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close up photo of Classic Homemade chili

Classic Homemade Chili Recipe

Ebony
This Classic Homemade Chili is rich, hearty, and full of bold, comforting flavor thanks to smoky bacon, seasoned ground beef, and a vibrant tomato base. It’s an easy, cozy dinner that gets even better the next day and pairs perfectly with sour cream, cheese, and warm cornbread.
5 from 6 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 362 kcal

Ingredients
  

Base Ingredients

  • 4 slices Bacon
  • 1 cup Sweet Onion chopped
  • 1 lb Ground Beef
  • 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tbsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Ground Cumin
  • 1 tsp Adobo
  • ½ tsp Thyme
  • ½  tsp Crushed Red Pepper
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste

Tomato + Liquid Base

  • 1 10 oz Can Diced Tomatoes with Habaneros I used the Ro-Tel brand
  • 1 15 oz Can Tomato Sauce
  • 3 oz Tomato Paste (½ a 6 oz can) 
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce 
  • 3 dashes Hickory Smoke
  • 1 can Chili Beans drained
  • 1¼ cups Chicken Broth
  • 1 Bay Leaf

Instructions
 

  • Start by preparing your ingredients: dice the sweet onion and bacon. Then gather all seasonings so they’re ready to add as you cook. Next, in a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Transfer the bacon to a plate and leave the drippings in the pot for added flavor.
  • Add the diced sweet onion to the pot and season lightly with salt. Cook over medium to low heat for 3 - 4 minutes, or until the onions are soft and fragrant.
  • Add the ground beef to the pot and sprinkle in the garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, Adobo, thyme, and crushed red pepper. Cook until the beef is browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
  • Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes with habaneros, tomato sauce, chili beans, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, a small dash of hickory smoke, and the bay leaf. Crumble the cooked bacon back into the pot if you'd like.
  • Bring the chili to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer for 30 - 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
  • Remove the bay leaf, ladle the chili into bowls, and finish with your favorite toppings like green onions, cheese, and sour cream. Serve warm with cornbread on the side.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 362kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 20gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 1138mgPotassium: 802mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 410IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 4mg
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