Chili con Carne with Black Beans

There’s something deeply comforting about a robust bowl of chili, and this version—featuring tender beef, rich tomato sauce, hearty black beans, and warming spices—hits all the right notes. Inspired by the classic Mexican-American stew chili con carne (literally “chili with meat”), this recipe brings together succulent minced beef, sweet onions, garlic, smoky paprika, cumin, and beans for a satisfying, crowd-pleasing meal.

Perfect for cozy evenings at home, this chili simmers away to develop deep, layered flavors and can easily be adapted to your taste—adjust the heat with chipotle or chili flakes, or wild-game spice blends. Whether you’re serving it over rice, filling tacos or burritos, topping baked potatoes, or pairing with cornbread, it’s versatile, hearty, and ideal for batch cooking and leftovers.

Get ready to warm up your kitchen and your soul—let’s get cooking!

3-4 servings

Ingredients

• 300 grams ground beef
• 1 yellow onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 can of black beans or a mixture of beans
• 0,5 - 1 tsp chili powder
• 0,5 - 1 tsp paprika powder
• 0,5 - 1 tsp ground cumin (optional)
• Soy
• Salt and black pepper
• Cooking oil

Equipment

• Stainless Steel Nonstick Frying Pan, Cast Iron Skillet, or Dutch oven 
  
• Wooden cutting board

Instructions

1. Prepare the ingredients:

   • Finely chop the onion.

   • Press or mince the garlic.

   • Rinse and drain the beans.

2. Cook the beef:

   • Heat a little oil in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat.

   • Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.

   • Add a splash of soy sauce (1–2 tsp) and stir well.

3. Add aromatics:

   • Add the chopped onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft.

   • Stir in the garlic and cook for another 1–2 minutes.

4. Season the chili:

   • Add the chili powder, paprika, and ground cumin (if using).

   • Stir to coat everything evenly.

5. Add tomatoes and beans:

   • Pour in the crushed tomatoes and beans.

   • Stir everything together.

6. Simmer:

   • Reduce heat to low, partially cover, and let it simmer for 10–20 minutes.

   • Stir occasionally. Add a splash of water if needed.

7. Season to taste:

   • Add salt and black pepper to your liking.

   • Adjust spices and soy sauce as desired.

Serving Suggestion:

Serve hot with:

• A portion of rice

• A side salad (e.g. mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, vinaigrette)

• Fresh bread or rolls

SAVE A RECIPE FOR LATER?

If you want to save this recipe for later, you can print it, bookmark the page or save it to Pinterest.

How to print a recipe without the images

1. Go to https://www.printfriendly.com/
2. Enter the link for the recipe into the input field and click the "Preview" button.
3. In the preview, hover the element you don't want to print (images or other elements) and click the trashcan symbol to remove it.
4. When you are done, click the print button.