10 Hearty Beef Chili Recipes

When the temperature drops, nothing beats a steaming bowl of beef chili. These ten hearty recipes cover every style — classic bean chili, smoky chipotle, white chicken-free beef versions, and slow cooker dump-and-go favorites.

Below you’ll find 10 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Classic Hearty Beef Chili

The benchmark bowl: beefy, beany, and perfectly spiced.

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 cans kidney beans
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes

Instructions

1. Brown beef with onion in a Dutch oven; drain.
2. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, and paprika; toast 1 minute.
3. Stir in beans and tomatoes.
4. Simmer 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Season with salt and serve hot.

2. Smoky Chipotle Beef Chili

Chipotle and dark beer give this chili serious depth.

Ingredients

• 2 lb beef chuck, cubed
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 chipotles in adobo, minced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• 12 oz dark beer
• 28 oz fire-roasted tomatoes

Instructions

1. Sear beef cubes in oil until browned.
2. Add onion and chipotles; cook 5 minutes.
3. Stir in chili powder and oregano.
4. Pour in beer and tomatoes.
5. Simmer 1.5 hours until beef is tender.

3. Taco-Style Beef Chili

Taco seasoning and corn make this a family favorite.

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 tbsp taco seasoning
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can corn
• 28 oz diced tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth

Instructions

1. Brown beef with onion and pepper.
2. Stir in taco seasoning.
3. Add beans, corn, tomatoes, and broth.
4. Simmer 30 minutes.
5. Top with cheese and sour cream.

4. Texas Brisket Chili (No Beans)

Pure beef Texas-style chili with ancho chile warmth.

Ingredients

• 2.5 lb beef brisket, cubed
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 onions, sliced
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp ancho chile powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 cups beef stock
• 14 oz crushed tomatoes

Instructions

1. Sear brisket cubes in oil; set aside.
2. Soften onions and garlic in the same pot.
3. Stir in ancho powder and cumin.
4. Return beef; add stock and tomatoes.
5. Simmer 2 hours until meltingly tender.

5. Cincinnati-Style Beef Chili

Cinnamon and cocoa make this Midwest classic sing.

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• 28 oz tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder

Instructions

1. Brown beef with onion.
2. Add chili powder, cumin, cocoa, and a pinch of cinnamon.
3. Stir in beans and tomato sauce.
4. Simmer 40 minutes.
5. Serve over spaghetti with cheddar.

6. Slow Cooker Dump Beef Chili

Five minutes of prep, then the slow cooker does everything.

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 cans chili beans
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth

Instructions

1. Brown beef and drain.
2. Add everything to the slow cooker.
3. Stir to combine.
4. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
5. Taste, adjust salt, and serve.

7. Spicy Three-Alarm Beef Chili

For heat lovers — jalapeños and green chiles bring the fire.

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 jalapeños, minced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can pinto beans
• 28 oz diced tomatoes with green chiles

Instructions

1. Brown beef with onion and jalapeños.
2. Add chili powder and cumin; toast 1 minute.
3. Stir in beans and tomatoes.
4. Simmer 45 minutes.
5. Serve with cooling sour cream.

8. Hearty Beef and White Bean Chili

Milder, veggie-loaded chili with creamy white beans.

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp thyme
• 2 cans white beans
• 4 cups beef broth

Instructions

1. Brown beef with onion, carrots, and celery.
2. Stir in chili powder and thyme.
3. Add white beans and broth.
4. Simmer 40 minutes.
5. Mash a few beans to thicken; serve.

9. Pumpkin Beef Chili

Pumpkin adds body and a subtle sweetness to this fall chili.

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 can kidney beans
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes

Instructions

1. Brown beef with onion and pepper.
2. Add chili powder and paprika.
3. Stir in pumpkin, beans, and tomatoes.
4. Simmer 35 minutes.
5. Finish with a swirl of sour cream.

10. Sweet and Smoky Beef Chili

Brown sugar and fire-roasted tomatoes balance the smoke.

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 can black beans
• 28 oz fire-roasted tomatoes

Instructions

1. Brown beef with onion and garlic.
2. Add chili powder, cumin, and brown sugar.
3. Stir in beans and tomatoes.
4. Simmer 45 minutes.
5. Rest 10 minutes; serve with cornbread.