Beef Chili with Beans

Name: Beef Chili with Beans
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 3 pounds ground beef chuck; 2 large onions, finely chopped; 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped; 5 garlic cloves, minced; 3 tablespoons pure ancho chile powder; 3 tablespoons pure pasilla chile powder; 3 tablespoons ground cumin; 2 tablespoons ground coriander; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 teaspoons chopped thyme; 2 teaspoons chopped oregano; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 3 cups low-sodium beef broth; One 15-ounce can pinto beans; One 14-ounce can diced tomatoes with the juices; 5 chipotle chiles in adobo, seeded and finely chopped; 1 cup tomato sauce; 1/4 cup tomato paste; 1 tablespoon cider vinegar; Juice of 1 lime; Salt

1,291 Ratings
1 Review

"Chili means Halloween to me," Grant Achatz says. When he was growing up, his mother would always serve it to him and his cousins before they went trick or treating as a way to counteract the sugar buzz to come. The smoky, spicy version here is a slightly modified version of his mother's chili, made with ancho, pasilla and chipotle powders, plus a homemade blend of seasonings and fresh herbs. More Comfort Food Recipes

By Grant Achatz

December 2006

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Credit: © John Kernick

Recipe Summary

active:

30 mins

total:

2 hrs 30 mins

Yield:

Directions

Step 1
In a large, heavy pot or a medium enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the oil. Add half of the ground beef and cook over high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes; transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Brown the remaining ground beef. Return the first batch of browned beef to the pot.

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Step 2
Add the onions and pepper to the pot and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, chile powders, cumin, coriander, sugar, thyme, oregano, black pepper and cayenne and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 3
Stir in the beef broth, pinto beans, tomatoes, chipotles, tomato sauce, tomato paste and the vinegar. Simmer the chili over low heat for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add the lime juice, season with salt and serve.

Make Ahead

The chili can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Suggested Pairing

This spicy beef-and-bean chili needs a wine that can stand up to its bold flavors, like a California Zinfandel.

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Food & Wine Member

10/29/2020

I really enjoyed the spicy smoky flavor of this chili, but it was simply too hot for my husband to eat. Maybe if we had some sour cream on hand, it could have helped, but not sure it would have moderated it enough for him. I cook a lot, but I've never been a good judge of the likely heat level based on the ingredient list. If you like spicy chili like I do, then go for it as is. If your palate can't handle more than a little warmth, I suggest reducing the chili powders and cayenne accordingly. Maybe start with 1/2 to 2/3 the amount, cook a bit, taste, and adjust. I should have done that.

It's a long ingredient list, but don't be daunted by it. It is just a few steps and the act of pulling it together happens quite quickly. I had gotten ground chuck out of the freezer the night before, not knowing what I'd do with it, so made this on a whim on a weeknight after work. I was lucky to have most of the ingredients on hand, but this is an easy one to sub in what you have, so don't be afraid to do that and consider it more of a guide of types of ingredients. I didn't have pasilla chili (subbed in a chili powder blend alongside the ancho chili powder) or the fresh thyme and oregano (subbed smaller amount of dry).

This really is a tasty chili with a nice smokiness, just know it may be too spicy for the average American palate without some adjustments.

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Beef Chili with Beans

Gallery

Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Make Ahead

Suggested Pairing

Reviews (1)

All Reviews for Beef Chili with Beans

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Beef Chili with Beans

Gallery

Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Make Ahead

Suggested Pairing

Reviews (1)

All Reviews for Beef Chili with Beans