Description

Easy homemade version of Texas Roadhouse chili made with ground beef, kidney beans, and the perfect blend of spices that tastes just like the original.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef (chuck or sirloin)
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 yellow or white onion, diced
15 oz red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
8 oz tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
15 oz crushed tomatoes
1½ cups beef broth (can substitute vegetable or chicken broth)
1 tablespoon brown sugar (packed)

Spice Blend:

2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons cumin
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons salt

Optional Toppings:

½ red onion, diced
⅛ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics

Heat olive oil in your big pot over medium heat. Throw in the garlic and onion, cook for maybe 4 minutes until the onion looks clear. Don’t burn the garlic or it’ll taste bitter.

Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef

Add the ground beef and break it up with your spoon. Keep stirring so it doesn’t clump together in big chunks. Cook until it’s all brown, about 5-6 minutes. No pink bits left.

Step 3: Drain Excess Fat

If there’s a lot of grease pooling in the bottom, drain some off. I usually leave a little because it adds flavor, but if you used really fatty beef you might want to get rid of most of it.

Step 4: Add All Ingredients

Dump in everything else – beans, tomato sauce, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, broth, brown sugar, and all the spices. Stir it around until it’s mixed up. It’ll look like a mess but that’s normal.

Step 5: Simmer the Chili

Turn the heat down to low and let it bubble gently for 25 minutes. Stir it every few minutes so nothing sticks to the bottom. Your house will start smelling amazing around minute 15.

Step 6: Rest Before Serving

Turn off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes. It’ll thicken up a little as it cools down. This step is important – hot chili burns your tongue and you can’t taste anything.

Step 7: Serve and Garnish

Scoop it into bowls and add whatever toppings you want. The diced red onion and cheese are really good, but sour cream and green onions work too.

Notes

Use 80/20 ground beef for the best flavor without too much grease. Don’t skip the brown sugar even if you think it sounds weird. Let it simmer the full 25 minutes – I’ve tried shortcuts and it always tastes flat.

If you accidentally make it too spicy, add another spoonful of brown sugar. Sounds crazy but it works. And always make extra – this stuff tastes even better the next day.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American