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A close-up of a spoonful of chunky chili with beans, tomatoes, and ground meat in a thick red sauce.
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Easy Beef Chili

The refried beans are the whole trick to making this thick homemade Beef Chili.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 302kcal
Author: Laura

Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp chili powder add more as needed or desired, use chipotle for a spicy smoky kick
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika optional if you like it spicy
  • 2 tsp garlic powder or granules more as desired
  • 1 1/2 tsp cumin more as desired
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon optional
  • 1 cup onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup green pepper chopped
  • 15.5 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 8 oz tomato sauce
  • 15.5 ounces kidney beans undrained
  • 16 ounces refried beans generally 1 can

Instructions

  • Heat a Dutch oven over medium high heat
  • Add the ground beef in a single layer and use a wooden spoon to break it up. Try to get as much of the meat touching the pan as you can
  • Sprinkle all the seasonings over the top and stir to combine
    Raw ground beef in a pan topped with various spices and seasonings, ready to be mixed for cooking.
  • Add the onions and green pepper and cook until the meat is browned and the onions are translucent
    Chopped onions and green bell peppers on top of browned ground beef in a pot.
  • Drain the beef if needed
  • Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, undrained kidney beans, and refried beans
    Ground meat and chopped vegetables in a pot topped with a layer of tomato sauce, being prepared for cooking.
  • Bring to a quick boil, cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes
    A close-up of chili in a pot, showing kidney beans, ground meat, tomato chunks, and a wooden spoon partially submerged in the mixture.
  • Taste and add more chili powder and salt if desired
    A close-up of chili with ground beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, green peppers, and onions in a pot.
  • Serve hot with your favorite toppings
    Close-up of a thick, chunky mixture of diced vegetables and beans in a creamy orange sauce, being stirred with a wooden spoon.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1164mg | Potassium: 989mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 800IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 7mg