Chili Con Carne

5 from 1 vote

This easy Chili Con Carne recipe is made with just a few simple ingredients for a fast yet hearty chili recipe! Serve with your favorite chili toppings and a side of cornbread for a complete meal.

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword beef chili recipe, chili, chili con carne, chili con carne recipe with ground beef, slow cooker chili

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1 30

Total Time 1 45

Servings servings

Calories 255kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion chopped
2 teaspoon finely minced or grated garlic
1 ½ lbs. (24 ounces) lean ground beef
1 28 oz. can Redpack diced tomatoes NOT drained
½ cup Redpack ketchup
8 ounces (about 1 cup) Redpack tomato sauce
1 15.5 oz. can dark red kidney beans drained and rinsed
1-2 tablespoons chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 bay leaf
Optional: dash of cayenne pepper
Optional, for serving: cornbread; corn chips; cheese; sour cream; sliced green onions/chives; cilantro; avocado; diced red onion

Instructions

For the Stovetop:

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes or until it begins to caramelize around the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Add the beef and brown all over, breaking up the meat as you go, about 5-7 more minutes. Drain fat and return beef mixture to the pot.
Stir in the remaining ingredients. Simmer, covered, on low heat for about 1-1 ½ hours.
Remove the bay leaf. Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with optional toppings.

For the Slow Cooker:

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes or until it begins to caramelize around the edges. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute. Add the beef and brown all over, breaking up the meat as you go, about 5-7 more minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Drain fat.
Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours.
Remove the bay leaf. Ladle the chili into bowls and garnish with optional toppings.

Notes

Can you freeze Chili Con Carne?

Absolutely! This is the perfect freezer meal! Prepare a batch of Chili Con Carne, allow it to cool to room temperature, and then package in airtight containers. It will keep well in the freezer for at least 2 months.

COOK'S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:

This is a Chili Con Carne recipe with ground beef, but you can substitute with an equal amount of ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer.
Fresh herbs or chopped onions on top of the chili add a bright burst of flavor that contrasts nicely with the rich, hearty stew.
Try garnishing with sour cream or grated cheese for a cool, creamy texture.
You can prepare the Chili Con Carne in advance and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months!
To make meal prep faster, try browning the beef mixture over the weekend (or the night before) and keeping the cooked beef in your refrigerator. On the day that you're ready to cook your Chili Con Carne, you will just need to stir all of the ingredients together in your slow cooker or pot -- no prep work necessary!
Want a Chili Con Carne with no beans? You can substitute with a can of corn kernels or you can increase the ground beef to 2 pounds.

Nutrition