Description
Hearty Southern chili brings comfort and bold flavors straight from Paula Deen’s kitchen. Robust beef, aromatic spices, and rich ingredients create a legendary chili that warms souls and satisfies hungry crowds with authentic home-style goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Vegetables and Beans:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can kidney beans
Tomato and Seasoning Base:
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) can stewed tomatoes
- 1 ½ cups (355 milliliters) water, or as needed
- 1 teaspoon chili powder, or more to taste
- 1 pinch garlic powder
Instructions
- In a capacious skillet or Dutch oven, introduce ground beef and finely diced onions over medium-high heat. Methodically break down the meat while sautéing, ensuring complete browning and soft onion translucency, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Drain any excess rendered fat from the meat mixture to prevent unnecessary greasiness in the final dish.
- Incorporate whole kidney beans, diced stewed tomatoes, and robust tomato sauce directly into the meat mixture, stirring thoroughly to create a uniform consistency.
- Enhance the flavor profile by sprinkling chili powder (approximately 2 tablespoons or 30 milliliters), garlic powder (1 teaspoon or 5 milliliters), kosher salt (1/2 teaspoon or 2.5 milliliters), and freshly cracked black pepper (1/4 teaspoon or 1.25 milliliters).
- Gradually introduce 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of water to adjust the liquid volume and prevent potential scorching.
- Elevate the temperature, allowing the mixture to reach a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce heat to low, creating a gentle simmer.
- Cover the skillet and let the chili develop its rich flavors, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes until ingredients meld harmoniously.
- Remove from heat and let the chili rest for 5 minutes before serving, which allows further flavor integration and slight thickening.
Notes
- Craft a Flavor Foundation: Deeply brown ground beef creates a rich, caramelized base that transforms ordinary chili into an extraordinary meal.
- Balance Bean Preparation: Thoroughly rinsing kidney beans eliminates excess sodium and starch, ensuring a cleaner, more refined chili texture.
- Master Spice Control: Incrementally adding chili powder allows precise heat management, letting you build a perfectly personalized flavor profile.
- Unlock Depth Through Simmering: Extended cooking time melds ingredients, intensifying taste and creating a more complex, harmonious dish that develops deeper notes with each passing minute.
- Elevate with Personal Touches: Strategic toppings like sharp cheddar, tangy sour cream, or zesty jalapeños introduce exciting layers of texture and complement the chili’s robust character.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 1670
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 1290mg
- Fat: 76.1g
- Saturated Fat: 30.1g
- Carbohydrates: 74g
- Fiber: 26g
- Protein: 98g
- Cholesterol: 320mg