Pioneer Woman Beef and Bean Chili Recipe
There is nothing better on a chilly evening than a warm bowl of comfort food. This delicious Pioneer Woman Beef and Bean Chili Recipe is the ultimate family dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- One 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 container or 14-ounce can beef broth
- 1 whole yellow onion diced
- 4 tablespoons high-quality chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 2 tablespoons masa harina or fine yellow cornmeal
Instructions
Brown the Ground Beef
- Place your large pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced yellow onion together. Cook until the meat is fully browned and the onion becomes soft and clear. Drain off most of the excess grease from the pot.
Add the Fresh Garlic
- Stir the minced garlic into the browned beef mixture. Cook this together for about one minute. You will smell the beautiful aroma immediately. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.
Pour in the Tomato Sauce and Liquid
- Pour the tomato sauce and the beef broth into the pot. Stir well to combine all the ingredients. Reduce the heat down to low so the mixture drops to a gentle simmer.
Stir in the Rich Spices
- Add the chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir the spices thoroughly into the liquid. These ingredients for Pioneer Woman Beef and Bean Chili Recipe create a deep, bold flavor.
Simmer the Chili Base
- Cover the pot with a tight lid. Let the chili simmer gently on low heat for one hour. Stir it occasionally so the bottom does not stick or burn.
Add the Kidney Beans
- Dump the rinsed kidney beans into the pot. Stir them gently into the hot beef mixture. Leave the lid off this time. Let it simmer for another 10 minutes until the beans are hot.
Mix the Masa Thickeners
- Mix the masa harina and warm water in a small bowl. Stir until it forms a smooth paste. This is the magic step for perfect chili texture.
Thicken and Serve Hot
- Pour the masa paste into the simmering pot. Stir it completely into the chili. Let it cook for five more minutes until the chili thickens beautifully, then turn off the heat.
Notes
- Swap the Meat: You can use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef for a lighter meal.
- Spice it Up: Add chopped fresh jalapeños with the onions if you prefer a spicier chili kick.
- Bean Options: Swap one can of kidney beans for black beans or pinto beans to mix things up.
- Masa Substitute: If you cannot find masa harina, cornstarch mixed with water works as a quick thickener.
- Brown Sugar Secret: Stir in a teaspoon of brown sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes beautifully.