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Easy Chili with Beans and Ground Meat

Name: Chili
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Yield: 1 recipe
Ingredients: 250 g ground beef (or turkey); 1 medium onion, diced; 1 medium red bell pepper, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp olive oil; 400 g canned diced tomatoes; 240 g canned kidney beans, drained; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 2 tsp chili powder; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 100 ml water (or broth); 1 tsp brown sugar (optional)

Prep 15 min Cook 25 min Difficulty 1/5

Simple chili recipe with beef or turkey, beans, tomatoes, and spices. Quick, flexible, and easy to customize.

Why this recipe works

This chili recipe is a straightforward, hearty dish that works for weeknights or casual gatherings. It suits cooks who want a reliable, flexible pot of comfort with pantry staples.

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Recipe guide

This chili recipe is a straightforward, hearty dish that works for weeknights or casual gatherings. It suits cooks who want a reliable, flexible pot of comfort with pantry staples.

A reliable, flexible chili you can whip up anytime.

Makes a simple chili with basic pantry ingredients
Includes optional brown sugar for sweetness balance
Easy to scale or customize with toppings

What you’ll need

Ingredients include ground meat, onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, beans, tomato paste, spices, water/broth, and optional brown sugar. Prep time is about 15 minutes.

Step-by-step method

Sauté onion and pepper; add garlic. Brown the meat. Stir in tomato paste and spices, then tomatoes, beans, liquid, and optional sugar. Simmer 15–20 minutes until thickened.

Serving and tips

Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot with toppings like cheese or sour cream. Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer.

Ingredients

250 g ground beef (or turkey)

1 medium onion, diced

1 medium red bell pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp olive oil

400 g canned diced tomatoes

240 g canned kidney beans, drained

1 tbsp tomato paste

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

100 ml water (or broth)

1 tsp brown sugar (optional)

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat.

Add diced onion and red bell pepper; sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir in minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

Add ground beef; break up and cook until browned and no pink remains, about 5–7 minutes.

Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper; cook 1 minute to toast spices.

Add diced tomatoes, drained kidney beans, water or broth, and brown sugar if using; stir to combine.

Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or chili powder if needed.

Serve hot with optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped cilantro.

FAQs

Can I use ground turkey instead of beef? Yes, turkey or a turkey/beef mix works fine.

Can I freeze leftovers? Yes, refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.

How can I thicken the chili? Let it simmer longer, or mash some beans lightly to thicken.