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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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 secret ingredient will deepen the flavor of your chili? ›

A cup of strong, brewed coffee will work wonders for your pot of chili, imparting a deep, roasted flavor that will make the chili taste like it simmered away all day long. For maximum flavor, reduce the coffee along with a blend of tomato paste, aromatic veggies and spices like we do in our Spicy Vegetarian Chili.

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 not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

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.

How to make chili taste richer? ›

I have two suggestions you might want to try.
  1. Boost the umami a bit. I will typically add a bit of soy and Worcestershire to my chili. ...
  2. Add chocolate. A tbs or two of dark chocolate (I've had surprisingly decent results with Hershey's special dark powder) can add a good amount of depth and richness to the chili.
Feb 3, 2014

What makes chili even better? ›

Cinnamon, strong coffee, and dark chocolate all boost them meaty flavor in a good chili. Pick any of the following: 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 whole cinnamon stick, a shot of espresso, a small cup of strong coffee, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, or a few squares of good-quality dark chocolate.

Does chili need tomato paste? ›

Tomato paste may come in a small can (or tube), but it packs a powerful punch and is an essential flavor building block for dishes like chili and beef stew.

What is chili magic? ›

Where there's chipotle smoke, there's chili fire. Bush's® Chili Magic® Campfire Style brings tender pintos together with smoky chipotle and green bell peppers for quick, unforgettable chili any night of the week.​

Why do you put butter in chili? ›

Butter smooths out the bitterness and adds its unique richness, making you take another bite without quite knowing why. A dash of sugar and vinegar gives a sweet-sour flavor that also makes the sauce rounder and more satisfying.

Does Wendy's put sugar in their chili? ›

Chili Concentrate: Chili Sauce (Water, Tomato Juice, Tomatoes, Calcium Chloride, Seasoning (Sugar, Salt, Corn Starch, Dried Chilies, Spices, Flavor Enhancer [Dextrose, Salt, Yeast Extract, Silicon Dioxide, Modified Corn Starch], Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Xanthan gum), Beans (Pink Beans, Red ...

What does paprika do for chili? ›

Think of paprika as the gentler, sweeter cousin of hot chili peppers. It enlivens your favorite dishes with fruity notes and a toasty red color without ever taking over the show.

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.

What makes the best chili meat? ›

You can really use any meat for chili, but here are the cuts that are most popular for classic chili:
  • Ground beef (80/20) ...
  • Ground sirloin (90/10) ...
  • Brisket. ...
  • Short ribs. ...
  • Tri-tip sirloin. ...
  • Work with your butcher to get multiple textures. ...
  • Use multiple animals to add depth. ...
  • Go for grass-fed and grass-finished beef.
May 11, 2021

How do you make can chili taste better? ›

12 Ways To Take Canned Chili To The Next Level
  1. Don't forget your favorite chili toppings. ...
  2. Deepen the flavor by adding beer. ...
  3. Sweeten the pot with a dash of brown sugar. ...
  4. Turn the heat up with more chiles. ...
  5. Incorporate flavorful vegetables. ...
  6. Make your own spice blend. ...
  7. Why not add bacon? ...
  8. Bring in delicious, smokey flavor.
Nov 26, 2023

What makes a good competition chili? ›

Chili must: LOOK GOOD, SMELL GOOD and TASTE GOOD. If in a competition, it must do so lukewarm in a styrofoam cup. It also must look good on as small plastic teaspoon used for judging and tasting. Chili that doesn't win violates one or more of the three basics.

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