Classic Beef Chili

Name: Classic Beef Chili
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 lbs ground beef; 1 onion, diced; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tbsp chili powder; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes; 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed; 1 cup beef broth; Salt and pepper, to taste; Shredded cheese and sour cream, for serving

6 servings15 min prep75 min cookEasy

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Classic Beef Chili

Story updated September 18, 2026

Chili con carne is generally traced to 19th-century Texas, where San Antonio's 'chili queens' sold bowls of spiced beef stew from open-air stalls. Its precise origins are debated, but it grew into one of America's most fiercely regionalized dishes, with cities and families still arguing over the 'authentic' recipe.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 lbs ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup beef broth
Salt and pepper, to taste
Shredded cheese and sour cream, for serving

Instructions

1Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, for 6 to 8 minutes.
2Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes until softened, then stir in the garlic, chili powder, and cumin and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3Stir in the crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, and beef broth, and bring the pot to a boil.
4Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened to your liking.
5Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve topped with shredded cheese and sour cream.

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