Description
Hearty Mexican-inspired chili delivers robust flavors that dance across palates with rich, complex layers of spice and comfort. Home cooks discover a perfectly balanced dish where tender beef, smoky peppers, and deep seasonings create an unforgettable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1–2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Vegetables and Other Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 3/4 cups (14 fluid ounces) low-sodium beef broth
- 28-ounce (794 grams) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
- 15-ounce (425 grams) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 15-ounce (425 grams) can pinto beans or black beans, rinsed and drained
Toppings:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Chopped red or green onions
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious cooking vessel over medium flame, then gently sweat the diced onions until they become translucent and tender.
- Introduce ground beef to the pot, breaking it into crumbly pieces and browning thoroughly. Enhance the meat with aromatic minced garlic, robust chili powder, earthy cumin, sweet brown sugar, fragrant oregano, and a balanced blend of salt and pepper.
- Incorporate tomato paste, allowing its rich flavors to bloom for a brief moment. Stream in beef broth and fire-roasted crushed tomatoes, creating a harmonious liquid base by stirring carefully.
- Gently fold in the thoroughly rinsed and drained kidney and pinto beans, ensuring even distribution throughout the mixture.
- Reduce heat and let the chili simmer, allowing flavors to meld and intensify. Stir periodically to prevent sticking and promote even cooking, maintaining a gentle bubbling for approximately 30-35 minutes.
- Once the chili reaches a thick, robust consistency, remove from heat and let rest for a few minutes to further develop its complex flavor profile.
- Ladle into warm bowls and embellish with tangy cheddar cheese, cool sour cream, creamy avocado slices, or your preferred complementary garnishes.
Notes
- Add a splash of beer or red wine to deepen the flavor complexity and create a richer taste profile.
- For a leaner version, substitute ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives without compromising the robust chili essence.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting chili powder and adding fresh jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra kick.
- Allow the chili to rest for an hour after cooking to let flavors meld and develop a more intense, harmonious taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg