Best 4 Moms Classic Beef Chili Recipes

For a hearty and comforting meal, few things beat a classic beef chili. This dish is a staple in many households, passed down from generation to generation. With its rich and flavorful broth, tender beef, and variety of spices, it's the perfect comfort food for a cold winter day or a casual get-together with friends and family. While there are countless variations of this classic recipe, some key ingredients and techniques remain the same, ensuring a delicious and satisfying meal every time.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

MOM'S PERFECT CHILI

Mom's Perfect Chili image

Smoky tomato flavors lead the way in this comforting classic. This is the perfect chili recipe in my opinion--it's not so fancy that it's intimidating at all, but it's definitely a step above chili packet recipes and chili beans. Serve topped with desired garnishes, such as jalapeno, green or white white onion, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, and hot sauce.

Provided by NicoleMcmom

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 24

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
2 pounds ground beef sirloin
1 large onion, diced
2 medium poblano peppers, diced
1 medium orange bell pepper, diced
1 medium jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup chili powder
4 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground paprika
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (14.5 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
½ (28 ounce) can tomato puree
2 cups beef stock
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
1 tablespoon adobo sauce from chipotle peppers
3 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Steps:

Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, crumbling with a spoon until evenly browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Add remaining oil to the pot and return to medium-high heat. Add onion and saute, stirring often, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add poblano, bell, and jalapeno peppers and garlic; cook, stirring frequently until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, and oregano; cook for 1 minute. Add beer and stir, scraping any small brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add crushed and fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato puree, beef stock, chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce; stir until well combined. Bring to a simmer, stirring often.
Stir in beef and kidney beans; return to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 3 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 296.3 calories, Carbohydrate 31.2 g, Cholesterol 40.3 mg, Fat 9.6 g, Fiber 10.5 g, Protein 21.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 823.3 mg, Sugar 3.4 g

MOM'S CLASSIC BEEF CHILI

Mom's Classic Beef Chili image

A classic ground beef and beans chili, updated!

Provided by Kristen

Time 1h45m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 medium bell peppers, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 pounds ground beef
2 (16 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
2 cups beef broth
¼ cup chili powder
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 (16 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained

Steps:

Place a large frying pan over medium-high heat until hot, about 45 seconds. Add 1 tablespoon oil, then add peppers and onion; saute until soft, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large soup pot and set aside.
Increase the heat under the frying pan to high and let the pan get very hot, about 90 seconds. Add 1 tablespoon oil, then add 1/2 of the ground beef; cook and stir in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, about 6 minutes. Transfer to the soup pot, and drain and discard grease from the frying pan. Repeat with remaining oil and beef.
Add tomatoes, broth, chili powder, tomato paste, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper to the beef mixture; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes.
Add kidney beans and black beans; simmer until beans are heated through, about 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 366.8 calories, Carbohydrate 26.6 g, Cholesterol 55.7 mg, Fat 19.6 g, Fiber 9.7 g, Protein 23.3 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 904.9 mg, Sugar 2.1 g

CLASSIC CHILI

Classic Chili image

Mom's homemade chili recipe was the best! She knew just the right ingredients to put her 'stamp' on it. I could eat it with my eyes closed and know it was hers. It amazed me that she could put it together in so little time. -Marjorie Carey, Alamosa, Colorado

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner Lunch

Time 2h

Yield 12 servings (3 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 pounds ground beef
2 cans (28 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Tortilla chips, optional

Steps:

In a Dutch oven or large soup kettle, saute green pepper, onions and celery in oil until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until browned; drain. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add kidney beans. Simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes longer. If desired, serve with tortilla chips.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 259 calories, Fat 10g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 47mg cholesterol, Sodium 708mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 20g protein.

MOM'S EASY CHILI

Mom's Easy Chili image

I used Mom's chili recipe and added a few things of my own over the years. I put it together in the crock pot the night before, throw it in the fridge (just the crock), then before leaving for work the next morning I put the crock in the base, plug it in and it's yummy when I get home.

Provided by Color Guard Mom

Categories Low Cholesterol

Time 8h30m

Yield 10-12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, diced
1/4 green pepper, diced
1/2 cup salsa
1 (20 ounce) can tomato sauce (large)
2 (10 ounce) cans chili beans
1 (10 ounce) can tomato soup
2 tablespoons chili powder

Steps:

Brown ground beef and drain.
Put all ingredients in crock pot and stir well.
Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or high for 4 to 6 hours. I also like to take the lid off the crock pot the last hour or two (when I'm home) to allow some of the water to burn off.

Tips:

Choose the right beef: Chuck roast or ground beef with at least 80% lean content are ideal for chili.
Brown the beef well: This helps develop flavor and prevents the chili from being greasy.
Use a variety of beans: Kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans are all popular choices for chili.
Add plenty of spices: Chili powder, cumin, oregano, and paprika are essential chili spices. You can also add other spices to taste, such as cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, or smoked paprika.
Simmer the chili for at least 1 hour: This allows the flavors to meld and develop.
Serve with your favorite toppings: Shredded cheese, sour cream, diced onions, and crushed tortilla chips are all popular chili toppings.

Conclusion:

Classic beef chili is a hearty, flavorful dish that is perfect for a cold day. It is also a versatile dish that can be easily customized to your liking. Whether you like your chili mild or spicy, with beans or without, there is a recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a comforting and delicious meal, give classic beef chili a try.