Chili con carne is a hearty, spicy stew of meat, beans, and chili peppers—classic comfort food with roots in Tex-Mex cuisine 🌶️🍲. Its name literally means “chili with meat” in Spanish.
🌶️ Classic Chili Con Carne Recipe
🧾 Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef or chopped beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 bell peppers, diced (optional)
- 1–2 fresh chilies or 1 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 can (400g) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (400g) kidney beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 cup beef or vegetable broth
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Cook the meat
- Heat olive oil in a large pot
- Add beef and brown thoroughly, breaking up large pieces
2. Add aromatics
- Add onion, garlic, and bell peppers
- Cook until softened
3. Season
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper
4. Add tomatoes & beans
- Mix in diced tomatoes, beans, and broth
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer
5. Simmer
- Cover partially and simmer 30–45 minutes
- Stir occasionally, adjust seasoning to taste
6. Serve
- Serve hot with toppings
- Pair with rice, cornbread, or tortilla chips
💡 Tips
- Spice level: Adjust chili powder or fresh chilies to taste
- Beans: Traditional Texas-style chili often skips beans; feel free to omit
- Flavor boost: Simmer longer for deeper flavor
- Make-ahead: Chili often tastes better the next day after flavors meld
🍽️ Variations
- Tex-Mex: Add corn, cilantro, or avocado
- Slow cooker: Cook on low 6–8 hours for hands-off convenience
- Vegetarian: Replace meat with extra beans, lentils, or textured vegetable protein
If you want, I can give you a restaurant-style chili con carne recipe with smoky, slow-cooked depth that rivals a chili cook-off 🌶️🔥.
Do you want me to do that?
