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A steaming bowl of thick ground beef chili topped with shredded cheese and sour cream

Best Ground Beef Stovetop Chili

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 410 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef (80/20 or ground chuck)
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 large green bell pepper, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 can (15 oz) dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef while breaking it into small crumbles with a wooden spoon until no longer pink, approximately 8-10 minutes.
  • Using a slotted spoon, remove the beef from the pot and set aside, leaving 1-2 tablespoons of the rendered fat in the pan.
  • Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the pot and sauté for 5-6 minutes until the vegetables are softened and the onions are translucent.
  • Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste; cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly until the tomato paste darkens slightly.
  • Add the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper to the vegetables, stirring for 1 minute to bloom the spices in the residual fat.
  • Return the cooked beef to the pot and stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid.
  • Simmer the chili for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
  • Stir in the kidney beans and pinto beans, then continue to simmer uncovered for an additional 15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.
  • Season with salt and black pepper to taste and serve hot with desired toppings.