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Best Weeknight Chili
This Weeknight Chili is the best cozy, hearty dinner you can throw together on a busy night and know everyone will love. It’s rich, savory, and packed with lots of chili flavor, but it comes together with simple ingredients and makes plenty of leftovers for easy lunches throughout the week.
Prep
20 min
Cook
20 min
Total
40 min
Serves
6
Instructions
- 01
Sauté the vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for ~4-5 minutes Start Timer, until they begin to soften.
- 02
Brown the beef: Add the ground beef and season with a little salt and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes Start Timer, breaking it into crumbles, until deeply browned. Try not to constantly stir it. Let some of the beef sit against the hot pan long enough to actually brown rather than steam.
- 03
Build the flavor base: Add the garlic and tomato paste. Cook for about 2 minutes Start Timer, stirring frequently, so the tomato paste has time to develop color and fragrance and turn deep red.
- 04
Season: Add the chili seasoning mix, smoked paprika (more chili powder if desired), and the remaining salt and pepper. Cook for another 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
- 05
Add everything else: Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, beans, brown sugar, and cocoa powder. Bring to a gentle boil.
- 06
Simmer: Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes Start Timer, stirring occasionally. If you’d like a thicker chili, simmer longer if you have the time! If it becomes too thick, feel free to add a splash of beef broth.
- 07
Finish and season: Remove from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Taste and add the second teaspoon if needed, along with additional salt or pepper.
- 08
Serve: Serve with plenty of toppings and cornbread!
Nutrition
per serving · 1 ¾ cup
- Calories
- 351
- Protein
- 21g
- Carbs
- 9g
- Fat
- 26g
- Fiber
- 2g
- Sugar
- 5g
- Sat. fat
- 9g
- Sodium
- 722mg
- Cholesterol
- 81mg
Variations & swaps
Variations / Substitutions
- Use different beans: Swap the kidney and pinto/black beans for whatever you have on hand. Great Northern or cannellini beans are great additions!
- Make it leaner: Use lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken in place of 85/15 ground beef.
- Add more veggies: Diced zucchini, corn, extra bell pepper, or shredded carrots are easy additions.
- No fire-roasted tomatoes? Regular crushed and diced tomatoes will work just fine.
- Make it thicker: Let the chili simmer uncovered for a little longer to allow some of the liquid to cook off.
- Serving: Serve this chili with a side of cornbread or some tortilla chips for extra crunch! And for all my Midwesterners out there, my Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls or Cinnamon Roll Bites are perfect for that sweet and savory combo!
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