Description
The Pioneer Woman Chili is a hearty and flavorful beef chili recipe featuring a robust blend of spices, beans, and a subtle corn flavor from masa harina. This stovetop classic is perfect for family dinners, offering a thick, comforting chili that’s easy to make and sure to satisfy.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Beans
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato and Thickening Agents
- 1 can (14 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with juice
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup masa harina (corn flour)
- 1/2 cup warm water
Broth and Oil
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Spices
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, cooking and stirring occasionally until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Brown the beef: Add ground beef to the pot and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary to avoid greasiness.
- Add tomato and spices: Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, ground cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Add broth and masa harina: Pour in beef broth and stir well to combine. In a small bowl, mix masa harina with warm water until smooth, then stir this mixture into the chili to thicken it.
- Simmer the chili: Bring the chili to a simmer uncovered and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing flavors to blend and the chili to thicken.
- Add beans and finish cooking: Add the drained and rinsed kidney and pinto beans to the pot. Continue cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes until the chili thickens to your desired consistency.
- Adjust and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve the chili hot with optional toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions.
Notes
- For a milder chili, reduce the amount of cayenne pepper or chili powder.
- Masa harina thickens the chili and adds a subtle corn flavor; you can substitute with cornmeal if needed.
- Leftover chili tastes even better the next day as flavors have more time to meld.
