Thick Hearty Chili Recipe

This Thick Hearty Chili Recipe is plump full of ground beef, black beans, tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers and a perfect blend of spices.  Be sure to read my helpful hints on thickening chili and helpful tips for those who like their chili with a little heat.

This is the time of year for awesome soups, chowders, stews and chili.  Thick Hearty Beef and Bean Chili Recipe is one of my favorites.  Nothing better than a big thick bowl of chili.  You know the kind that is almost thick enough for your spoon to stand up.  You can serve it over spaghetti noodles, mac n cheese or with a side of Best Cornbread Recipe.

This Chili Recipe can easily be adapted to the crock pot by cooking the beef in a skillet first.  For added flavor; once the beef is browned add the onions, peppers and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes.  It will give your crock pot chili just a little added flavor and edge!!

How do you make this Thick Hearty Chili Recipe?

In a dutch oven or heavy stock pot over medium heat brown the ground beef. About halfway through the browning process add the onion and green bell peppers. Continue cooking for 4-5 minutes while you finish browning the meat.  Then reduce the heat and add the minced garlic.  Cook for about 1 minute stirring constantly. Add your spices and brown sugar stirring to combine.

Now stir in the fire roasted tomatoes, beef broth and black beans.  Simmer for about 10 minutes and then stir in the tomato paste. For extra thick soup run the reserved black beans through a food processor and stir into the chili.  Simmer for about 20 more minutes.  If desired top with cheddar, sour cream and green onions.

Four different ways to thicken chili!

• Add 2-3 tablespoons tomato paste.  Tomato paste is really thick so it helps to add 1/4 cup of the hot broth to it and stir to combine.  Once smooth add it to your soup.
• Reserve 3/4 – 1 cup drained and rinsed beans.  Run them through a food processor or mash them with a old style potato masher.  Stir them into the soup to thicken it.  If choosing this method add a little more of the spices as the starchy beans tend to neutralize some of the flavors.
• Add 1 tablespoon of Masa Harina (corn flour) to the soup.  This does slightly alter the texture and taste of the chili.  It is not my favorite way to thicken chili but some of my friends and family just love it.
• Simmer the chili uncovered to reduce the liquid.

Ways to turn up the heat on this Chili Recipe

Please try any of these ideas in moderation until you you get your chili just how you like it.  It is much harder to tone it down than to heat it up.

• Add finely minced jalapeno
• Stir in several tablespoons of hot sauce such as Franks hot sauce.
• Increase your cayenne pepper to 1/2 teaspoon.
• Add 1-2 chopped chipotle peppers packed in adobo sauce.  You can find them in the Mexican food section of most local grocery stores.

So if you have a chill in your bones or there is a chill coming your way than make a big pot of this delectable Thick Hearty Chili. Plop your buns down on the sofa, turn on your favorite classic movie and enjoy the great smells of your masterpiece simmering on the stove!

Other ground beef recipes you will love!!

• Cincinnati Chili
• Hamburger Steak with Country Gravy
• One Pot Easy Taco Rotini Pasta
• One Pot Beef and Macaroni
• Ground Beef Stroganoff
• Easy Hamburger Stew

This post was originally published October 23, 2017 and was republished December 16, 2019 with new content.

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