Receta Easy Beef and Bean Chili
Share this post Bacon adds richness and smoked paprika imparts a deep, complex flavor to this easy Beef and Bean Chili. Serve it on its own or with rice, baked potatoes, or mac and cheese! This recipe produces a generous pot of chili, which makes it great for parties and leftovers. The warm summer weather turned cold this week, which prompted my kids to ask for chili. While the lack of sunshine bummed me out, a big pot of chili provided a silver lining. Chili’s delicious served on its own with a thick slice of corn bread, but why stop there? Ladled over rice, nestled atop baked potatoes, loaded on macaroni and cheese, spooned over nachos, or slathered on a bun with a hot dog, chili adds a unique twist to so many simple foods and dishes. This awesome versatility takes the thinking out of feeding my family for a few days. Since I can serve it in so many different ways, no one gets tired of it. I’ve long had a chili recipe that I’ve used as a starting point because it’s an easy, no fuss recipe that starts with bacon and includes beer. What’s not to love about this promising partnership? Since chili is such a great make-ahead recipe, I often prepare it in the morning to serve later in the day. The recipe calls for 8 ounces of beer, but I always just find myself glug, glug, glugging the whole 12 ounces into the pot rather measuring and chugging the leftovers myself. Does this means that I’m getting old, or that I think part of a beer is just not enough for a decent batch of chili? In any case, in addition to extra beer, I realized that I’ve made so many adjustments to the recipe over time. Whenever I set out to prepare it, I’d invariably, I scratch my head trying to remember what worked well in the past and feel annoyed with myself for failing to take any notes about adjustments to spices and other ingredients. In an effort to break this vicious cycle, I forced myself to prepare chili with a pencil in one hand this time around. This rich, delicious chili, while easy to make, does not skimp on taste. Starting with bacon adds richness, and including smoked paprika with the other spices gives the chili a deep, complex flavor. Since my kids don’t love spicy food, I use only a small amount cayenne pepper and offer jalapenos and Tabasco sauce when serving since it’s easier to add heat later. The recipe does, however, include a range for Cayenne, so if you love more spice, use a full teaspoon or more to taste. While the recipe includes ground beef, beans always feel like the star of any chili recipe, so I increased the amount of beans, which has the added bonus of adding variety as well. My kids love garbanzos, so I always include them, along with kidney beans and black beans. While any combination of beans will do, this trio’s diverse shapes and colors adds visual interest to this decidedly, brownish dish. Toppings add colors and textures as well, along with bursts of flavor. The zip of cilantro, the richness of cheddar cheese, the smooth coolness of sour cream, the fresh tang of lime juice, the nutty crunch of roasted pumpkin seeds all combine in perfection with the warm, comforting chili. Providing a topping bar or passing small bowls with garnishes means that everyone can customize their chili and get the flavors just right, a definite bonus when feeding kids with particular palates. While I’m not ready to let go of summer, I’m happy to head into cooler weather finally armed with an chili recipe that I know I’ll get right every time without any improvisation. Easy Beef and Bean Chili Save Print Prep time Cook time Total time I've used garbanzo, black, and kidney beans in the recipe, but any beans will do. This chili is equally delicious on its own or served atop rice, baked potatoes, or mac and cheese. Inspired by Sunset magazine. Author: Suzanne Cowden Recipe type: Main Serves: 10 to 12 Ingredients Chili 4 slices thick-cut bacon, finely chopped 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed 1½ to 1¾ pounds lean ground beef ¼ cup chili powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon smoked paprika ⅛ to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste 15 ounces tomato sauce 12 ounces beer, any flavorful variety 1 tablespoon Worcestershire 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes 15 ounces garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed 15 ounces black beans, drained and rinsed 15 ounces kidney beans, drained and rinsed Toppings grated cheddar cheese sliced green onions lime wedges sliced jalapenos roasted pumpkin seeds chopped fresh cilantro diced avocado sour cream Instructions In a large pot, cook bacon over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until it just begins to brown, about 4 minutes. Lower heat to medium, add onion, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Uncover pan, stir in garlic, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high and add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Stir until meat loses its raw color, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add spices and 1 teaspoon salt, stirring for 1 minute. Mix in tomato sauce, beer, and Worcestershire. Add whole tomatoes with their juices, breaking them up with your fingers as you add them. Bring pot to a boil before reducing heat to medium-low. Cover partially, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beans and cook uncovered until warmed through, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and serve. Set up a topping bar or pass garnishes around the table after serving. 3.5.3226 Pin Chili Recipe for Later You might also like Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Tomato Onion Tart Homemade Macaroni & Cheese Chicken Pot Pie Share this post