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The Ultimate Best Chili Recipe: Easy, Thick & Flavorful Meat Chili

This comprehensive guide shows how to create the perfect bowl of chili - thick, flavorful, and packed with savory ground beef goodness. Whether you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner or want to impress at your next game day gathering, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality results with homemade charm.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 2 lbs ground beef (85% lean)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bell peppers (any color), diced
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for heat)
  • 1 bay leaf

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until well-browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
  2. Add diced onions and bell peppers to the pot. Cook for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Sprinkle all the chili spices over the meat and vegetables. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to toast the spices, which intensifies their flavor.
  4. Add tomato paste and stir to combine. Then pour in diced tomatoes, beans, and beef broth. Add the bay leaf and stir everything together.
  5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. For best results, let it simmer for 2-3 hours.
  6. Remove bay leaf. If chili is too thin, you can thicken it by mixing 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water, then stirring it into the hot chili. Let it simmer for 10 more minutes.

Notes

For amazing flavor, add 1 ounce of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) for depth or substitute 1 cup of beef broth with dark beer or strong coffee. Don't skip toasting spices as this step doubles the flavor impact.