Beef Chili

a reliable Beef chili recipe with jalapenos ready in under 30 minutes! Full of ground beef, beans, and seasonings, this chili gets its flavor and spice from those fresh Jalapeños!

A big bowl of our homemade jalapeno chili recipe is good for a cold and rainy night in with a piece of buttermilk cornbread to soak up all the juices left in the bowl. YES! One pot, 30 minutes, good!

Chili Recipe

a reliable Chili recipe doesn't get any easier than this. If you've been following us for a while now, you may have noticed how much we love throwing ingredients into a pot and allowing it to cook or simmer until it's ready.

There's nothing like putting a large pot of chili with jalapenos in the center of the table and having everyone at it. Especially when it's cold and miserable outside! We took full advantage of the freezing nights and made three batches of this chili, two of which made it to the freezer waiting for us to use them for something else.

What Makes This Beef Chili So Good

What makes this homemade chili so good is that it actually tastes like it's been simmering on the stove all day long. One of our favorite things about this chili recipe is how adding a splash of beer instantly deepens the flavor and creates a beautiful, slow build of warmth. We love making it because it's exactly the kind of foolproof comfort food we can rely on. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or just staying in, it always delivers that can't-stop-eating-it finish.

Ingredients for Beef Chili

• Ground Beef: The recipe calls for ground beef (or beef mince), but you CAN use ground turkey or chicken. You could also use a slow-cook meat, such as chuck steak or brisket, BUT you will need to have it on a low simmer for a couple of hours to allow the meat to break down.
• Veggies: You will need other simple veggies, such as yellow onion, bell peppers, and garlic to create your flavor base. Of course, do not forget the fresh jalapeños for that signature heat!
• Spices: The most important ingredients to add into a good homemade chili are spices! For example: cumin, chili powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
• Beans: To bring it all together, we always add a mix of black beans and chili beans to give the bowl a satisfying texture and finish.

Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.

What Beans Do You Use for Chili?

Any beans can be used in a classic chili recipe! We love kidney beans (red beans) and black beans, but you can swap them with pinto beans, white beans, or even chickpeas!

How Do You Make Homemade Chili

Start with a large heavy-based pot (or casserole pot) on the stovetop and sauté aromatics like onions, green peppers (or capsicum), jalapeños, and garlic until fragrant.

Cook the ground meat until browned (break up any big chunks as you go). Stir in your seasonings and spices, such as dried oregano, black pepper, and garlic powder, then mix in fire-roasted or crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and beans.

Let simmer until the chili thickens (this takes about 30 minutes). That's IT!

What Do You Top Chili With?

To make your chili even BETTER, top with any of the following options! These are our favorite toppings:

• Sour cream
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Sliced jalapeños or a splash of hot sauce
• Sliced green onions (or scallions)
• Chopped cilantro
• Sliced avocado
• Crunchy tortilla chips

Kitchen tip

• Bloom Your Spices: Stir your chili powder, cumin, and paprika directly into the browned meat before pouring in any liquids. Toasting the spices in the natural meat fat unlocks good flavor depth!
• Adjust The Heat: Scrape out all the jalapeño seeds before chopping if cooking for kids or mild palates. If you love real heat, leave the seeds in or add a splash of hot sauce right at the end!
• Thicken Without Flour: To get a thick, hearty consistency without needing flour or cornstarch, mash a small spoonful of beans against the side of the pot with your spoon near the end of cooking. The natural starches release instantly to thicken the sauce.
• Give It Time (If You Have It): While 30 minutes gives you a fast, good weeknight meal, letting the pot simmer on low for an extra 15–20 minutes makes the beef meltingly tender and deepens the flavor even more.

What Goes Well With Chili For Dinner?

Wondering what to serve with your chili recipe? We love it with a warm slice of cornbread because obviouslyor something extra cheesy like garlic bread.

If you want another great side option, try savory cornbread. If you are keeping things low-carb, try serving it over buttery mashed cauliflower for a creamy meal.

And leftovers? That's where the fun starts. Spoon your homemade chili over rice, stuff it into baked potatoes, pile it on fries, or turn it into mac and cheese for a fast weeknight meal that feels completely new.

Cook notes

Absolutely. In fact, it tastes even better the next day once the flavors have had time to hang out. Just store it in the fridge and reheat on the stove or in the microwave when you're ready to dive in.

Let it simmer uncovered a bit longer to reduce the liquid naturally. If you're short on time, a spoonful of tomato paste or a few mashed beans will do the trick.

This one's got a mild kick, but nothing too wild. You can always add more chili powder or chopped jalapeños if you like it fiery, or leave them out completely if you're keeping it kid-friendly.

What you need

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 yellow onions large, diced
• 1 green pepper diced
• 1-2 jalapeño peppers finely chopped, with seeds
• 8 cloves garlic chopped or minced, or 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 pounds ground beef mince
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1-2 tablespoons chili powder adjust to your tastes
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika or sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne adjust to your taste
• 14 ounces crushed tomatoes canned
• 15 ounces tomato sauce canned or condensed tomato soup for Aussies
• 2 cups beef or chicken broth
• 28 ounces kidney beans canned, drained
• 14 ounces black beans canned, drained
• 1 tablespoon sour cream
• 1 handful cheddar cheese grated
• 1 tablespoon sliced jalapeños
• 1 tablespoon green onions chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro chopped

Method

1. Heat oil in large heavy-based pot (or casserole pot) over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until transparent, then add the green peppers (or capsicum), jalapeños and garlic; sautéing for a further minute, until the garlic is fragrant.
2. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up any big chunks with the end of your wooden spoon.
3. Stir in the cumin, chili powder, paprika and salt and mix through until beef is fully coated in the seasonings.
4. Mix in the crushed tomatoes along with the juices, the tomato sauce (or soup), broth, and beans.
5. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and allow to simmer while stirring occasionally until the chili thickens (about 30 minutes).
6. Ladle into individual bowls, and top with sour cream, grated cheese, sliced jalapeños, chopped green onions, and/or cilantro.