Get ready to make the most incredible pot of chili you’ve ever tasted! This Easy Chili Con Carne is the ultimate comfort food; hearty, deeply flavorful, and simmered to perfection. We’re taking classic ground beef and kidney beans and transforming them with a secret weapon: a square of dark chocolate. That’s right! This unexpected ingredient adds a rich, complex depth that will have everyone asking for your recipe. It’s the perfect set it and forget it meal for a cozy family dinner or your next game day gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Deep, Complex Flavor: Toasting the spices and adding dark chocolate creates a rich, smoky flavor that tastes like it simmered for hours.
- Easy One Pot Meal: Everything cooks in one pot, making cleanup a breeze.
- Feeds a Crowd: This recipe makes a big, hearty batch perfect for leftovers or feeding a hungry family.
- The Ultimate Comfort Food: Warm, satisfying, and packed with protein, this is the chili dreams are made of.
Ingredients for Easy Chili Con Carne
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef (85/15 is ideal)
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 (15 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 red bell peppers, chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 ¼ cups hot beef broth
- 1 square (about 1 oz) high quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions for Making Easy Chili Con Carne
1Brown the Beef: Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5-10 minutes, using a wooden spoon to break it up into crumbles, until it’s browned all over.
2Toast the Spices (The Flavor Foundation!): Reduce the heat to medium low. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and brown sugar to the pot. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Cook this mixture gently for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. This crucial step “toasts” the spices, unlocking their full, deep flavor and creating an incredible aroma. If the mixture starts to stick, add a splash of water.
3Simmer to Perfection: Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, drained kidney beans, chopped red peppers, and hot beef broth to the pot. Stir everything together until well combined.
Bring the chili to a simmer, then cover the pot with a lid. Let it simmer gently for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. This slow cooking time allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully.
4The Secret Finishing Touch: Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the square of dark chocolate until it’s completely melted and incorporated into the chili.
Taste your masterpiece and adjust the seasoning. If you’d like more heat, add a pinch more chili powder or a dash of cayenne pepper.
5Serve and Enjoy! Ladle the chili into bowls and serve with your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, diced avocado, or a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
The BEST Easy Chili Con Carne
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 15 oz cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 red bell peppers chopped
- 1 ¼ cups hot beef broth
- 1 oz dark chocolate 70% cocoa or higher
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add beef and cook for 5-10 mins, breaking it up, until browned.
- Reduce heat to medium low. Add onion, garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook for 10 mins, stirring often.
- Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, kidney beans, bell peppers, and beef broth. Stir well.
- Cover and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat. Stir in dark chocolate until melted.
- Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve hot.
Notes
- The Chocolate Secret: Use high quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher). Milk chocolate will make the chili too sweet. If you don't have dark chocolate, you can omit it.
- Beef Fat Content: 85/15 lean ground beef works best. If using a higher fat content, you may want to drain some excess grease after browning.
- Spice Level: This recipe creates a mild to medium heat. For spicier chili, add a pinch of cayenne pepper with the other spices.
