this today and it turn out great and soo delicious. Thank you so much Natasha love your recipes.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 26, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that Raye!!

      Reply

  • Elizabeth
    August 26, 2019

    Hi Natasha! I love your recipes, and even though it’s about 100 here today, I could still go for a bowl of this Beef Chili! Today’s my birthday, so I should be able to eat what I want Thanks for sharing your recipe! I was wondering what ratio beef you used…lean or 80/20 or something in between? Thanks again!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 26, 2019

      Happy Birthday Elizabeth! Yes, I agree it is your say on your birthday on what you eat! We used 80/20 for this recipe.

      Reply

  • Deborah Tulloch
    August 11, 2019

    The best just added sour cream before serving

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 12, 2019

      Yes! Great combination. Thank you for that awesome review, Deborah.

      Reply

  • Umber
    August 3, 2019

    What can be used instead of wine ?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 3, 2019

      Hi Umber, this recipe doesn’t include wine. Were you possibly referring to another recipe?

      Reply

  • Shawnee Bigelow
    July 26, 2019

    Oh Natasha Natasha! My tongue did flips. I made this today…. Oh there is a Heaven and this is Devine! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 26, 2019

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

      Reply

  • Wendy Kooi
    June 12, 2019

    Followed recipe and hubby & I both loved it..Will make often for sure.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 13, 2019

      Hi Wendy! I’m so happy you both enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for sharing that awesome feedback with me!

      Reply

  • brett_jv
    June 9, 2019

    As an adjunct to my below comment about simmering time, if you do the 3 hour method as I suggest, add the canned beans, any fresh veggies like bell pepper or fresh tomato, and any herbs you’d like (oregano is good in chili) at about the 2 hour point 🙂 Hope that helps …

    Reply

  • brett_jv
    June 9, 2019

    Not a bash on the recipe which sounds pretty decent and similar to what I’d make, but I don’t understand how anyone can think that 15 mins, 30 mins, or even 1 hour is long enough to simmer chili and have it come out tasting like proper chili. At 52 yo, I’ve made chili at least 100 times in my life, with very similar recipes to this, and I’m here to tell ya … chili doesn’t really become chili til it’s been simmered at very low heat for 2.5-3 hours. It’s just not possible, the chemistry doesn’t work. Again, no offense, but if you want GOOD chili, take a good recipe like this, then allow it to simmer uncovered, on very low (barely any bubbling) for about 3 hours, check on it every 20 mins to add water or broth as needed to avoid it thickening too much.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 9, 2019

      Thank you for sharing that with us, Brett! I can imagine cooking it for that long will only enhance the flavors!

      Reply

    • Randy Young
      August 14, 2019

      I agree with brett_jv. I love my chili and make it once a month but I use a slowcooker while I’m at work. Slow and easy is the trick. As for you brett_jv. Such a young person, I’m 65, you do the math. As for this recipe I will give it a try.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 14, 2019

        Thank you so much for sharing that with me Randy!

        Reply

  • Tina
    May 21, 2019

    This chili is very good. I thickened it with a bit of masa harina and water. Turned out great. I will probably add a second can of beans as I prefer more beans in chili. The recipe is a keeper!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 21, 2019

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite Tina!

      Reply

    • Marie Czarnecki
      June 8, 2019

      Tina, I agree with you in adding masa harina. I have done that myself, yes and more beans good fiber. I thank you for sharing that in your comment some people don’t know that. God Bless.

      Reply

  • Peter
    May 6, 2019

    Tried this recipe, added a can of tomato paste just to thicken it a bit, but it turned out good!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 6, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that Peter! Thank you for sharing that great review!

      Reply

  • Ashley DeWolfe
    May 3, 2019

    i wanted to try a new recipe. i made this exactly as stated, but it came out so soupy, it wasnt thick at all, or even a little! i even poured some out, to see if that helped, but it did not. not sure if thats how it was suppose to be? but if so, not a fan at all. im starting to make a whole new chili now, so we can eat dinner

    Reply

    • Natasha
      May 3, 2019

      Hi Ashley, it isn’t normally soupy but also isn’t thickened with anything so it is a lighter liquid. If you prefer it thicker, you can drain the beans or use a little less broth. You can also simmer it longer to reduce it down and thicken it up naturally.

      Reply

    • Marie Czarnecki
      June 8, 2019

      Ashley, you can add a little mesa harina to the recipe, but be careful you will get it too thick.

      Reply

  • Lana
    April 24, 2019

    I haven’t tried this but it looks SUPER GOOD! I was wondering if you know or have any salsa recipe. If you cook beans what do you pair it up with? Do you know a recipe of beans sauce or something like that?
    In addition, you should make a blogpost describing the importance of it and purpose. I am a beginner in cooking and in baking so I would like to learn some things. I like cooking and baking but I am not very experienced.
    I remember learning in Middle and High School why eggs are essential in baking and soda etc…
    Do you have a measuring conversion chart that you use? I would greatly appreciate if you share it with me.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 24, 2019

      Hi Lana, thank you so much for our suggestions. We have a few amazing salsa recipes following this link here. We make dried beans following this recipe here.

      Reply

  • Laura Wright
    February 14, 2019

    Hi Natasha, I just wanted you to know that I made this delicious chili recipe with a few tweaks and I won 2nd place out of about 35 entrants for our church chili cook-off this last Halloween (2018). I was sooo good. Thank-you for all your wonderful recipes!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      February 14, 2019

      Oh my goodness that is incredible!! That is so exciting and congratulations! I guess we could now call this a prize winning chili!! Awesome and thank you for sharing that with us 🙂

      Reply

  • Ernie
    February 13, 2019

    Chili without beans is pasta sauce. This looks like a great chili, will try it soon. Had to give a medium rating because I haven’t actually made it yet.

    Reply

  • Jen
    January 31, 2019

    I love chili especially when it’s so cold out. It’s one meal that I can eat over and over again. So good!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 31, 2019

      Exactly! Thank you for sharing your great review, Jen!

      Reply

  • Courtney
    January 31, 2019

    Thank you for the recipe! Love it!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 31, 2019

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it

      Reply

  • Allyson Zea
    January 31, 2019

    This chili is absolutely Perfect! I always make it on cold days and we eat it all week for lunch! Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 31, 2019

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review 🙂

      Reply

  • Steph
    January 31, 2019

    I loved all of the meat in this chili recipe. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 31, 2019

      Yes! That is definitely my kind of chili recipe – plenty of ground beef 🙂

      Reply

  • Toni
    January 31, 2019

    I love how comforting it was! Taste really good!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 31, 2019

      Hi Toni, I’m so glad you loved it! Thanks for sharing your awesome review!

      Reply

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