Texas Chili
Do you like your chili with beans or without? This authentic Texas chili keeps it classic. Just bold, tender chuck roast, without beans. It has a rich, smoky flavor in every bite.
All the Reasons to Grab a Bowl
Flavor-Packed Texas Red Chili: Tender chuck roast meets smoky chipotles, jalapeños, and rich chili spices for the best bowl of chili.
Spice It Your Way: You can customize your heat by swapping jalapeños for green bell pepper, or add more or less chipotles in adobo to suit your taste.
Perfect Pairings: Top with shredded cheddar cheese, jalapeño slices, cilantro, and sour cream. Serve alongside cornbread for a complete meal.
Texas Chili Ingredients
Beef Chuck Roast: Pick a well-marbled cut. The fat melts as it cooks for a rich flavor. Evenly cut cubes mean even cooking.
Onion & Jalapeño: Dice them finely so they soften and melt into the chili base. For less heat, swap jalapeños with green bell peppers.
Brown Sugar & Cocoa Powder: These balance out the spice and acidity. Don’t worry, they won’t make the chili taste sweet, just complex.
How to Make Texas Chili
The magic of this Texas chili recipe comes from layering flavors step by step, starting with a good sear on the beef and ending with a slow simmer that ties everything together. Here’s how to make it happen:
Prep: Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the chuck roast with salt and pepper.
Sear the Meat: Add the beef in batches, browning the meat on all sides. Allow about 5-6 minutes per batch, then remove the browned meat and set it aside.
Sauté the Veggies: To the same pot, add diced yellow onion, jalapeño peppers, and minced garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened. About 4-5 minutes.
Add the Spices: Add chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, brown sugar, dried oregano, coriander, cocoa powder, chopped chipotles in adobo, and tomato paste. Stir to combine.
Heat Beef, Tomatoes, and Broth: Add the beef back to the pot, then add crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Stir to combine.
Simmer: Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally, until the meat is tender and the Texas chili has thickened. If the chili gets too thick, add more broth as needed.
Alyssa’s ProTip
Brown the beef first! That deep crust creates caramelized bits, called fond, on the bottom of the pan. When they mix into your Texas chili, they add rich, savory flavor you can’t get any other way.
Texas Chili
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for 4–5 days.
Freezer: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating: Warm on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot and simmering. If it’s too thick, stir in a splash of broth or water.