Chili con Carne
This Tex-Mex recipe provides a comforting bowl of hearty nourishment.
Ingredients
- 1 kg ground beef
- 250 g bell peppers About 2-3 peppers. Can be red or green mix
- 130 g onion 1 large onion
- 5 garlic cloves
- 500 ml water or stock
- 2 cans diced tomatoes 400 ml cans
- 2 cans kidney beans
- 1 can black beans
- 1 small can corn optional - see notes
Spices & Seasoning
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp cumin seeds ground on a mortar and pestle
- 2 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp chili powder Or to desired spiciness
- 2 tsp smoked chili powder Optional. If you don't have this, just add more regular chili powder until you reach your desired spiciness.
- 1 tsp thyme
- 2 tsp salt to taste
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 2 bay leaves
Garnish
- Sour Cream
- Chopped Cilantro
- Squeeze of Lime
- Chili flakes or fresh jalapeño
Instructions
- Prep aromatics: Dice your onions and bell peppers.
- Sauté veggies: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and bell peppers and sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add garlic & meat: Stir in the chopped garlic and cook for 2 minutes until aromatic. Add your ground meat and break it up with a spoon.
- Brown meat & season: Incorporate the meat with the sautéed vegetables. Add all your spices (except white sugar and bay leaves). If the meat starts to stick, add a splash of water to deglaze the pan. Cook until the meat is fully browned.
- Simmer the chili: Stir in the canned tomatoes, stock, bay leaves, and sugar. Mix well, cover, and bring to a gentle simmer over low heat for 25 minutes. After 5 minutes, taste and adjust salt and spices as needed for your perfect homemade chili.
- Add beans & corn: After 25 minutes, stir in your beans and corn (if using).
- Continue simmering: Simmer for another 20 minutes on low heat. For a thicker consistency for your easy chili recipe, leave the lid off during this stage.
- Rest & serve: Turn off the heat and let the chili rest in the pot for 15 minutes. Serve warm over rice and garnish with sour cream, fresh spring onions, and a squeeze of lime juice for the best chili experience! Enjoy!
Notes
- Bean Variations: Feel free to customize the type and amount of beans. Use a mix, or stick to just black beans or kidney beans.
- Sweetness Factor: Sweet corn adds a touch of sweetness. Adjust to your preference – sometimes a savory and spicy chili is preferred, other times a hint of sweetness is welcome.
- Decadent Addition: For extra richness, cook diced bacon with the onions and bell peppers at the beginning of the recipe