American dinner

Homemade Comfort Chili

Name: Homemade Comfort Chili
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 2.5 pounds lean ground beef; 2 medium yellow onions, finely diced; 1 large red bell pepper, diced; 5 garlic cloves, minced; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 3 tablespoons ground chili powder; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes; 3 cans (15 ounces each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed; 1.5 cups beef broth; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional, for balancing acidity)

Easy homemade chili recipe with ground beef, beans, and warm spices. Simmer 2 hours for deep flavor. Perfect weeknight comfort food.

Prep: 20 minCook: 120 minTotal: 140 minServes 6465 cal

Health Scores

Gut Health8/10

Anti-Inflammatory8/10

Blood Sugar Control7/10

Instructions

1
Warm the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it shimmers, about 1 minute.
2
Add the ground beef in batches, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks, and brown thoroughly for 8-10 minutes until no pink remains and the meat has developed a deep golden crust.
3
Drain off excess fat from the pot, leaving about 2 tablespoons of flavorful drippings behind.
4
Reduce heat to medium and add the diced onions and bell pepper, stirring frequently until they become soft and translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.
5
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 60 seconds until fragrant, then add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to deepen its flavor.
6
Sprinkle the chili powder, cumin, paprika, and cayenne over the mixture, then stir continuously for about 1 minute to bloom the spices and release their essential oils.
7
Pour in the crushed tomatoes with their juices and the beef broth, scraping up any flavorful brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
8
Add the Worcestershire sauce and drained kidney beans, stirring everything together until well combined.
9
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low and partially cover with a lid, leaving it slightly ajar.
10
Simmer gently for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and allowing the flavors to meld and deepen (up to 3 hours yields even better results).
11
Season with sea salt and black pepper, tasting and adjusting the spices as needed—add a pinch of sugar if the tomatoes taste too acidic.
12
Let the chili rest uncovered for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle and the texture to thicken slightly.
13
Ladle into bowls and serve hot, optionally topped with diced onions, shredded cheese, sour cream, or fresh cilantro.

Variations & Substitutions

Ingredient	Substitute	Notes
ground beef	ground grass-fed beef or a 50/50 mix of ground beef and diced beef chuck	grass-fed beef contains higher omega-3 fatty acids and better nutrient profile; mixing in chuck adds richer flavor and improved texture
kidney beans (canned)	dried kidney beans (soaked overnight and cooked) or a mix of kidney and black beans	dried beans reduce sodium intake significantly and black beans add anthocyanins with stronger anti-inflammatory properties
crushed tomatoes (canned)	fresh tomatoes (blanched and crushed) or low-sodium canned tomatoes	fresh tomatoes reduce processed food intake and added sodium; low-sodium canned versions support heart health
beef broth	homemade bone broth or low-sodium vegetable broth with added gelatin	bone broth provides collagen and amino acids beneficial for gut lining health; low-sodium option reduces cardiovascular stress
sugar (for balancing acidity)	a small pinch of unsweetened cocoa powder or a grated square of dark chocolate	cocoa contains polyphenols with powerful anti-inflammatory compounds; chocolate adds depth without simple carbohydrates
olive oil	avocado oil or ghee	avocado oil has a higher smoke point for better browning; ghee provides fat-soluble vitamin absorption and gut-friendly butyric acid

Nutrition Information

Per serving (serves 6)

Calories	465
Total Fat	16g
Saturated Fat	5g
Cholesterol	102mg
Sodium	680mg
Carbohydrates	31g
Fiber	10g
Sugar	4g
Protein	50g