Easy Beef and Beer Chili Recipe - Cooking For My Soul (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Tania · 6 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

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This delicious one pot Beef and Beer Chili is perfect for those cold winter days. A bowl of pure comfort with awesome bold flavors. My easy Beef and Beer Chili makes a big pot too, so you can freeze it or bring it to a party!

Easy Beef and Beer Chili Recipe - Cooking For My Soul (1)

Chili, in general, is so versatile and can be made in so many ways. This Beef and Beer Chili version is one of my favorites! Beef chili, in general, is absolutely delicious, but the beer gives it the additional boost of flavor that makes my beef chili THE best chili ever. At least in my opinion 🙂

Chili is all about how it makes me feel: cozy, comforted, and happy. Especially if you give me some cornbread to go with it. Oh…game day chili also counts!

Easy Beef and Beer Chili Recipe - Cooking For My Soul (2)

What’s in this Easy Beef Chili Recipe?

  • ground beef
  • beer
  • onion and garlic
  • green bell pepper
  • cumin
  • chili powder
  • tomato paste and crushed tomatoes
  • chicken stock
  • kidney beans

Try to imagine all these delicious beef and beer chili ingredients in one pot, cooked until all the flavors have developed. Yum!

How to Make Beef and Beer Chili

If you’re thinking about dumping all the ingredients and cooking it, think twice. The trick to making super delicious beef chili is during the first few steps of the cooking process, which involves browning the meat and infusing it with garlic and lots of spices.

Here’s how you do it (more details in the recipe card):

  1. Cook and brown the ground beef in a large Dutch Oven. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Add diced onions and diced bell peppers, and cook for about 8 minutes. Then add the remaining aromatics: garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin. Cook until fragrant.
  3. Stir in black beans.
  4. Add the beer (I used Modelo Negra) and let it infuse everything. Cook until reduced. Up until this step is when all the flavors have come out. It will smell like heaven!
  5. The add crushed tomatoes, chicken or beef stock, and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper.

Easy Beef and Beer Chili Recipe - Cooking For My Soul (3)

What to Serve this Chili With?

Let me say one thing first – cornbread is a must! Chili MUST be eaten with cornbread. No exceptions! Try my Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread Recipe!

Then the rest, is up to you, especially for toppings. Here are some ideas:

  • sour cream
  • avocado
  • cheese
  • pico de gallo
  • tortilla chips

Easy Beef and Beer Chili Recipe - Cooking For My Soul (4)

There are so many good beef chili recipes out there and so many ways to make it. I feel like every time I want to make chili, I must try a different recipe. Because life is too short. But…this one pot beef and beer chili is SO DAMN GOOD that I think I may stick to this one for a while.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. And thank you for reading along! 🙂

Easy Beef and Beer Chili Recipe - Cooking For My Soul (5)

Other Cozy Soup Recipes to Enjoy

  • Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
  • Easy Lentil Soup with Carrots and Kale
  • Roasted Garlic and Cauliflower Soup

Kitchen Tips

  • If you can’t find crushed tomatoes, get whole canned tomatoes and crush them by hand.
  • This recipe is made for an 8 qt pot. If you don’t have a pot that big, reduce the ingredients to fit your pot or split it in 2 pots.

If you try my recipe, use #cookingformysoul on Instagram! Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook for the latest fun updates and recipes!

Easy Beef and Beer Chili Recipe - Cooking For My Soul (6)

Print Pin

5 from 2 votes

Beef and Beer Chili

A bowl of comforting Beef and Beer Chili is what you need this season. Top with some sour cream, cheese, and avocado for extra comfort!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Author Tania

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds ground beef
  • 1 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
  • Olive oil
  • 8 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 6 tablespoons chili powder
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 bottle (12 oz) dark beer
  • 2 cans (28 oz each) crushed tomatoes
  • 3 cups chicken stock or chicken broth
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained

To serve:

  • Sour cream
  • Shredded Cheddar cheese
  • Chopped scallions

Instructions

  • Heat a large 8 qt Dutch oven to medium high heat. Brown and cook the meat, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ground beef naturally has fat, so I don’t add olive oil to the pot. Do so in batches if needed. Drain any extra fat.

  • Reduce to medium heat, and some olive oil, onions and bell peppers. Cook for about 8 minutes. Add minced garlic, and cook for another 2 minutes.

  • Stir in tomato paste, and cook for a minute. Then add chili powder and cumin. Cook for another 2 minutes. Stir in beans.

  • Add the beer and cook until reduced. This will infuse the food with flavors. Then add in crushed tomatoes, chicken stock or broth, and mix everything until evenly combined.

  • Bring to a boil and then simmer, covered, for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Serve with sour cream, cheese, and scallions. Enjoy!

Tried this Recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention @CookingForMySoul or tag #cookingformysoul. Or leave me comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joanie says

    I’ve made this recipe several times and the beer is a winner. I serve with oysters crackers. My husband loves this recipe! Hey save some for me honey!

    Reply

    • Tania says

      Thank you so much, Joanie!

      Reply

  2. Anne Lawton says

    Easy Beef and Beer Chili Recipe - Cooking For My Soul (7)
    We love chili and of course, beer! I’m going to give this recipe a try!

    Reply

    • Tania says

      Thanks Anne! Let me know how it turns out 🙂

      Reply

  3. Liz @ Books n' Cooks says

    Chili is such a hard thing to photograph – your photos of this recipe are gorgeous! And the chili sounds really tasty, like something my husband and I would really enjoy!

    Reply

    • Tania says

      Thanks Liz!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Easy Beef and Beer Chili Recipe - Cooking For My Soul (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to cook beef before making chili? ›

Raw meat and pot of chili are two things that just don't belong together. If the recipe includes any type of ground meat, bacon, chorizo, or cubes of beef, it should always be browned first. Try this: The first order of business before adding anything else to the pot is to brown any meat in your recipe.

What does beer do when added to chili? ›

Not only does beer work to cut the heat and spice of a proper bowl of red, but the residual sweetness in most beers nicely complements the caramelized meat. Since it's the perfect thing to drink with chili, plenty of people consider adding beer to their chili recipe, but which beer style should you choose?

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 adds the most flavor to chili? ›

If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.

At what point do you add beer to chili? ›

Yeah, you absolutely can add beer to chili. I'd brown the meat, add my seasonings and veggies and then pour in some beer when the veggies become tender. You're essentially deglazing the pan with the beer, so let it reduce a little and then add whatever remaining liquids are called for in your recipe.

Should you put light or dark beer in chili? ›

Use what you like to drink and then use some in your chili. Almost any style works, but avoid things like witbier, hefeweizen or IPA's. Adding a darker beer with more of the roasted notes will add that to your chili but of course be less perceptible than if you're drinking the beer by itself.

How much beer should I add to chili? ›

And to me, beer is an essential ingredient. What I've found over the years is that different styles of beers can add different flavors and textures. What I do is just choose the beer I want, pour in a twelve ounce bottle once all the other ingredients are there and the chili is ready to simmer.

What not to put in chili? ›

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

Do you cook onions or meat first for chili? ›

In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the onions, garlic, and red pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the beef and increase the heat to high; cook, stirring with wooden spoon to break the meat into ¼-inch pieces, until the beef is browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

Is it better to use beef broth or water in chili? ›

The base of your chili determines the success of the dish! This flavor foundation plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall flavor. Instead of using plain water (please, never just use water), consider using stock, broth, or bone broth as your base to add richness and depth.

What is the best bean to use in chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

Which beer is best for cooking? ›

Wheat beers are great for chicken and seafood. If you're cooking pork, beef, and lamb, you will need ales, porters, and stouts. Hearty meat goes well with belgian ales. Stews pair well with ale.

Why does beer make chili taste better? ›

The flavor and mouthfeel of a good, strong beer works perfectly with the intense spiciness of chili. Conventional wisdom says that we enjoy a nice hoppy beer with our chili because it helps us deal with the spicy heat, not to mention the pure enjoyment of the bitter flavors of the hops.

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.

When should I add canned beans to chili? ›

You know the saying, “save the best for last?” To keep your beans nice and plump, add them about 20 minutes before you finish cooking. This will give them plenty of time to impart that perfectly seasoned chili flavor to your recipe without overcooking.

What gives chili its kick? ›

Canned tomatoes with green chiles, chili powder, ground black pepper and cayenne all add varying amounts of heat to the chili. If you want to really turn things up, use hot chili powder and the full amount of cayenne pepper. Also, make sure your spices are fresh.

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