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Chili Con Carne Recipe

A hearty, saucy favourite crafted with a homemade spice blend rather than a packet mix. This dish is quick enough for a midweek dinner yet deeply flavourful when slow-cooked. See notes for diverse serving and topping inspirations.
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Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keyword: Chili Con Carne Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 5 people

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 –2 tsp cayenne pepper adjust to desired heat
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb / 500g ground beef beef mince
  • 3 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes crumbled
  • 4 tsp paprika powder
  • 2 tsp garlic powder or onion powder as substitute
  • 800 g / 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 onion diced (yellow, brown, or white)
  • 1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar any type
  • 5 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 red bell pepper capsicum, diced
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 14 oz / 420g can red kidney beans drained
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 – 1 1/2 cups / 125 – 375 ml water
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher or cooking salt
  • To Serve
  • Warm tortillas rice, or corn chips
  • Sour cream grated cheese, plain yoghurt, fresh coriander/cilantro

Instructions

  • Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion, sauté for a minute, then incorporate the diced capsicum and cook for an additional two minutes until the onions turn translucent. Raise the heat to high and add the ground beef, breaking it apart as it cooks until mostly browned. Sprinkle in the entire Chili Spice Mix and continue to cook, stirring, until the beef is uniformly browned and the spices have released their aroma. Pour in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, crumbled bouillon cubes, sugar, and the measured water—using 1/2 cup for a quicker preparation or up to 1 1/2 cups for a slow cook. Bring the mixture to a simmer. For a quick version, cook uncovered for 20–40 minutes over medium-low heat until it bubbles gently. For a slow-cooked option, cover and simmer on low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours, ensuring a gentle bubble. Season with additional salt if needed just before serving. Serve ladled over rice or spooned into bowls accompanied by corn chips or warm tortillas. Garnish with toppings such as sour cream, cheese, and fresh coriander. Refer to the notes for further serving inspirations.

Notes

For deeper flavour, substitute the water with 2 cups of beef broth and omit the bouillon cubes, allowing ample time for the liquid to reduce. Adjust cayenne pepper gradually to reach your preferred heat level. This dish is exceptional when prepared in a slow cooker: follow the initial steps with only 1/4 cup of water, then transfer to a slow cooker for six hours on low. The flavours develop beautifully overnight and it freezes excellently. Enjoy leftovers in chili dogs, fries, baked potatoes, Sloppy Joes, Tamale Pie, or stirred through pasta with cornbread on the side.