This Thick Hearty Chili Recipe is plump full of ground beef, black beans, tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers, and a perfect blend of spices. Be sure to read my helpful hints on thickening chili and helpful tips for those who like their chili with a little heat.
This is the time of year for awesome soups, chowders, stews, and chili. Thick, Hearty Beef and Bean Chili Recipe is one of my favorite dishes. Nothing better than a big thick bowl of chili. You know, the kind that is almost thick enough for your spoon to stand up. You can serve it over spaghetti noodles, mac n cheese, or with a side of Best Cornbread Recipe.
This Chili Recipe can easily be adapted to the crock pot by cooking the beef in a skillet first. For added flavor, once the beef is browned, add the onions, peppers, and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. It will give your crock pot chili just a little added flavor and edge!!
How do you make this Thick Hearty Chili Recipe?
In a dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. About halfway through the browning process, add the onion and green bell peppers. Continue cooking for 4-5 minutes while you finish browning the meat. Then reduce the heat and add the minced garlic. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add your spices and brown sugar, stirring to combine.
Now stir in the fire-roasted tomatoes, beef broth, and black beans. Simmer for about 10 minutes, and then stir in the tomato paste. For extra thick chili, run the reserved black beans through a food processor and stir into the chili. Simmer for about 20 more minutes. If desired, top with cheddar, sour cream, and green onions.
Five different ways to thicken chili
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of tomato paste. Tomato paste is really thick, so it helps to add 1/4 cup of the hot broth to it and stir to combine. Once smooth, add it to your chili.
- Reserve 3/4 – 1 cup drained and rinsed beans. Run them through a food processor or mash them with an old-style potato masher. Stir them into the chili to thicken it. If choosing this method, add a little more of the spices as the starchy beans tend to neutralize some of the flavors.
- Add 1 tablespoon of Masa Harina (corn flour) to the chili. This does slightly alter the texture and taste of the chili. It is not my favorite way to thicken chili, but some of my friends and family love it.
- Add a slurry of water and cornstarch to thicken the liquid. 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in 1/4 cup cold water helps thicken the chili.
- Simmer the chili uncovered to reduce the liquid.
Ways to turn up the heat on chili
Please try any of these ideas in moderation until you you get your chili just how you like it. It is much harder to tone it down than to heat it up.
- Add finely minced jalapeno.
- Stir in several tablespoons of hot sauce, such as Franks hot sauce.
- Increase your cayenne pepper to 1/2 teaspoon.
- Add 1-2 chopped chipotle peppers packed in adobo sauce. You can find them in the Mexican food section of most local grocery stores.
So if you have a chill in your bones or there is a chill coming your way, then make a big pot of this delectable Thick Hearty Chili. Plop your buns down on the sofa, turn on your favorite classic movie and enjoy the great smells of your masterpiece simmering on the stove!
More ground beef recipes to try
Thick Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 green pepper seeded and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 2 cans 15 ounce black beans drained and rinsed (reserve 1 cup)
- 1 can 14.5 ounce fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 can 14.5 ounce low sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
Toppings
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- In a large stockpot, brown ground beef over medium heat. Add onions and peppers and cook for 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for additional 60 seconds.
- Stir in cumin, oregano, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper. Stir in black beans (except for the reserved beans) diced tomatoes, and beef broth. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Mix the tomato paste with 1/4 cup of the hot broth. Stir into the chili.
- Run the reserved black beans through a food processor or mash them with an old-style potato masher. Stir them into the chili. Simmer for 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- If desired, top with sour cream, shredded cheddar, and green onions.
Notes
- Ground chicken or ground turkey can be substituted for the ground beef.
Nutrition
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Tammy
Mmm I could go for a bowl of this right now! It looks soo delicious! 😀 Nothing is more comforting than homemade chili…definitely trying this the weekend.
Annette
Chili is such a people pleaser, don’t you think? I love how thick and lush this version is. It really makes a difference having it full and the sauce glossy too.
adriana
Such a great recipe idea for a cold day especially! I’ll have to try this out!
Melissa Cushing
This was so delicious! I love making a big batch to enjoy for a day or two, and then we make chili dogs to finish it off… or chili fries! Thanks for sharing!
Annabel Beales
Easy to make, delicious, and warming! What more could you want during this cold weather? Thank you!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Annabel! So glad that you like the chili.
Bridget Lenese Spann
This recipe was easy to make and was very tasty! Definitely will be making this my go to Chili recipe ❤
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Bridget! So glad that you like it!
Erin
This Thick Hearty Chili Recipe is seriously making me hungry!
Tisha
Love a good hearty chili! Adding the cheese and sour cream makes it that much better!
Catalina
This chili is so hearty and inviting! Perfect for the cold season!
Demeter
I love all of your tips about adding some spice. Nice to have a bit of a kick!
Chrissie
Aaaaahhhhh! This sounds so perfect. And with the cornbread….you’re knocking it to heaven!
Dorothy
This looks delicious. It looks so hearty and hilarious.
Sara
Made this for dinner tonight and it has easily become a new family favorite recipe! Restaurant worthy, indeed!
Cynthia L Barrie
Got partway into making this only to realize I did not have some of the ingredients, so I improvised. I used 2 cans of Rotel fire roasted diced tomatoes with chilies for the salsa style and I had NO cumin. Since I was looking for a milder version I substituted 1/2 jalapeno diced from the garden. No onion powder, so I used a couple dashes of garlic powder and added parsley. It came out FANTASTIC! I ate one bowl and the remainder was gone in less than 24 hours with only two other people in the house. I will pass this along to those close friends and family that are worthy! 🙂
Beth Pierce
I love a cook that can improvise! Thanks so much! I am so glad that you loved it. I can’t wait for you to pass it along to your worthy friends and family! LOL!!
Terri B.
This looks really good. I am going to make it this weekend.
Beth Pierce
Thank you Terri! I love a good bowl of chili! Happy cooking!!
Cheryl Krauss
I make your 30 minute stuffed pepper soup all the time. In fact we had it just last week. Thanks for sharing all your recipes.
Beth Pierce
Awesome! You are most welcome!! My pleasure!! So glad that you like the soup!