Name: Savory Ground Beef and Bean Chili Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil (or vegetable oil); 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup); 1 green bell pepper, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (85% lean); 2 tablespoons chili powder; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional); 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste); 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon cocoa powder; 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes; 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juices; 1 cup beef broth (or chicken broth or water); 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed; 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed; Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese; Sour cream or Greek yogurt; Chopped green onions; Fresh cilantro; Crushed tortilla chips; Cornbread; Hot sauce

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil (or vegetable oil)

1 large yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)

1 green bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (85% lean)

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juices

1 cup beef broth (or chicken broth or water)

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

Optional toppings: shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, crushed tortilla chips, cornbread, hot sauce

Instructions

Step 1: Dice the onion and green bell pepper. Mince the garlic and set aside.

Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned and crumbly, about 8–10 minutes. Spoon off excess fat if needed.

Step 3: Add diced onion and bell pepper. Cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

Step 4: Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne (if using), salt, black pepper, and cocoa powder. Cook for about 1 minute to bloom the spices.

Step 5: Pour in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes with juices, beef broth, and tomato paste. Stir well, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits.

Step 6: Add kidney beans and black beans (drained and rinsed). Stir to combine all ingredients.

Step 7: Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and partially cover the pot. Simmer for 30–40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Adjust thickness by adding more broth or simmering uncovered if needed.

Step 8: Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or cayenne. Add a teaspoon of sugar or a squeeze of lime juice if desired for balancing flavors.

Step 9: Serve hot in bowls with your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped fresh herbs.

Tips & Variations

For a deeper smoky flavor, consider adding a chipotle pepper in adobo sauce along with the spices.

Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter version.

Add some diced jalapeños for extra heat if you like spicy chili.

Slow cook the chili for several hours to develop richer flavors if time allows.

Serve with warm cornbread or over rice for a complete meal.

FAQs

Can I make this chili vegetarian?

Yes, simply omit the ground beef and increase the beans or add vegetables like zucchini and mushrooms. You can also use a plant-based ground meat substitute to keep the texture similar.

How spicy is this chili?

The recipe offers mild to moderate heat with optional cayenne pepper. You can adjust the amount of cayenne or add hotter peppers to suit your taste. Leaving out the cayenne will make it very mild.