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This Chili Con Carne is a hearty, flavor-packed dish made with chuck roast, beans, tomatoes, and warm spices. A cozy, satisfying comfort meal perfect for game day, weeknights, or cold-weather cooking!

Two bowls of Chili Con Carne topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, and chopped green onions sit on a table. A bowl of tortilla chips, a colorful napkin, and a spoon are nearby.
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Why You’ll Love Chili Con Carne!

A woman with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a burgundy top, smiles at the camera in front of a textured, beige background.

This Chili Con Carne is one of my favorite cold-weather meals! Its warm, hearty, and full of that bold chili flavor that feels like a hug in a bowl.

It’s simple enough for busy nights but also perfect for weekends when you want the house to smell amazing. Whether I’m serving it for a cozy family dinner or ladling big bowls for game day, this chili never fails to satisfy. My boys love it!

Grab your favorite toppings and dig in to this delicious Main Dish Recipe! If you love this hearty chili, you might like Pulled Pork Chili, Slow Cooker Brisket Chili, and Crock Pot Chili Mac and Cheese Recipe.

Ingredients

Overhead view of Chili Con Carne ingredients on a white surface, including diced beef, kidney beans, chopped onions, diced tomatoes, spices, crushed tomatoes, broth, garlic, bell pepper, tomato paste, oil, and bay leaves in bowls and containers.
  • Olive Oil – Use your favorite oil
  • Boneless Beef Chuck – Cut into bite size pieces. You can also use ground beef
  • Simple Spices – Salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper and sugar. Feel free to use your favorite spices
  • Yellow Onion – Chop into small pieces. Learn How to Freeze Onion
  • Red Bell Pepper – Feel free to use other colors of bell peppers
  • Cloves Garlic, minced – or 1 Tablespoon pre-minced Garlic
  • Worcestershire Sauce – If you are out, see The Best Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes
  • Hot Sauce – Adds a hint of spice. You can leave out if your prefer
  • Crushed Tomatoes – Gives the chili a tomato base
  • Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies – You can also use Rotel
  • Tomato Paste – Helps to thicken the chili
  • Beef Broth – If you are out you can use water or chicken broth for the liquid
  • Masa Harina – Optional to thicken the chili
  • Kidney Beans (drained and rinsed), optional – These beans are optional but can be added for more protein in this chili recipe.

Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe details.

How to Make Chili Con Carne

A white pot with chopped onions and oil, the savory base for Chili Con Carne, sits on a light countertop. A wooden spatula rests in the pot, with a colorful striped kitchen towel nearby.

Step 1 – Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large stock pot or dutch oven on the stove top. Add in the onions and start to sauté the onions.

Chunks of raw beef with seasonings in a white Dutch oven, being stirred with a wooden spoon—perfect beginnings for Chili Con Carne. A colorful striped kitchen towel is draped beside the pot on a white countertop.

Step 2 – Add in the meat, season it with the salt and pepper. Sear both sides of the meat for approximately 2 minutes on each side. You may have to work in batches depending on the size of your pan. Continue to cook the beef until all the excess moisture released from the beef is cooked off.

A white pot with cooked beef cubes and chopped red bell peppers, stirred with a wooden spoon, brings Chili Con Carne to life. A colorful striped cloth sits beside the pot on a light marble surface.

Step 3 – Stir in the red bell pepper and sauté for a few minutes.

A white pot filled with Chili Con Carne ingredients—beans, tomatoes, spices, and bay leaves—sits on a white surface next to a colorful striped kitchen towel. A wooden spoon rests inside the pot.

Step 4 – Add in all the remaining ingredients (include the kidney beans if using. Stir to combine.

Step 5 – Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover with heavy lid, reduce the heat to low and simmer on low for approximately 2 hours until the beef is fork tender.

Step 6 – Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium and cook for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Step 7 – Remove the bay leaves, serve in a bowl with your favorite toppings and enjoy!


A pot of chunky Chili Con Carne with beans and beef, garnished with chopped green onions, sits on a marble counter next to shredded cheese, tortilla chips, sour cream, and fresh vegetables. A colorful striped napkin is nearby.
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A bowl of hearty Chili Con Carne topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped green onions sits beside a colorful napkin and a wooden spoon.

Chili Con Carne

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This Chili Con Carne is a hearty, flavor-packed dish made with chuck roast, beans, tomatoes, and warm spices. A cozy, satisfying comfort meal perfect for game day, weeknights, or cold-weather cooking!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings 8
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Calories 496
Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil over medium high heat in a large stock pot or dutch oven.
  • Add in the onions and start to sauté the onions.
  • Add in the meat, season it with the salt and pepper. Sear both sides of the meat for approximately 2 minutes on each side. You may have to work in batches depending on the size of your pan.
  • Continue to cook the beef until all the excess moisture released from the beef is cooked off.
  • Stir in the red bell pepper and sauté for a few minutes.
  • Add in all the remaining ingredients (include the kidney beans if using. Stir to combine.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer on low for approximately 2 hours until the beef is fork tender.
  • Remove the lid, increase the heat to medium and cook for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
  • Remove the bay leaves, serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

 
Recipe Tips
  • Cooking Chili – If the beef is not fork tender after cooking on low for 2 hours continue to cook until it’s tender.  If the beef is tough, that means it just needs to cook longer with a long simmer.
  • Chili Consistency – The Masa Harina is used a thickener for this chili. I love using it as it adds a slight corn flavor to this chili. The chili can be thickened with flour or cornstarch if you prefer. If using cornstarch do not add until the end of the cooking time and make sure to dissolve in water before adding to the chili.
  • Slow Cooker Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
Variations Ideas
  • Bean-Free – Skip the beans for a more traditional Texas Style chili.
  • Southwest Style – Add corn, black beans, or green chiles.
  • Cheesy Chili – Melt in shredded cheddar near the end.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 496kcal, Carbohydrates 30g, Protein 42g, Fat 25g, Saturated Fat 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat 3g, Monounsaturated Fat 13g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 117mg, Sodium 1494mg, Potassium 1437mg, Fiber 8g, Sugar 9g, Vitamin A 1758IU, Vitamin C 35mg, Calcium 124mg, Iron 9mg

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How to Serve Chili Con Carne

Chili Con Carne is delicious served with your favorite chili toppings. When we are feeding a crowd, we like to setup a chili bar so everyone can add their favorite toppings. Our chili toppings include shredded cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, and red onions.

We even serve with Jalapeño Cornbread, crackers, slice cheese, and Fritos for a complete meal idea. We even like to serve with warm tortillas to make Frito Chili wrap for lunch the next day, over Microwave Baked Potatoes and Instant pot White Rice Recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Best Meat to make Chili Con Carne?

We used a boneless chuck roast cut into bite size pieces. But you can also use stew meat.

Can I Make Chili Con Carne Ahead of Time?

This chili takes even better the next days once all the flavors meld together so this is the perfect recipe to make ahead!

How to Store Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Can I Freeze Leftovers?

Yes! Freeze chilli con carne in freezer safe container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight when ready to reheat.

A bowl of Chili Con Carne topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions sits on a table next to a colorful napkin, with another bowl of chili, grated cheese, and tortilla chips in the background.

More Easy Chili Recipes

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie Barnard — a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families — without the stress.

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