Description
A quick, 30-minute comfort food recipe featuring deep, smoky flavors from fire-roasted tomatoes and ground beef. This one-pot meal is customizable for heat and perfect for meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cans (14.5 oz each) fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (plus more to taste)
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Dice onion, mince garlic, and drain/rinse beans.
- Heat a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink (5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon, then remove beef and set aside.
- In the same pot, add diced onion and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne to the pot. Stir constantly for 1 minute to bloom the spices.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add fire-roasted tomatoes (with juices), beef broth, and brown sugar. Scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Return the cooked beef to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
- Simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes to thicken the sauce and meld flavors.
- Stir in the drained black beans and heat through for 2-3 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or additional cayenne as needed. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
For best results, use reputable brands of fire-roasted tomatoes. Bloom the spices in the fat before adding liquids to unlock full flavor. If the chili is too watery, simmer longer uncovered. If too spicy, add a dollop of sour cream or a pinch of sugar. This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but check labels on chili powder and broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 28
Keywords: beef chili, fire-roasted tomatoes, quick dinner, comfort food, one-pot meal, meal prep, spicy chili, ground beef recipe