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Kid-Approved No-Bean Chili for a Crowd (Easy & Budget-Friendly)

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A hearty, meaty, and budget-friendly chili made without beans, perfect for feeding a crowd. This recipe relies on deeply browned ground beef and a rich blend of spices for incredible flavor that even picky eaters will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds (1.36 kg) ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 1 large green bell pepper, diced (about 1.5 cups)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tablespoon pre-minced garlic)
  • 2 jalapeños, seeded and minced (optional)
  • ¼ cup (30 g) chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon (7 g) ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon (8 g) smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons (4 g) dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon (2 g) garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon (2 g) onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon (1 g) cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons (12 g) salt
  • 1 teaspoon (2 g) black pepper
  • 1 can (28 ounces / 794 g) crushed tomatoes (fire-roasted preferred)
  • 1 can (15 ounces / 425 g) tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons (30 g) tomato paste
  • 2 cups (480 ml) beef broth (low-sodium)
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon (15 g) brown sugar
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for topping)
  • Chopped green onions (for topping)
  • Crushed tortilla chips or oyster crackers (for topping)
  • Fresh cilantro (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until deeply browned and no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of fat.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Add diced onion, bell pepper, and jalapeños (if using) to the pot. Cook for 4-5 minutes until softened and onion is translucent.
  3. Bloom the spices: Add minced garlic and all dried spices (chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, pepper). Stir constantly for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Build the sauce: Add tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir well, scraping the bottom of the pot.
  5. Simmer: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer gently for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
  6. Taste and adjust: Taste the chili and adjust seasoning with more salt, cayenne, or brown sugar as desired.
  7. Rest and serve: Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings.

Notes

For best flavor, use 80/20 ground beef and don’t skip browning the meat. Bloom spices in fat for maximum aroma. Chili tastes even better the next day. For a thicker chili, simmer uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes. For slow cooker: brown meat and sauté vegetables first, then cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. For Instant Pot: use sauté function for browning, then pressure cook on high for 15 minutes with natural release.

Nutrition

Keywords: no-bean chili, kid-friendly chili, budget chili, ground beef chili, crowd-pleasing chili, easy chili recipe

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/kid-approved-no-bean-chili-for-a-crowd-easy-and-budget-friendly/