Description
Hearty chili con carne delivers a robust Mexican-inspired feast packed with rich ground beef, smoky spices, and deep flavor profiles. Comforting layers of beans, tomatoes, and aromatic seasonings invite warmth and satisfaction in each satisfying spoonful you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lb (907 g) ground beef
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 1 medium green pepper, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsps chili powder
- 3 tsps beef bouillon granules
- 2 cans (14-½ oz or 411 g) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup (237 ml) water
- 1 can (16 oz or 454 g) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1–½ tsps salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- sour cream (optional)
- jalapeno slices (optional)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in a Dutch oven over medium heat, crumbling thoroughly until completely cooked. Remove beef, reserving the flavorful fond in the pot.
- Aromatic Base: Sauté onions until translucent, then quickly introduce garlic, stirring to release their fragrant essences without scorching. Incorporate all spices – oregano, cayenne, cinnamon, chili powder, and beef bouillon – allowing them to bloom and intensify.
- Vegetable Integration: Add green bell peppers to the spice mixture, creating a robust foundation. Reintroduce the cooked beef, mixing seamlessly with the aromatic vegetables and spice blend.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour in diced tomatoes and water, stirring to combine all elements. Bring the mixture to a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer, creating a rich, deeply flavored environment.
- Slow Transformation: Cover the pot and allow the chili to simmer for approximately one hour, periodically checking liquid levels. During the final 10 minutes, fold in kidney beans, enabling them to absorb the complex flavor profile without becoming mushy.
- Finishing Touch: Remove from heat and let the chili rest, allowing flavors to meld. Optionally crown with fresh jalapeños and a luxurious dollop of sour cream before serving.
Notes
- Meat Preparation Tip: Brown ground beef thoroughly to develop deep, rich flavors and prevent watery chili texture.
- Spice Balancing Strategy: Toast spices briefly to enhance their aromatic compounds and create a more complex flavor profile.
- Bean Adding Technique: Introduce kidney beans late in cooking to prevent them from becoming mushy and maintain their ideal texture.
- Resting Period Importance: Allow chili to rest for 5 minutes after cooking to let flavors meld and settle, resulting in a more harmonious taste experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg