Best Chili Recipe - Food.com (2024)

108

Community Pick

Submitted by Dee Licious

"I actually took 5 chili recipes and took out all the things I didn't like and kept all the things I did. This has become my very own version of the perfect bowl of chili!"

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Ready In:
1hr

Ingredients:
17
Serves:

4-6

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ingredients

  • 1 12 lbs ground beef
  • 1 large chopped onion (yellow or white)
  • 4 minced garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 12 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 14 teaspoon cayenne
  • 2 (15 1/2 ounce) cans kidney beans
  • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 12 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
  • 1 (4 ounce) can chopped jalapenos
  • 1 teaspoon Splenda sugar substitute (or sugar)
  • 1 cup dark beer (Newcastle or ?)
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican mix)
  • 12 cup sour cream

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directions

  • Cook ground beef in large frying pan.
  • While cooking, stir and chop beef with spatula to crumble.
  • Continue cooking for about 7 minutes or until the meat is brown and cooked through.
  • Add the onion, garlic, chili powder, salt, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and tabasco.
  • Cook while stirring, until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Transfer to large pot. Add the Kidney beans (juice and all), canned tomatoes (juice and all), the tomato paste, jalapenos (yep, juice and all), splenda (or sugar), and beer.
  • Stir well and bring to a boil.
  • Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Top individual bowls of chili with a dollop of sour cream and a generous sprinkle of cheese.

Questions & Replies

Best Chili Recipe - Food.com (13)

  1. Quick question, how much does this make in reference to gallons?

    Timothy M.

  2. On a scale of 1 to 10 how spicy is this chili

    carolallan2005

  3. What type of ground beef is best for this recipe, 80/20?

    Tossato89

  4. Can this be cooked over night in a crockpot if so can you provide directions Thank you

    Darlene J.

see 6 more questions

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Reviews

  1. WOW this is absolutely delicious! Great flavor and just the right amount of heat. I made as written with the exception of not adding chopped jalapenos and I didn't see where the taste was compromised. I did simmer covered for about 2 hours stirring occasionally, then simmered uncovered for another 2 hours stirring occasionally, until it had thickened up some. This will be added to my favorite chili recipe folder. Thanks for posting such an awesome chili recipe. Made for Fall 2011 PAC.

    Papa D 1946-2012

  2. My work had its annual chili cook-off and I wanted to enter. I had never made chili before so I got online and found this recipe! Through it together last night and brought it into work today hoping it would go over well. Guess what!? I won 2nd place! Everyone told me my chili was so good! This is a great recipe and taste so good. Saving and will start making this more often!!

    Andrew J.

  3. Came in second place in a Chili Cook off last night! Didn't add a sugar substitute and no Jalapenos...still it was unbelievable. The extra 1 lb of meat didn't hurt. Gotta agree, the beer was the secret ingredient to bring it over the top!!!

  4. Epic! Make it! Half cayenne if don't like super spice.

    Taste Hump

  5. Went to the grocery store with your list. Used Guinness extra stout instead but otherwise followed exactly. Let simmer for about 5 hours after boil off. Best chili I've had yet. Even if I did make it lol

    Chance W.

see 99 more reviews

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Tweaks

  1. I made a few changes... I used a mixture of ground angus and brisket. I used fresh oregano and jalapeños. I also used smoked paprika and chipotle Tabasco. I omitted the sugar and for the beer I used a cold pressed coffee pumpkin ale.. it turned out amazing!! Also we put ours over rice with fresh onion and shredded cheese

    Carrie W.

  2. slightly less chill powder and cayenne

    boothy41

  3. So we've made this many many times! Absolutely great! I always add one can of fire roasted corn - offsets some of the heat. Also, I use 2lbs vs the 1.5lbs. Then I almost always add two tablespoons of peanut butter(smooth), it makes the chili so rich! And then we bake cornbread and pour the chili on top of it.

    markameier09

  4. I substituted a small glass of vodka and co*ke and a tablespoon of brown sugar instead of beer and the Splenda. Savory instead of the Oregano (because that's all I had). I topped it all off with bacon-infused sour cream, home grown chives and a sprinkle of home made Sriracha, line juice and rock salt. And it was awesome! Or at least the vodka thought so??

    Sean M.

  5. I didn't have beer on hand, so I substituted it for beef broth and substituted the white sugar for brown to offset it a little bit. I also used my crockpot. First I browned the meat on the stove and seasoned it with salt, pepper, and dried minced onion. Then added everything to the crock pot. Turned out perfect! A good base recipe. I plan to tweak it some more next time I make it by adding green and red bell peppers.

    Alexandra C.

see 19 more tweaks

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Dee Licious

Japan

  • 22 Followers
  • 16 Recipes
  • 6 Tweaks

Currently working as a mental health provider for the US Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan. I work in Deployment Health - counseling military members returning from war. I was a bartender for 13 years (so the move over to counseling was not too great a leap...) and when I have time, love to write. My passion is travel - especially to tropical locales and eating is also one of my favorite pastimes. As a result of the eating pastime, working out is one of my not- so-favorite, but very necessary, hobbies. I moved to Okinawa Japan 11 years ago (May 2006) and hope to be here until I get tired of the place (after that who knows?!). I love cooking but wish I had a sous chef and a dishwasher to do all the dirty work!

View Full Profile

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Best Chili Recipe - Food.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to really good chili? ›

Only Add Flavorful Liquids

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

What is the secret to competition chili? ›

Additional Depth of Flavor

Ingredients like tomato paste, cinnamon, coffee and liquid smoke can all add flavor hints that will make your chili cook-off entry unique. Roast your vegetables and use broth or beer instead of water for even more flavor in your pot.

How to make the best chili? ›

How to Make The Best Chili
  1. Cook the bacon. I let my bacon cook until it's perfectly browned and crispy.
  2. Saute the vegetables. Saute the diced onion and bell pepper with the bacon for a few minutes.
  3. Brown the ground beef. ...
  4. Toast the spices. ...
  5. Add the tomatoes, broth, and beans. ...
  6. Simmer the chili.
Dec 15, 2023

What can I add to chili to make it unique? ›

5 Secret Ingredients That'll Take Your Chili to the Next Level
  1. Cocoa Powder. Chocolate might not be the first thing you think of when you're making a batch of chili but it pairs perfectly with peppers. ...
  2. Beer. Why use water or stock as your liquid when you could add beer? ...
  3. Coffee. ...
  4. Cinnamon.
Sep 12, 2021

What adds the most flavor to chili? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What does tomato paste do for chili? ›

The tomato paste adds color and rich flavor to our chili. Now we have our flavorful base, you are going to finish the chili with pureed tomatoes, beef broth (or chicken broth), and beans. Beans make this chili hearty — I like pinto beans or kidney beans.

Is chili better the longer it cooks? ›

A low and slow cook time—at least an hour total—is key for drawing out the most flavor in a pot of chili. Yes, a quick chili is most welcome on weeknights, but it won't have quite the same results. A slow cooker works wonders, but if you're short on time, try a pressure cooker.

What is the number one thing that goes with chili? ›

1. cornbread. This is most commonly served with chili because you can never go wrong with a classic! The slightly sweet corn taste compliments chilis' spiciness.

Why do you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

What makes the best chili meat? ›

The best chili meat is a combination of meats, often a mix of ground chuck, ground sirloin, brisket, diced tri-tip, and/or some bacon or sausage. Do your best to mix smaller pieces with larger pieces to stack textures and make it your own! Happy cooking!

What liquid is best for chili? ›

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

Does chili need tomato paste? ›

Tomato sauce is not a strong a taste as tomato paste. Also, sauce will increase the liquid content of your chili ever so slightly. Tomato paste has a more full, rich, tomato taste and smell. Using either one is appropriate, but you will need to tweak your seasonings to suit your personal tastes, anyway.

What are the best beans for chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

Why is my chili not flavorful? ›

Change up the beans. Use black beans, pintos, or a combination of beans to give more flavor. Cook the chili! If you don't cook it long enough (or put in a pressure cooker to speed up the process), it won't taste quite right.

Why would you put vinegar in chili? ›

With only about 1 tablespoon per pot added toward the end of the cooking process, the vinegar will make the flavors more vibrant without overwhelming the dish with its biting tang. Through just a splash, everything becomes a little brighter, and the chili's flavors are more balanced.

How do you make chili taste more meaty? ›

In a pot of chili, just a few strips of bacon add a smoky, meaty depth. And it's not just the bacon itself that adds flavor, it's the bacon fat, too. Before you start your recipe, cook 3 to 4 strips of thick-cut bacon until they're as crispy as you like.

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