Description
Pioneer Woman’s hearty chili combines robust beef, rich spices, and deep flavors for a soul-warming meal. Comfort meets culinary excellence in this legendary dish that will have you craving seconds with its perfect balance of warmth and zest.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) ground beef
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) chili powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) salt
- 0.25 teaspoon (1.25 grams) cayenne pepper
Canned Ingredients and Thickener:
- 1 (8-ounce/227 grams) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15-ounce/425 grams) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce/425 grams) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 0.25 cup (30 grams) masa harina (corn flour)
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) water (for masa harina)
Optional Toppings:
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped onions
- Sour cream
- Lime wedges
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Prepare the meat foundation by searing ground beef in a spacious cooking vessel over medium flame, methodically fragmenting the protein while it caramelizes.
- Eliminate excess lipids from the browned protein, then introduce minced garlic, releasing its aromatic essence for a brief moment.
- Incorporate tomato sauce and robust spice ensemble – chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne – thoroughly coating the meat with a vibrant seasoning landscape.
- Transition heat to minimal setting, covering the pot to create a gentle infusion environment, allowing flavors to harmonize for approximately one hour.
- Monitor liquid consistency, potentially introducing modest water quantities if the mixture appears excessively condensed.
- Create a velvety thickening agent by blending masa harina with water until achieving a silky, lump-free texture.
- Gradually integrate the masa solution into the chili, watching the mixture transform into a more luxurious, robust consistency.
- Introduce kidney and pinto beans, permitting them to nestle into the spiced protein mixture, enabling final flavor melding through an additional 10-15 minute gentle simmer.
- Artfully distribute the chili into serving vessels, embellishing with complementary garnishes like crisp cheese shreds, fresh onion fragments, and a citrusy lime accent.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting cayenne pepper and chili powder for spice-sensitive palates.
- Drain beef thoroughly to reduce excess fat and create a cleaner, more concentrated flavor profile.
- Enhance depth by toasting spices briefly before adding tomato sauce to release their essential oils and intensify aromatics.
- Consider using masa harina as a gluten-free thickening agent that adds authentic Mexican corn undertones to the chili.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 760 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg