Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (2024)

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This chili con carne is the best homemade chili recipe you’ll find! Brown chunks of beef in bacon fat, then add kidney beans, onion, garlic, tomatoes, jalapeños, chili powder, and ground chipotles. Top with grated cheddar and a squeeze of lime.

By

Elise Bauer

Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (1)

Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated November 28, 2023

10 Ratings

Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (2)

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Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (3)

It seems as if there are as many ways to prepare chili as there are cooks who make chili!

Ground beef versus chunks, pork versus beef, pinto versus kidney beans, beans versus no beans, red chili or green chili—the combinations, as the preferences for them, are endless.

Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (4)

Ingredients in this Homemade Chili Recipe

A few notes on this recipe. We use chuck roast because it holds up the best to long stewing. The meat and onions are cooked in bacon fat which contributes to the flavor.

We include kidney beans because we like kidney beans, but you can substitute other beans or leave them out entirely. You can also make your beans from scratch on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker. A little sugar is used to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes and lime juice.

The "secret sauce" so to speak of this recipe is the addition of chipotle chili powder, made from smoke-dried jalapeño peppers. Chipotle adds a smokey dimension to the chili, enhancing all of the other flavors.

If you can't find chipotle powder, Tabasco makes a chipotle pepper sauce that can be used to add some smokey flavor to the stew.

Everyone has their favorite chili recipe. This one is mine, what's yours?

What is Chili Con Carne?

Chili con carne means chili with meat. It might have originated in San Antonio, Texas, in the mid-1800s, although some trace its origins back to the Canary Islands in the 1700s. Immigrants from the Canary Islands settled in San Antonio in the 1800s and may have brought it with them.

Originally, it was simply meat, sauce, and chili peppers. Eventually, cooks added beans and tomatoes to the dish, although some people are purists and insist that beans do not belong in real chili con carne.

Buying Beef for Chili With Meat

You can use many different cuts of beef that can be cubed for chili, but we're partial to these.

  • Chuck roast
  • Brisket
  • Pre-cut stew meat in the butcher section of the grocery store
  • Beef round

How to Store and Reheat This Recipe

Store cooled chili tightly covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave or bring to a simmer in a pot on the stove and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. You may need to add a little water, as the beans absorb moisture as they sit.

How to Freeze Chili

Freeze chili in a freezer-safe zipper bag or container for up to 3 months. Defrost it overnight in the refrigerator.

How to Freeze Soup, Beans, and BrothREAD MORE:

Get Cookin' With More Chili Recipes

  • Best Beef Chili
  • Slow-Cooker Beef and Bean Chili
  • Black Bean Turkey Chili
  • Turkey Chili With Leftover Turkey
  • Easy No Bean Chili

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Chili Con Carne

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time2 hrs 15 mins

Total Time2 hrs 25 mins

Servings4to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin

  • 2 teaspoons ground oregano

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

  • 3 to 4 tablespoons water

  • 4 strips bacon

  • 2 1/2 pounds chuck roast, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 medium white onion, chopped

  • 3 clove garlic, minced

  • 2 jalapeño chili peppers, seeded, ribs removed, minced

  • 1 (14-ounce) can whole tomatoes

  • 2 1/2 cups water

  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1 (14-ounce) can kidney beans drained

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in a couple tablespoons of water

  • Kosher salt

  • Grated cheddar cheese, garnish

  • Red onion, garnish

Method

  1. Make the chili paste:

    In a small bowl mix the chili powder, chipotle chili powder, ground cumin, oregano, thyme, and ground coriander seeds. Mix in water so that chili forms a light paste. Set aside.

  2. Cook the bacon:

    Cook the bacon in a large skillet on medium high heat until crisp. Use a slotted spoon to remove from pan and set aside on a paper towel. Pour bacon fat from the pan into a separate container, reserve. When the bacon cools, crumble it into smaller pieces and set aside.

  3. Brown the beef chunks in bacon fat:

    Increase heat to medium high, add back in 1 tablespoon of bacon fat. Working in batches so that you don't crowd the beef (crowding will steam cook the meat instead of browning it), brown the beef cubes on all sides, lightly salting as you cook the beef. Remove beef from pan, set aside.

    Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (5)

    Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (6)

  4. Cook the onions:

    Add another tablespoon of bacon fat to the pan. Add the chopped onions and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeño, cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add the chili paste and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes.

    Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (7)

    Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (8)

  5. Combine the chili ingredients in a big pot, simmer, then cook slowly:

    Into a 6-quart, thick-bottomed Dutch oven, put onion-chili mixture, beef, bacon, tomatoes (break up the whole tomatoes with your fingers as you put them in the pot), water, lime juice and sugar. Heat the chili on medium high heat until it comes to a simmer. Then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 1 1/2 hours. Then uncover and cook for another half hour, keeping the temperature at a place where you can maintain a simmer.

    Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (9)

    Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (10)

  6. Thicken with cornstarch:

    Mix the cornstarch powder into a little water to dissolve the corn starch (otherwise you'll have lumps to deal with) and add to the chili to thicken it.

  7. Add the kidney beans:

    Gently mix in the kidney beans. Add salt to taste. Adjust seasonings. Depending on the acidity of the tomatoes and lime juice you may need a little more sugar to bring the stew to balance. At this point you can also add a little more chili powder if you desire more heat.

  8. Add toppings to serve:

    Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese and chopped red onion. Serve with cornbread, tortilla chips, and/or rice.

    Did you love the recipe? Give us some stars and leave a comment below!

Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (11)

  • Chili
  • Comfort Food
  • Family Dinners
  • Kidney Beans
  • Beef Chuck
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
628Calories
35g Fat
24g Carbs
57g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories628
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 35g45%
Saturated Fat 14g70%
Cholesterol 169mg56%
Sodium 823mg36%
Total Carbohydrate 24g9%
Dietary Fiber 7g25%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 57g
Vitamin C 14mg70%
Calcium 175mg13%
Iron 7mg41%
Potassium 1085mg23%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Bacon Makes This Chili Con Carne Recipe Better Than All The Rest (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to chilli con carne for more flavor? ›

Similarly, adding onion powder to your chilli is a great idea if you want to enhance the flavours. It blends well with garlic powder and other spices, lending a sweet and savoury flavour to dishes that you can't get from fresh onions. Onion powder also has a stronger aroma which would not go amiss in chilli con carne.

What can I add to chili to make it unique? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

What can I add to chilli con carne to cool it down? ›

Turns out, the fiery chemical in hot chilis, capsaicin, likes to bind itself onto a compound in milk, which neutralizes the burn. Add a generous dollop of sour cream, creme fraiche, or yogurt to scorching hot chili or stews, or even a touch of milk or cream. For best results, though, go with full-fat dairy.

Do people put sugar in chili? ›

Among the many ingredients that will take your chili to the next level, sugar may be one addition your chili needs, not only to balance the acidic component of your tomato base but to also add some overall complexity to your dish.

How to make chilli con carne even better? ›

7 Tips To Zhuzh Up A Chilli Con Carne
  1. Use pinto or black beans. ...
  2. Enrichen with chocolate and coffee. ...
  3. Add cooling toppings and fun extras. ...
  4. Step things up with crunchies. ...
  5. Refrigerate it for a flavour boost.
Apr 7, 2022

What is the secret to amazing chili? ›

Here Are Our Six Secret Ingredients for the Best Chili
  • Canned Puréed Pumpkin. You already use this to make pumpkin-infused quick breads and waffles, but did you know you can add it to chili too? ...
  • Cocoa Powder. ...
  • Coffee. ...
  • Maple Syrup. ...
  • Pepperoncinis (Plus Liquid) ...
  • Root Beer.
Sep 2, 2022

What makes chili taste better? ›

"Adding fresh ingredients — like diced onions, cilantro, and jalapenos — will take any canned chili to another level," Dunleavy said. "The fresh burst of flavor will brighten and elevate the chili while also adding great texture and crunch."

What is the most important spice in chili? ›

Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.

What is my chili missing? ›

Sometimes after a long simmer, your chili will taste wonderful be maybe missing one little thing you can't figure out. Try a tad bit of vinegar or a squeeze of lime! The acidity in vinegar & limes bring a good roundness to the pot and binds all the flavors together.

What cancels out chilli in cooking? ›

The next time your dish tastes too spicy, try adding lemon, lime or orange juice, or any style of vinegar that suits the dish and your taste preferences. Remember, a little goes a long way, so taste as you go (it's always easier to add more than to backtrack after adding too much).

What liquid is best for chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

What does brown sugar do for chili? ›

The brown sugar gave it a sweet/tangy flavor that reminded me of BBQ-sauce! Th chili was so good - it was hard to stop eating it! I did had some extra veggies (1 cl. garlic, 1 celery stalk, 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, 1 hot pepper) and used a can of diced tomatoes rather than tomato juice.

Why do you put cinnamon in chili? ›

Cinnamon. The beauty of ground cinnamon is that it brings a warmth to your chili, without being spicy. It works well with other flavors commonly found in chili (like tomato, cumin and chile powder) so you only need a little bit to achieve the desired balance.

What can I add if chili is too bland? ›

Add a hit of soy sauce, Worcestershire, or tamari. These salty, savory powerhouses won't dominate or change the flavor of your chili so much as amplify what's there. Start with one tablespoon, stir, and taste before you add another.

How do you perk up bland chili? ›

But some simple tips.
  1. Add garlic to that initial saute. Garlic makes everything better.
  2. Up the spices and mix it up. Heres the basic ingredients I use. Sans beans and meat. ...
  3. If the spice mixture is too hot, use chocolate or vinegar to cut it. It reduces the heat significantly and can even add a touch of flavor.
Mar 10, 2015

Why is my chilli con carne bland? ›

It could be that you have enough flavorings but not enough salt. Or perhaps there aren't enough flavors. Chili powder, or some variety like ancho, pasilla, chipotle, and cumin are a nice way to add some easy flavor.

How do you pimp up a chilli? ›

Here are eight easy, unexpected ways to change up your chili and give it a big flavor boost.
  1. Mix up your meats. Ground beef isn't the only protein that works, people. ...
  2. Spice it up. ...
  3. Char your chilis. ...
  4. Booze it up. ...
  5. Try some coffee. ...
  6. Get more umami without the meat. ...
  7. Get a little fruity. ...
  8. Try an edible bowl.
May 13, 2019

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