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Ultimate Chili Recipe That Will Warm Your Soul and Ignite Your Taste Buds

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Learn how to make delicious chili recipe. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or bacon fat for a deeper flavor
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey (or a mix of both)
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional but adds a lovely smoky note)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef or chicken broth (or water)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro

Substitution suggestions: If you prefer a vegetarian version, swap the meat for a medley of mushrooms and lentils or add extra beans. For a gluten-free option, this recipe is naturally safe, just be sure your broth doesn’t contain any additives with gluten.

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil or bacon fat in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. I always think about how Mama Lu would say, “Let that fat get hot enough to sing a little before you add anything.”
  2. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes. The smell of onions cooking always takes me back to that farmhouse kitchen, where the day’s stories started here.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, careful not to burn it.
  4. Add the ground beef or turkey to the pot, breaking it up with your spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes. If you see a lot of fat rendered, you can drain some off, but I usually leave a bit for flavor. Mama Lu always said, “Good cooking needs a little fat for flavor and soul.”
  5. Mix in the diced green bell pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
  6. Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper if using. Stir well to coat the meat and vegetables in the spices. This step is where the magic starts to happen — the kitchen fills with that warm, spicy aroma that feels like a cozy blanket.
  7. Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices, tomato sauce, and broth. Stir to combine everything thoroughly.
  8. Bring the chili to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Let it cook uncovered for at least 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the better the flavors meld together — just like the stories told around our family table.
  9. About 10 minutes before serving, stir in the drained kidney beans. Cook until heated through.
  10. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remember, seasoning is something you do at the end, tasting and adjusting — a lesson Mama Lu passed down with every meal.

Find it online: https://claracooking.com/chili-recipe/