Basic Chili

Name: Basic Chili
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 medium medium yellow onion, diced; 1 lb 90% lean ground beef; 2.5 tbsp chili powder; 2 tbsp ground cumin; 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 tbsp garlic powder; 1.5 tsp salt; 0.5 tsp ground black pepper; 0.25 tsp ground cayenne pepper; 1.5 cup beef broth; 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes; 16 oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed; 8 oz can tomato sauce

Deep-Flavored Beef Chili with Kidney Beans

This isn't your average weeknight chili — the secret is toasting the spices with tomato paste to create a complex base that tastes like it's been simmering all day. Ground beef and kidney beans make it hearty enough to satisfy the biggest appetites, while a touch of sugar balances the heat perfectly.

AmericanDinnerComfort FoodQuick MealsBudget FriendlyKid FriendlyOne PotBeefFallWinter

Prep10 min

Cook35 min

Total45 min

Servings6

Difficultyeasy

Ingredients

1 tbspolive oil
1 mediummedium yellow onion, diced
1 lb90% lean ground beef
2½ tbspchili powder
2 tbspground cumin
2 tbspgranulated sugar
2 tbsptomato paste
1 tbspgarlic powder
1½ tspsalt
½ tspground black pepper
¼ tspground cayenne pepper(optional)
1½ cupbeef broth
15 ozcan petite diced tomatoes
16 ozcan red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
8 ozcan tomato sauce

Instructions

Warm the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat for 2 minutes until it shimmers. Toss in the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it softens and turns translucent around the edges.
⏱ 7 min
Crumble the ground beef into the pot and break it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Let it brown for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains and the meat has developed some nice caramelized bits.
⏱ 7 min
Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne if using. Stir everything together until the spices coat the meat and onions — this toasting step deepens the flavors significantly.
Pour in the beef broth, diced tomatoes with all their juice, drained kidney beans, and tomato sauce. Give it a good stir to combine everything and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low-medium and let it simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. The chili is ready when it's thickened slightly and the flavors have melded together.
⏱ 22 min 30 sec
Turn off the heat and let the chili rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This brief wait allows the flavors to settle and the consistency to thicken just a bit more.
⏱ 7 min 30 sec