Description
Ina Garten’s hearty beef chili combines rich ground beef with aromatic spices and robust tomatoes. Warm comfort comes through each spoonful, inviting you to savor this classic American dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (453.6 g) ground beef (90% lean)
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 2 ½ tbsps chili powder
- 2 tbsps ground cumin
- 2 tbsps granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- 1 ½ cups (355 ml) beef broth
- 1 (16 oz / 454 g) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 1 (15 oz / 425 g) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 (8 oz / 227 g) can tomato sauce
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until softened and translucent, creating a fragrant foundation for the chili.
- Brown Protein: Introduce ground beef to the pot, methodically breaking down the meat and cooking until completely browned, eliminating any pink coloration.
- Spice Infusion: Sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper over the meat. Stir vigorously to distribute spices evenly and awaken their complex aromatics.
- Liquid Integration: Pour in beef broth, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, and tomato sauce. Blend thoroughly, ensuring all components are well combined and create a harmonious mixture.
- Simmer and Develop: Bring the chili to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to a low, consistent simmer. Allow the ingredients to meld and intensify their flavors for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from heat and let the chili rest for 7-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to deepen and create a rich, robust taste profile before serving.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Browning: Ensure ground beef cooks completely without overcrowding the pan, breaking it into small crumbles for even caramelization and maximum flavor development.
- Spice Balance Technique: Toast spices briefly before adding liquids to enhance their depth and release aromatic compounds, creating a more robust and complex chili taste.
- Slow Simmer Secret: Maintain a gentle, low heat during simmering to prevent burning and allow ingredients to meld together, developing rich, deep flavors throughout the dish.
- Resting Ritual: Let chili rest after cooking to allow spices and ingredients to fully integrate, resulting in a more harmonious and intensely flavored final dish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg