Description

This authentic cowboy chili recipe features tender ground beef, hearty beans, and bold spices simmered for 2 hours. Perfect comfort food that feeds a crowd!

Ingredients

The Chili Base:

2 lbs of 80/20 ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1 large green bell pepper, diced
2 teaspoons minced garlic

The Heart & Soul:

1 (15.5 oz) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15.5 oz) can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
3 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
1 (1.25 oz) packet of chili seasoning mix
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 (14.4 oz) cans beef broth
Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Step 1: Brown the Beef (8 minutes)

Heat up your big pot and dump in the beef. Smash it around with a wooden spoon until it’s all brown and there’s no pink left – takes about 8 minutes. Don’t stir it constantly, let it get crispy. Scoop it out with a slotted spoon and leave about a tablespoon of the grease in there.

Step 2: Cook the Vegetables (8-10 minutes)

Throw the onion and bell pepper into that leftover grease. Cook them until they’re soft and the onion’s see-through, maybe 8-10 minutes. Add the garlic for 30 seconds until you can smell it.

Step 3: Everything Goes In

Put the beef back and add both kinds of beans (rinse them first or they’re too salty), all the tomatoes with their juice, the seasoning packet, extra chili powder, and both cans of broth. Stir it up good.

Step 4: The Waiting Game

Get it boiling, then put a lid on and turn it way down to barely bubbling. Now you wait 2 whole hours, stirring every once in a while. This is when it starts smelling so good your neighbors might come over.

Step 5: Fix the Seasoning

Taste it and add salt and pepper until it’s right. Serve it with whatever you want on top.

Notes

Make it the night before. Day-old chili is completely different in the best way.

Put half in the freezer in flat bags. You’ll thank yourself later when you don’t feel like cooking.

Too thin? Mix cornstarch with cold water and stir it in during the last bit of cooking.

Don’t put the beans in early or they turn to mush. Nobody wants mushy beans.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American