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This easy black bean chili recipe is fast and delicious! It makes fantastic leftovers, and the warm seasonings perfectly complement the ground beef and black beans.
You may also enjoy my Simple Chili Mac or Easy Black Bean Soup next.
Why you’ll love it
This meaty, hearty ground beef chili with black beans is a great weeknight meal since it’s ready in just 40 minutes. There’s nothing complicated about it, and I always have the tasty seasonings in my pantry. It’s also great for Sunday football or for any game day!
I like how customizable this bean and beef chili is. You can change the heat level to suit your tastes, add as few or as many toppings as you like, etc. There’s nothing like the irresistible smell of this hearty and filling chili as it simmers. It also makes meal prep a breeze.
What you’ll need
- Olive oil – for sautéing
- Onion – I like using sweet (Vidalia) onion
- Ground beef – we’re using lean
- Garlic – for plenty of garlicky flavor
- Tomato paste – it adds concentrated savory taste
- Seasoning – we’re using a trio of chili powder, ground cumin, and smoked paprika
- Canned goods – black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, and mild green chilies are pantry staples
- Red bell pepper – for a pop of freshness
- Beef broth – it makes up the base of the sauce and adds another layer of flavor
Toppings
Use some, all, or none of these suggested chili toppings! I like sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, tortilla strips, fresh tomatoes, crumbled Oven Cooked Bacon, cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend), avocado, scallions, cilantro, and chopped jalapeños.
How to make black bean chili
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
In a large pot, sauté the onion in the oil, then add the beef and brown it, breaking it up with your spoon as you go along. Spoon out any excess fat. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, and spices.
Add the beans, tomatoes, chilies, red bell pepper, and beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for at least 15 minutes. Season with salt & pepper, and top as desired.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I use this Dutch oven for making chili.
- A garlic press makes it effortless to mince garlic without even peeling the cloves first, and here’s my fave can opener for opening up the canned goods.
- This is a great ladle for dishing up chilis and soups.
Substitutions and variations
- This chili is very flexible. You can skip an ingredient, add what’s in your fridge, use regular diced tomatoes instead, etc.
- You don’t need to be super precise with the beef amount. Anything from 1 to 1.5 pounds of ground beef will work.
- If you want to give this chili some kick, add some cayenne pepper or use spicy green chilies.
What to serve with black bean chili
- Serve it with your favorite toppings (see my suggestions above)!
- Or you can definitely eat it as-is or with a slice of cornbread.
- Want a salad for a fresh pairing? Try my zesty Chipotle Ranch Dressing and spring mix.
Leftovers and storage
- Store leftover black bean chili in a covered container for 3-4 days in the fridge. The flavors will meld even more over time.
- Reheat over a low heat on the stove until warmed through.
- This chili freezes well! Freeze for up to 3 months.
More easy chili recipes
If you made this simple black bean chili, please leave a star rating and review below! I’d love to hear from you. Tag me on Instagram if you made this or any of my recipes.
Easy Black Bean Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans drained
- 1 (28 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 (4 ounce) can mild green chilies with juices
- 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup beef broth
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Toppings (optional, to taste): sour cream, avocado, tortilla strips, scallions, Mexican cheese blend or cheddar, etc.
Instructions
- In a soup pot/Dutch oven, add the oil and onion and sauté for 5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and cook it until it's browned, breaking it up with your spoon as you go along. Spoon out some of the beef fat if there's a lot of excess, but don't worry about getting it all.
- Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika.
- Add the beans, diced tomatoes, green chilies, red bell pepper, and beef broth. Give it a good stir.
- Increase the heat and bring the chili to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and cover with the lid slightly open. Simmer for 15 minutes or so, giving it the occasional stir. You can definitely simmer it longer, but I recommend at least 15 minutes.
- Season with salt & pepper as needed. Serve and top bowls as desired.
Notes
- Serves 4-6.
- Want to make this chili spicy? Add a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- Anything from 1 to 1.5 pounds ground beef will work fine.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I make this recipe every year for burning man. Portion it out and freeze for individual meals.
I love that!! 😀 Thanks, Renee!
Can I use pinto beans instead. Thanks
Sure! Enjoy!
Delicious and nutritious! Quick and easy. Love the versatility to modify as suggested.
Thank you, Diana!
Excellent! Thank you for a great recipe.
You’re very welcome, Diane!
Really good chili recipe that is easy and quick. Always better the next day so be sure to double up the recipe if you are feeding two teens! I love that it has a good amount of protein but also a good amount of fiber from the beans. Yummy!
Thank you, Lisa!!
Can I freeze this?
Yes
I’ve made Chilli soo many times,
But never this GOOD
Fabulous flavors with just a slight kick.
This recipe is now a STAPLE.
Thank you for sharing!
I’m so happy you like it, Katie!! 🙂 Thanks for your glowing review!
Thanks so much for saving the day. Just made the Black bean chili and it is so yummy. Told my husband that I will be making more of your delicious recipes.
Yay!! That’s awesome. You’re very welcome. So happy it worked out! Let me know if you end up trying anything else. 🙂
Chili is a regular at our house. I normally use a seasoning packet. This is delicious. I’ll be using my chili game going forward! Loaded it up with toppings. Looking forward to eating the leftovers!
I’m so happy you tried this recipe, Laura!! Thank you!
This looks like the perfect combo of all the essentials for an amazing chili! The only other thing I usually like in chili is beer – do you think I could substitute the beef broth for a beer and just throw in a beef bouillon cube to still get the flavor without affecting fluid volume?
I think that should work just fine! You can always cook it down a bit more if it seems like there’s too much liquid… and if there’s not enough, just add a little water. Let me know how it goes! 🙂