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Best 30-Minute Ground Beef Chili Recipe (Easy Stovetop)

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A quick and easy stovetop chili made with ground beef, kidney beans, and a blend of spices that delivers deep, comforting flavor in just 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, game day, or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef (85/15 or 80/20)
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juices
  • 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup beef broth

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first: dice the onion and bell pepper, mince the garlic, and drain and rinse the beans.
  2. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes until soft and translucent.
  3. Add the minced garlic and diced bell pepper. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the ground beef. Break it up with a wooden spoon into small crumbles. Let it cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes to get a good sear, then stir and break it up further. Cook for 5-6 minutes total until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if needed, leaving a little for flavor.
  5. Add the tomato paste and all the spices (chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne, salt, black pepper). Stir into the beef and vegetables. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to bloom the spices.
  6. Pour in the diced tomatoes (with their juices), tomato sauce, beef broth, and drained beans. Stir everything together, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  7. Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, cayenne, or hot sauce as desired.
  9. Serve hot with desired toppings.

Notes

For best flavor, use 80/20 ground beef and don’t skip blooming the spices. If using leaner meat, add an extra tablespoon of oil. Let the chili rest off the heat for 10-15 minutes before serving to meld flavors. Day-old chili tastes even better.

Nutrition

Keywords: 30-minute chili, ground beef chili, easy chili, stovetop chili, quick chili, weeknight dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/best-30-minute-ground-beef-chili-recipe-easy-stovetop/