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chili in a white bowl with white monterey jack cheese shredded on top, bowl is sitting on a red bandana with a silver spoon to the right of the bowl.

Classic Beef Chili Recipe

Sheila
This is the chili I grew up eating with my personal touches added. The warm smoky flavors of paprika and the rich chocolate flavors of mole. I hope you love this recipe as much as my family does.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 414 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large pot or dutch oven 6-8 quarts

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 whole red pepper diced
  • 1 whole green pepper diced
  • 1 1/2 cups onion diced
  • 3 whole cloves garlic minced
  • 32 ounces kidney beans pinto, kidney, or black
  • 28 ounces diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups V-8 vegetable juice I like to use the hot or spicy V-8
  • 9.5 oz box of ready to serve Dona Maria Mole
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp salt taste and add more if you feel recipe needs it
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Brown ground beef. Add onion, peppers, and garlic, salt and pepper. Let cook for 10-15 minutes until veggie’s are soft and starting to brown. (Transfer to crock pot if you prefer using a crock pot.)
  • Add beans, mixing into meat mixture and smashing some of the beans in the process, this makes the chili thicker.
  • Add remaining ingredients in order. Cook at a low temperature on stove top for 1-2 hour over low heat. This can also go in the oven at 300 degrees, cover pot for 2 hours. Stirring on occasion. If chili is thicker than you like feel free to add more V-8 juice to thin it down.

Notes

You can cook this on your stovetop, or you can do step one on the stovetop, then transfer meat and veggies to a crock pot and add the remaining ingredients. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 4-5 hours. The meat is cooked; you just want the flavors to have time to meld together.
If you can’t find the ready to use Mole, then substitute 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.

Nutrition

Calories: 414kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 37gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 689mgPotassium: 1262mgFiber: 12gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 477IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 98mgIron: 8mg
Keyword beef, chili, mole, paprika, root vegetables, smoky, soup
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