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Easy ground beef chili recipe with beans, tomatoes, and seasoned ground beef

easy ground beef chili recipe with beans

A hearty easy ground beef chili recipe with beans, tomatoes, and warm spices for a comforting homemade family dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground Beef and Aromatics
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
Tomatoes and Beans
  • 1 can 15 ounces kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can 15 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can 15 ounces diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
Optional Toppings
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Sliced green onions
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Diced avocado
  • Jalapeño slices
  • Lime wedges

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, until softened.
  3. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart as it browns. Cook until no visible pink remains.
  4. Add the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute.
  6. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, kidney beans, and black beans. Stir well.
  7. Bring the chili to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
  8. Partially cover and simmer for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  9. If the chili is too thick, add a small splash of beef broth. For thicker chili, simmer uncovered for a few additional minutes.
  10. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
  11. Remove from the heat and let the chili rest for about 5 minutes.
  12. Serve warm with shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, cilantro, avocado, jalapeños, or lime wedges.
Food Safety:
  1. Cook ground beef to a minimum internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).

Notes

  • Brown the ground beef well for deeper flavor.
  • Avoid adding too much liquid at once; you can always add more broth later.
  • Simmer gently rather than boiling aggressively.
  • Use kidney beans and black beans together or substitute your preferred beans.
  • Add bell peppers, corn, zucchini, or carrots for extra vegetables.
  • Reduce the chili powder for a milder chili.