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Best Homemade Chili Recipe

Best Homemade Chili Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 9 reviews

This Best Homemade Chili recipe features a hearty, flavorful blend of ground beef, fresh vegetables, and a robust mix of spices. Perfect for warming up on a chilly day, this chili combines tender meats, beans, and tomatoes with rich, aromatic seasonings for a classic comfort food dish that’s easy to prepare and sure to please the whole family.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Vegetables

  • 2 pounds ground beef (or turkey)
  • 2 small green peppers (about 2 cups diced)
  • 1 small yellow onion (about 1 ½ cups diced)

Tomatoes and Beans

  • 2 cans diced tomatoes (15-ounce cans)
  • 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 6-ounce can tomato paste
  • 15 ounces water
  • 2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed (15-ounce cans)

Spices and Seasonings

  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 3 tablespoons cumin
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda (optional)

Instructions

  1. Sauté the vegetables: In a large dutch oven, sauté the diced green peppers and yellow onions over medium heat until they become translucent and begin to caramelize. This process brings out their natural sweetness and builds depth of flavor.
  2. Add the spices: Add all seasonings except the baking soda to the pot. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes while stirring continuously, ensuring the spices are toasted gently and do not burn, which enhances their aroma and flavor.
  3. Brown the meat: Add the ground beef (or turkey) to the seasoned vegetables and cook until it is browned but may still have some pink. This step ensures the meat is partially cooked before combining with other ingredients.
  4. Add tomato ingredients and water: Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and water. Stir everything together to combine uniformly.
  5. Simmer chili: Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook for about 15 minutes. This simmering allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
  6. Add beans and baking soda: Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans, then stir in the baking soda if using. The sauce will bubble up due to the baking soda reacting; continue stirring over medium heat until the bubbling subsides, which helps reduce acidity and tenderizes the beans.
  7. Serve: Remove the chili from heat and serve hot. Garnish as desired with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions.

Notes

  • Using baking soda is optional but helps reduce acidity and improves bean texture.
  • You can substitute ground turkey or a plant-based meat alternative for a lighter or vegetarian version.
  • Adjust chili powder and cayenne pepper to taste based on desired heat level.
  • For a thicker chili, simmer longer or reduce the amount of water.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: homemade chili, ground beef chili, easy chili recipe, classic chili, spicy chili, chili with beans

Find it online: https://todayquickmeals.com/best-homemade-chili-recipe/