Warm, hearty, and bursting with flavors, our Beef and Black Bean Chili recipe is a comforting dish that brings together seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, and spices. This quick and easy chili recipe for one (or more) is perfect for busy weeknights when you crave a satisfying meal without sacrificing flavor and nutrition.
This recipe is in our cookbook, “Cooking for One – Not an Army,” along with other beef recipes. It’s made for one, but you can easily double this recipe for company or leftovers! If you didn’t get a copy yet, our book is on Amazon right here!
Beef and Black Bean Chili Ingredients
The beauty of this beef and black bean chili recipe lies in its simplicity and the blend of ingredients. Lean ground beef creates a hearty base and is complemented by the flavors of diced onions and green bell peppers. A medley of spices, including chili powder, cumin, and paprika, elevates the dish and can be adjusted to your particular taste buds. The addition of black beans and diced tomatoes adds a heartiness that leaves you satisfied.
Tips & Tricks For The Best Chili
- Perfectly Browned Beef: Ensure a rich, flavorful base by not over browning the ground beef. Break it into small pieces as it cooks, allowing it to develop a golden brown color.
- Vegetable Tenderness: Achieve the ideal texture for onions and bell peppers by cooking them until tender. This step enhances their natural sweetness, adding a contrast to the savory beef.
- Balancing Seasonings: Stir in the spices to evenly coat the beef and vegetables. Taste the chili during the cooking process and adjust the seasonings as needed to suit your preferences. It’s easy to add more but hard to take away.
- Customize Consistency: Tailor the thickness of your chili by adding water or beef broth to achieve your desired consistency. Just be careful on the amount of liquid if using water.
Recipe Substitutions & Variations
Feel free to customize this beef and black bean chili recipe to suit your preferences and dietary needs. Here are some variations you can try:
- Vegetarian Option: Substitute the ground beef with plant-based alternatives like textured vegetable protein (TVP), crumbled tofu or another bean variety.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of chili powder and cumin to control the spiciness of your chili. Or add in some jalapeno when cooking the green pepper and onion.
- Bean Variety: Experiment with different bean varieties, such as kidney beans or pinto beans, to add variety to your dish.
What to Serve With It
Our Beef and Black Bean Chili recipe is incredibly versatile and pairs well with various accompaniments. Serve it with:
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Salsa
- Sliced Avocados
- Chopped Green Onions
- Fresh Cilantro
- For a fun twist, use Scoops as a utensil to scoop up every flavorful bite.
Leftovers & Storage of Beef and Black Bean Chili
If you decide to double or triple this recipe, then you’ll be lucky enough to have leftovers! This recipe just gets better as it sets up! The flavors meld and intensify over time, making the chili even more delicious upon reheating. Simply warm it on the stove or in the microwave, and you’ll have a tasty meal ready in minutes.
Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days and frozen for up to 3 months in the right type of freezer container. We like these from Tafura.
Other Recipes
Speaking of leftovers… you can heat them and eat as is or you can turn them into something else. One of our favorites is this Fully Loaded Taco Tomato from the Keto Recipe Collection website. No need to whip up the chili part of this recipe!
If you are looking for other chili recipes, here’s a 15 minute chili that’s packed with vegetables. The Vegetable and Beef Chili originated from Beyond Diet but it definitely doesn’t taste healthy.
If you want to make a chili for the entire family then you will want to check out this chili recipe. It’s made from dry beans so make sure to start this process the day before. Don’t worry though! If you don’t have dried beans or don’t want to deal with that step, you can use canned beans instead. Either way it’s delicious!
