Rich, hearty and incredibly satisfying, this Chili con Carne recipe is one you'll find yourself making over and over again!
Tender, juicy chunks of beef team up with red beans in a deep, savory broth to create the ultimate cozy meal that everyone in the family can enjoy. Leftovers taste great- especially when you spoon them over your Mexican baked potatoes.
A year back, I tried my hands at Mexican street corn casserole for the first time, and I was blown away by how hearty and comforting Mexican meals could really be.
Since then, I have been trying a ton of Mexican recipes- everything from sides like Mexican broccoli and Mexican caviar to condiments like Mexican salsa Macha and Chamoy dip. This time, I wanted to try something more wholesome and hearty, and here we are!
Quick Look
- 🔪Prep time: 15 minutes.
- ⏲️Cook time: 3 hours.
- 👪 Servings: 4.
- 📋Main ingredients: Beef, vegetables, beans, chicken stock, spices and seasonings, lime juice, oil and cilantro.
- ♨️Cooking method: Season and pan sear beef 🡢 remove and set aside 🡢 sauté veggies 🡢 add seasonings 🡢 add broth and beef 🡢 cook on low until beef is tender 🡢 serve with your favorite toppings.
- ⭐Difficulty: Medium.
- 🥣Serving ideas: Top your bowl of spicy Chili con Carne with guacamole and some crunchy Air Fryer tortilla strips.
Jump to:
What's So Great About the Recipe?
- It's rich, hearty and flavorful- the perfect meal to dig into any time of the week.
- You can get creative with the toppings and customize it to your liking- just like with you can with some classic shrimp tacos.
- It tastes even better the next day, which makes it a perfect make-ahead recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
Beef: A lot of recipes call for the use of ground beef, but I love the texture of tender beef chunks, so that's what I used.
Black beans: To make the dish hearty and wholesome, and also for that incredible texture.
Veggies: I used a mix of tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, garlic and fresh jalapenos here.
Chicken stock: To lend a deeper flavor to the dish. If you don't have this, you can just use water or even some low sodium vegetable broth.
Seasonings: You'll need ground cumin, ground coriander, mixed herbs, some smoked paprika, cayenne and brown sugar.
Chipotle in adobo: For that deep, spicy and smoky flavor. You should be able to find this at any Mexican food specialty store near you- I used my homemade version here.
Lime juice: To tie all the flavors together.
Oil: Any regular cooking oil works well. I like to use my lemon infused oil sometimes for a citrusy zing.
Cilantro: Chopped fresh, to garnish.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- I used red beans here, but you can also try using other beans like Pinto beans or navy beans.
- Don't have fresh tomatoes? Canned tomatoes can work in a pinch. I love using my homemade fire roasted tomatoes here along with a bit of tomato paste for added depth.
How to Make Chili Con Carne
Step 1: Start by seasoning your beef chunks with salt, pepper, and a bit of ground cumin.
Step 2: Heat oil in a pot and sear the beef chunks over high heat for 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and caramelized.
Step 3: Remove and set them aside and add chopped garlic, onion and peppers to the same pot.
Step 4: Turn down the heat and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, add the seasonings.
Step 5: Add the brown sugar, tomatoes, Chipotle in Adobo and brown sugar. Mix well.
Step 6: Finally, add the beans and chicken stock, cover with a lid, and cook on low for about 2 hours, or until the meat falls apart.
Step 7: Finish up with a drizzle of lime juice and chopped cilantro. Serve hot with your toppings!
💭Top Tip
Remove the lid from the pot at the 1.5 hour mark and continue cooking. This will help the excess liquid evaporate and you'll get the perfect saucy consistency.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- If you don't have the individual spices and seasonings that the recipe calls for, feel free to use a packaged Chili spice mix instead.
- Sometimes for some extra heat, I add a bit of my homemade Tajin seasoning, some Chipotle chili powder or some Ancho chili powder too!
- You can use ground beef instead of beef chunks too! It will actually cook faster too- just remember to break up the meat with your spatula as you cook it.
- Don't overdo the water/ broth. The meat, beans and veggies will release water as they cook.
- Remember to brown the beef thoroughly. The idea is to get that nice golden brown caramelization on the outside of the meat. This is actually what builds flavor!
- Turn down the heat when you add the spices- high heat will cause them to burn!
- Don't forget to finish up an acid to brighten up all those flavors. I used lime juice here, but you can also use apple cider vinegar or regular vinegar if that's what you have. Sometimes, I have also used the pickling liquid from my lime pickled onions.
- Some recipes call for the use of other secret ingredients like dark chocolate, red wine, espresso or Worcestershire sauce to add some more complexity to the Chili con Carne. If that's something you want to do, go ahead and experiment.
How to Serve Chili Con Carne
Top your bowl of Chili con Carne with a dollop of sour cream or guacamole to balance out the heat, or just some shredded Mexican cheese. I love topping mine with a spoonful of my avocado lime crema and crunchy Mexican pickled carrots or my favorite Mexican pickled vegetables.
Diced (or sliced) avocado can also be a great creamy topping, but if you have a few extra minutes, I would recommend whipping up a quick avocado Pico de Gallo, and use that instead.
You can also serve the Chili con Carne with a side of Mexican roasted potatoes or Mexican grilled onions to make it more filling.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
You can store your leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
To freeze the leftovers, simply allow them to cool down completely, transfer to a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
You can reheat leftover Chili con Carne in a pot over medium-low heat with a splash of water to get it saucy again.
The easiest way to thicken Chili con Carne is to stir in some Masa Harina (which lends a bit of corn flavor too), or use cornstarch.
More Mexican Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this spicy Chili con Carne or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Spicy Chili Con Carne
Ingredients
- 700 g beef chunks
- 2 cups tomatoes chopped
- 2 cup black beans drained
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup red bell pepper
- 1 cup green bell pepper
- 1 red onion
- 1 tablespoon chipotle in adobo
- 1 jalapeno
- 3-4 garlic
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon mixed herbs
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 teaspoon cilantro chopped
- 2 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- Start by seasoning your beef chunks with salt, pepper, and a bit of ground cumin.
- Heat oil in a pot and sear the beef chunks over high heat for 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and caramelized.
- Remove and set them aside and add chopped garlic, onion and peppers to the same pot.
- Turn down the heat and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, add the seasonings.
- Add the brown sugar, tomatoes, Chipotle in Adobo and brown sugar. Mix well.
- Finally, add the beans and chicken stock, cover with a lid, and cook on low for about 2 hours, or until the meat falls apart.
- Finish up with a drizzle of lime juice and chopped cilantro. Serve hot with your toppings!
Notes
- Remove the lid from the pot at the 1.5 hour mark and continue cooking. This will help the excess liquid evaporate and you'll get the perfect saucy consistency.
- Remember to brown the beef thoroughly. The idea is to get that nice golden brown caramelization on the outside of the meat. This is actually what builds flavor!
- Turn down the heat when you add the spices- high heat will cause them to burn!
- If you don't have the individual spices and seasonings that the recipe calls for, feel free to use a packaged Chili spice mix instead.
