The Best Chili Recipe (Award Winning!)

The Best Chili Recipe (Award Winning!)

This is the BEST Chili Recipe! Made with bacon (and the option to omit if necessary) and ground beef and simmered on the stove for just 30 minutes, this is my family's go-to cold weather comfort food. It's even better when paired with a side of buttermilk cornbread!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings servings (this recipe makes 10 cups total, so one serving is approx 1 ⅔ cup)

Calories 611kcal

Author Sam Merritt

Ingredients

5 strips uncooked bacon chopped¹
1 large yellow onion diced (about 1 cup)
1 red bell pepper diced
3 cloves garlic minced (about 1 Tablespoon)
1 lb ground beef (455g) (I use 90% but any will work)
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 Tablespoon chili powder²
1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder²
1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
¾ teaspoons ground black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper³
1 ¼ cup beef broth (295ml)
15 oz can dark red kidney beans lightly rinsed and drained (425g)
15 oz can black beans lightly rinsed and drained (425)
14.5 oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes undrained (411g)
7- oz can fire roasted green chilis (198g)
¼ cup tomato paste (66g)
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Preferred toppings particularly sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and corn chips

Instructions

Place chopped (uncooked) bacon in a large pot or Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until crisp and cooked through. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate and drain all but 1 ½ Tablespoons of grease.
5 strips uncooked bacon
Add onion and pepper and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
1 large yellow onion, 1 red bell pepper
Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
3 cloves garlic
Add beef, breaking apart with a spatula as you cook. Once meat is partially (about 50%) browned, add sugar and all spices (chili powders, paprika, cumin, onion powder, black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper) and stir well.
1 lb ground beef, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon chili powder², 1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder², 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ¾ teaspoons ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper³
Add all remaining ingredients -- beef broth, beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, chilis, and Worcestershire sauce -- and your cooked bacon and stir well.
1 ¼ cup beef broth, 15 oz can dark red kidney beans, 15 oz can black beans, 14.5 oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes, 7- oz can fire roasted green chilis, ¼ cup tomato paste, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Bring to a boil and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 30 minutes to allow flavor to really develop.
Serve with preferred toppings (sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and corn chips are a must!)
Preferred toppings

Video

Notes

¹For best flavor, DO NOT OMIT THE BACON. However, as someone who spent 23 years not eating bacon I wanted to include tips for those of you who might have the same restrictions. if you wish to make this recipe without bacon you *can* do so by skipping the first step, heating 1 ½ Tablespoons of oil over medium heat, and then beginning from step 2. On the other hand, if you want additional bacon for garnishing, cook it now and reserve.

²You can substitute one chili powder for the other and use just traditional chili powder or just ancho chili powder, but I personally like the blend of the two.

³This gives the chili a mild spice, if you like more heat increase to ¼ teaspoon for a moderate spice. Add additional cayenne pepper at your own risk!

Nutrition