Chili with or without Beans: Recipe

I enjoy a variety of mixes, including beans and the occasional chili. Sometimes, I prepare this chili recipe with or without beans. It’s a fantastic and spicy dish that’s easily scalable for weekends or larger gatherings. This recipe is highly versatile, allowing you to adjust ingredient quantities, choose your preferred minced meat, and select the type of beans to suit your taste. I would appreciate it if you could share your best bean chili recipe with me.

Recipe

Ingredients in this recipe

• 1 lb (approx. 500 g) ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
• 1 large white or red onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
• 2 cups beef or vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust according to spice preference)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil for cooking
• Optionally, for example, grated cheese for sprinkling or whatever you like

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1

• Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add a few drops of olive oil.

Step 2

• Add the chopped onion and pepper. Sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

• Add the chopped garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 4

• Add the ground beef or turkey to the pot and cook until browned. While cooking, break up the meat with, for example, a spoon or a potato masher.

Step 5

• Once the meat is browned, add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne. Mix everything well so that the meat and vegetables are coated with spices.

Step 6

• Pour in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and stock. If you are making a chili recipe with beans, add them at this point. Stir to combine.

Step 7

• Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors of all the ingredients to meld well. You can let it simmer for an hour or longer, but half the time will do if you’re in a hurry.

Step 8

• During the stewing process, do not forget to taste and, if necessary, add salt, pepper, and, if necessary, other spices.

Step 9

• Serve the chili with beans and minced meat hot and, if desired, garnished and seasoned with grated Parmesan cheese or some other hard cheese.

This is a great spicy chili recipe with or without beans. If you choose the option with beans, you don’t even need any other side dish because this dish is really filling and tastes great on its own. If you omit the beans, you can, for example, cook smaller potatoes or sweet potatoes, which I personally like a lot, and their sweetness goes well with the stronger spicy flavors of chili.