good, easy, hearty beefy bean chili – with a classic smoky, salty Western flavor that is suited to a crowd! Beefy bean cookout-style chili, with its rich combination of ground beef and ground sausage, presents a robust and hearty flavor profile that is both deeply satisfying and distinctly bold.

While our family enjoys this recipe regularly, we also like to make it to take for potlucks and parties. It goes well over hot dogs, chips, or on its own. You don't have to add dairy to your chili but it does go well with a big piece of Honey Butter Cornbread. Yum!

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

How to make Beefy Chili

First you will want to assemble the following ingredients:

Bacon grease or olive oil – while you can add either one we love a little bacon flavoring in our chili.
Yellow onions – onions add a natural sweetness, light a candle when cutting onions to help your eyes not burn.
Garlic – this gives the chili a strong distinct flavor, use fresh garlic.
Chili powder, Paprika, Cumin, Oregano – these spices are the solid quartet of spices for chili.
Ground beef – beef is expected in most chili and has a wonderful texture.
Italian sausage – pork adds some needed fat and richness. You will need to remove casing if necessary.
Salt – salt adds necessary seasoning to the beef and the chili in general.
Crushed tomatoes – crushed tomatoes will give more liquid content than diced tomatoes which is suited to chili.
Kidney beans – kidney beans are meaty and add a wonderful texture to this.
BBQ baked beans – even after we have rinsed the beans they add some bbq flavoring to the chili.
Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce – these can be found in the Latin section in the Supermarket. They add a smoky spice.
Garnishes – we love garnishes in our chili like cheddar cheese, green onions, sour cream, jalapeno slices, and bacon.

Once you've gathered your ingredients, we will use this process:

Prep

Assemble ingredients. Add oil to a heavy bottom pot and heat over medium heat.

Sauté Vegetables

Heat the grease or oil in a Dutch oven, add onion and garlic and sauté while stirring occasionally.

Add Spices and Meat

Sprinkle in the spices and stir them into the onions, let cook for a minutes or two until fragrant. Add the meats and cook, stirring frequently until all the meat is browned. Add the remaining ingredients.

Simmer

Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 1 hour.

Enjoy

Enjoy this hearty chili hot, garnish with cheese, sour cream, green onions, and bacon.

Kitchen notes

You can make this in the slow cooker: Do steps 1-4 in the recipe then add everything to the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6.

Quality of Meat: Choose high-quality ground beef and sausage for the best flavor. A mix of lean and fatty meat is ideal as it provides richness without being overly greasy.

Make it in your Instant Pot: This recipe is easily made in an instant pot by using the sauté function for the first three steps. When you add the tomatoes do not stir, let it sit on top of the meat and beans. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and cook for 12 minutes on high pressure and then let it naturally release for another 12 minutes before opening the vent and then removing the lid. Turn it back to the sauté function and let simmer with the lid loosely on for 10-15 more minutes or until it's at the desired consistency.

Browning the Meat: Brown your meats separately to develop deep flavors. Ensure that the beef and sausage are well-browned before combining them; this step adds a savory depth to your chili.

Chipotles in Adobo Sauce: Be mindful of the heat. Start with a small amount of chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, then adjust according to your taste. Remember, it's easier to add more spice than to take it away.

Tomato Tip: Use high-quality canned tomatoes for consistency in flavor. Fire-roasted tomatoes can add an extra layer of smokiness that complements the chipotles well.

Simmering Slowly: Allow your chili to simmer slowly after all the ingredients are added. This slow cooking process melds the flavors together and tenderizes the meat. A low and slow approach is key for a rich and cohesive chili.

Beans: Choose your beans wisely. Kidney beans are a classic choice, but black or pinto beans work well too. Add them towards the end of cooking to maintain their texture.

Resting Time: Chili often tastes better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld together in the refrigerator. If possible, make your chili a day ahead.

Garnishes and Sides: Serve your chili with a variety of garnishes like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, or cilantro. Cornbread or a side of rice makes a great accompaniment.

Turn up the heat: If you want to make this chili spicier add more chipotle chilis in adobo.

A few answers

How do we keep leftovers?

Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Does Beef Chili freeze well?

Yes, this chili freezes well. We freeze our chili in a ziplock bag and always put the date on it. It keeps well in the freezer for 4-6 months.

How do we tame the heat of this chili?

To mellow out an overly spicy chili, you can add more tomatoes, beans, or other ingredients to dilute the heat. Dairy products like sour cream or cheese can also help counteract the spiciness when served.

How can we make our chili spicier?

You can increase the heat in your chili by adding more chili powder, fresh or dried chili peppers, cayenne pepper, or hot sauces.

Can we make chili without meat?

Absolutely! You can substitute beans, lentils, tofu, or other meat substitutes for the beef and pork.

How do we thicken our chili?

Allowing chili to simmer uncovered will help reduce and thicken it. Alternatively, you can mix a small amount of cornstarch with cold water and stir it into the chili, then let it simmer until thickened.

Is this chili gluten free?

Yes, there is no gluten in this chili recipe!

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Ingredients

1 tbsp bacon grease or olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
3 tbsp garlic, minced
3 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp cumin
2 tsp oregano
1 lb ground beef
1 lb Italian sausage, removed from its casing if necessary
2 tsp kosher salt
2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz can bbq baked beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
Garnishes, optional: cheddar cheese, green onions, sour cream, jalapeno slices, bacon

Method

Heat oil or grease in a pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ones and garlic, stirring occasionally, cook 7 till 10 minutes till tender.
Add chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano and let spices cook till fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add the ground beef, sausage, and salt to the pot and cook 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 1 hour.
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more chipotles to add heat if necessary.
Top with desired garnishes and enjoy hot!

Beefy Bean Chili