Texas Chili Recipe

My Texas chili recipe is the tried-and-true beef chili recipe of your dreams! Thick, spicy, and smoky as all chili recipes should be, this “Bowl o’ Red” covers the flavor bases with homemade goodness your family will love.

Chili is the state dish of Texas, so you know this chili recipe isn’t messing around! It’s also a no bean chili — part of what makes this chili, well, Texas chili is the absence of beans and the punch of other flavors and texture.

We love chili in our house! Try a few more of my best chili recipes next! My Moms Old Fashioned Chili is a huge favorite in our house. My White Chicken Chili, and Steak chili are always in our dinner rotation.

The Houston Press describes it as a uniquely Texan invention from the 1800’s, popularized by working-class “chili queens” on Military Plaza in San Antonio. Some stories trace this popular dish back to a 1600s Spanish nun, known as the lady in blue whose actual name was Maria de Agreda. It was said that her spirit traveled across the ocean to preach Christianity to the Native Americans, according to National Chili Day.

Whatever you believe about the mythic origins of chili, today’s Texas chili is best known for tender beef, seasoned onions, and ground chilies. My recipe plays with some other yummy ingredients. Let me walk you through the flavors!

Authentic Texas chili NEVER has bean! Why? Because the ladies who created this iconic dish, the chili queens, made a chili of meat, chile peppers, and sauce. They served beans, as an option on the side but never in the chili.

Texas Chili

Texas chili is a delicious, hearty meal full of beef and flavor!

Prep: 20min

Total: 260min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 734 kcal, Carbohydrate 11 g, Protein 63 g, Fat 50 g, Saturated Fat 17 g, Cholesterol 209 mg, Sodium 717 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 4 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 4 pounds boneless beef chuck roast (trimmed of excess fat, cut into ½ inch chunks)
• salt & pepper (to taste)
• 6 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
• 3 jalapeno peppers (seeded and diced)
• 1 large yellow onion (diced)
• 5 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (seeded and finely chopped)
• 1 can crushed tomatoes ((28 ounces))
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 cups beef stock or broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
• 2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instruction:

1. Season the beef with kosher salt and black pepper.
2. In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat and brown half of the meat. Repeat with remaining beef. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat 30 seconds. Add the jalapeno peppers and onions and saute for about 10 minutes onions are softened. (Do not brown them).
4. Stir in garlic and seasoning mix and cook 30 seconds or just until fragrant.
5. Add the beef back into the pot along with remaining ingredients.
6. Bring the chili to a boil and then turn the heat down to low.
7. Simmer, uncovered, for 3 to 3 ½ hours stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick. If it becomes too thick, add more stock as needed.
8. Before serving remove the bay leaves and serve plain or covered with sour cream, shredded cheese, or green onions.

Texas Chili Recipe

Our authentic Texas Chili recipe is beefy, thick, spicy and smokey. This “Bowl o’ Red” is hearty and succulent homemade goodness your family will LOVE!

Prep: 15min

Total: 95min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 /6 of the recipe

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 /6 of the recipe, calories 464 kcal, Carbohydrate 29 g, Protein 33 g, Fat 24 g, Saturated Fat 9 g, Cholesterol 102 mg, Sodium 1485 mg, Fiber 6 g, Sugar 14 g

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds coarse ground beef, 80/20 or chuck (also called chili grind)
• vegetable oil (as needed)
• 2 cups yellow onions (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons garlic, (minced)
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 heaping tablespoon Better than Bouillon – beef flavor
• 1 (12-ounce) bottles amber ale beer
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons masa
• cheddar cheese (shredded)
• sour cream
• red onions (chopped)
• jalapeno (sliced)

Instruction:

1. Serve with any toppings you like.

Texas Chili Recipe (Won over 30 Cookoffs!)

FAQ

What makes Texas chili different?

What is real Texas chili made of?

What is cowboy chili made of?

What is the Holy Trinity food chili?