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Bold Texas Style Chili

Featured in Comforting Soups & Hearty Stews.

This bold Texas style chili is a thick, flavorful dish featuring ground beef, jalapeños, and robust spices. Let it simmer low and slow to lock in its hearty texture and rich flavor. Top with cheese, sour cream, or extra jalapeños for a delicious meal on cool evenings or game nights.

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Updated on Sun, 13 Apr 2025 11:06:37 GMT
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Bold Texas Chili | linacooks.com
This smoky, robust Texas Chili brings together seasoned ground beef, spicy jalapeños, and a blend of zesty spices for a filling, flavorful meal. It's thick, satisfying, and perfect when topped with melty cheese, cool sour cream, and fresh sliced jalapeños.

What You'll Need

  • Olive Oil: For browning the veggies and adding a bit of richness.
  • Yellow Onion (chopped): Gives the chili a sweet base and rounds out the flavors.
  • Jalapeños (chopped): Brings that classic heat that makes this chili stand out.
  • Garlic Cloves (minced): Adds punch and aroma to the whole dish.
  • Ground Beef: The main protein that makes this chili so satisfying.
  • Salt and Black Pepper: Simple seasonings that pull all flavors together.
  • Chili Powder: Essential for that authentic chili taste and color.
  • Oregano: Brings a gentle herbal note to balance the spice.
  • Ground Cumin: Creates that distinctive smoky, warm undertone.
  • Ground Coriander: Adds a hint of citrus and lightness to the mix.
  • Tomato Paste: Helps thicken everything up and deepens the tomato flavor.
  • Diced Tomatoes: Gives chunks of tomato goodness throughout the chili.
  • Beef Stock: Forms the savory liquid base, with extra on hand if you want a thinner chili.

Making Your Chili

Step 1:
Pour olive oil into a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Toss in chopped yellow onion and jalapeños, stirring now and then until onions turn clear, roughly 6-8 minutes.
Step 2:
Throw in the minced garlic and let it cook just until you can smell it, about a minute more.
Step 3:
Drop in the ground beef with salt and black pepper. Break it up but leave some bigger chunks for texture. Cook for around 8 minutes until no pink remains. Pour off any extra fat if needed.
Step 4:
Mix in chili powder, cumin, oregano, and coriander. Let them cook for about a minute so they wake up and release their flavors.
Step 5:
Stir in tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and beef stock until everything's well combined.
Step 6:
Let the chili bubble up, then turn down the heat to medium-low. Cook for 30 minutes to an hour, giving it a stir once in a while, until the broth cooks down and the chili gets nice and thick.
Step 7:
Ladle into bowls and let everyone top it how they like – cheese, sour cream, diced red onion, sliced green onion, jalapeños, or salsa all work great. Dig in!

Meal Prep & Keeping It Fresh

  • Dish up your chili piping hot with all the fixings – shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, green onions, or fresh jalapeño slices for an extra kick.
  • Enjoy with a chunk of cornbread, some crackers, or crusty bread on the side to soak up all that goodness.
  • Pack any leftovers in sealed containers and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Want to save it longer? Cool it down completely, then pop it in freezer containers for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the fridge overnight before warming up.
  • When reheating on the stove, use medium heat and splash in some beef stock or water if it's gotten too thick.

Quick Tips

  • Want it hotter? Add more chili powder or toss in another chopped jalapeño.
  • For deeper flavor, let everything simmer longer so the spices really blend together.
  • If you like a more soup-like chili, just pour in extra beef stock.

Pro Chef Advice

  • Chef Aaron Franklin likes mixing different ground meats to create more complex chili flavors.
  • Chef Bobby Flay says to toast your spices in the pan first for stronger, more developed taste.
  • Chef Guy Fieri swears by letting chili sit overnight in the fridge – it'll taste even better the next day when flavors meld together.

What Makes This Worth Trying

  • This authentic Texas chili packs bold flavors, the perfect amount of heat, and a hearty, thick texture you'll crave.
  • It's great for parties, watching sports, or family dinners, and everyone can customize their own bowl.
  • The simple one-pot cooking method means less cleanup and makes it doable even on busy weeknights.

Mix It Up

  • Switch to ground turkey if you want something lighter.
  • Try using fire-roasted tomatoes for a smokier background flavor.
  • Squeeze some fresh lime juice on top or sprinkle with chopped cilantro before serving for a bright finish.

The Best Texas Chili

Savor the rich taste of this bold Texas chili made with ground beef, jalapeños, and a perfect spicy kick. Great for cold nights or lively gatherings!

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
60 Minutes
Total Time
75 Minutes
By: Paolina

Category: Soups & Stews

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Yield: Serves 6-8 bowls

Dietary: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 3 ounces of tomato paste.
02 1 teaspoon black pepper.
03 3 chopped jalapeños.
04 2 cups beef broth.
05 1 large yellow onion, diced.
06 2.5 pounds of ground beef.
07 3 tablespoons of cumin powder.
08 1 tablespoon olive oil.
09 28 ounces of diced tomatoes.
10 5 minced garlic cloves.
11 4 tablespoons of chili powder.
12 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
13 1 tablespoon of dried oregano.
14 1 teaspoon ground coriander.

Instructions

Step 01

Warm up olive oil in a big soup pot or Dutch oven on medium heat. Toss in the onions and jalapeños, stirring regularly until the onions soften and turn see-through—this should take 6-8 minutes.

Step 02

Throw the minced garlic into the pot. Stir and sauté it for just a minute until you can smell it.

Step 03

Add the beef, sprinkle in salt and pepper, and break it up, leaving some chunks larger. Cook for about 8 minutes until the pink is gone. If there's too much grease, drain it off.

Step 04

Stir in the chili powder, oregano, cumin, and coriander. Let the spices cook and release their aroma for about a minute before moving on.

Step 05

Add in the broth, diced tomatoes, and the tomato paste. Stir everything well, turning down the heat to medium-low once it starts bubbling.

Step 06

Keep the heat low and let the pot simmer for at least 30 minutes, or even up to an hour. Stir every now and then so it doesn’t stick, and let it thicken naturally.

Step 07

Dish out some chili into bowls and top it how you like: grated cheese, sour cream, fresh jalapeños, red or green onions, or even salsa.

Notes

  1. This hearty Texas-inspired chili is loaded with bold flavors from ground beef, fiery jalapeños, and a carefully balanced mix of seasonings.
  2. A great pick for weekday dinners, parties, or game nights—it's thick, filling, and pairs perfectly with toppings like sour cream, fresh peppers, or shredded cheese.
  3. If you'd rather have a lighter consistency, just add more beef broth to thin it out.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large soup pot.
  • Dutch oven.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 450
  • Total Fat: 30 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 15 g
  • Protein: 35 g