Beef and Bean Chili
Beef mince simmered with kidney beans, tinned tomatoes, onion and chili powder until thick. Six servings in 60 minutes from one pot.
Making Beef and Bean Chili Ahead
Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days and tastes better on the second day. Freezes for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming throughout.
How to Make Beef and Bean Chili
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Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the mince and cook for 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned.
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Add the onion and garlic and cook for 4 minutes. Stir in the chili powder and cumin and cook for 1 minute.
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Add the tomatoes, beans, purée, water and salt. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a bare simmer.
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Cook uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick. Crush a few beans against the side of the pot, taste and adjust the salt.
Worth Knowing
- Rinse the beans well to remove the tin liquid, which can taste metallic.
- If the chili catches on the base, lower the heat and add a splash of water.
- Let it stand off the heat for 10 minutes before serving; it thickens as it cools.
- Add more chili powder at the end rather than the start if you want it hotter.
Behind the Recipe
Keep the heat low. That is most of the recipe, and the part people skip. A chili boiled hard splits the fat and toughens the mince; one that barely bubbles turns thick and glossy.
The tinned beans do two jobs. They stretch 500 g of mince across six bowls and they thicken the sauce when a few are crushed against the side of the pot.
Fry the chili powder and cumin in the pan for a minute before the tomatoes go in. Spices cooked in fat smell warm and round; spices stirred into liquid taste raw and dusty.
Taste at the end and not before. Tinned tomatoes and beans vary a lot in salt, and chili sharpens as it reduces. Chili is a flexible pot, and extra beans, grated carrot or a tin of sweetcorn stretch it further without changing the character. Leave it to stand off the heat for a while before serving, and the flavour comes together noticeably.
Good Alongside
Rice · Baked potatoes · Grated cheddar · Soured cream · Cornbread
Swaps and Variations
- An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
Beef and Bean Chili FAQ
How long does Beef and Bean Chili take to make?
About 1 hour in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 45 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Beef and Bean Chili?
Rinse the beans well to remove the tin liquid, which can taste metallic. If the chili catches on the base, lower the heat and add a splash of water. Let it stand off the heat for 10 minutes before serving; it thickens as it cools. Add more chili powder at the end rather than the start if you want it hotter.
What should I serve with Beef and Bean Chili?
Rice; Baked potatoes; Grated cheddar; Soured cream; Cornbread.
Can Beef and Bean Chili be made ahead or frozen?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days and tastes better on the second day. Freezes for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming throughout.
Is Beef and Bean Chili suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, low-carb and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Beef and Bean Chili?
About 308 kcal per serving, with 23 g protein, 18 g carbohydrate and 16 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Beef and Bean Chili Nutrition Facts
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.