Go Back
chilli con carne

Classic Chilli Con Carne

This hearty and spicy Chilli Con Carne is packed with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and bold spices. Perfect for weeknight dinners or weekend gatherings, it’s versatile, comforting, and endlessly customizable—serve with rice, tortillas, or crunchy corn chips.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, LUNCH, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Base
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 1 red bell pepper (capsicum) diced
For the Meat & Sauce
  • 500 g ground beef (mince)
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 800 g crushed tomatoes 1 can
  • 420 g red kidney beans drained and rinsed, 1 can
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes crumbled
  • 1 1/2 tsp sugar any variety
  • 1/2 – 1 1/2 cups water depending on cooking method
Chilli Spice Mix
  • 1–2 tsp cayenne pepper adjust to taste
  • 4 tsp paprika
  • 5 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp garlic powder or onion powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt or cooking salt
To Serve
  • steamed rice, tortillas, or corn chips for serving
  • sour cream or Greek yoghurt for topping
  • shredded cheese for topping
  • fresh coriander (cilantro) for garnish

Method
 

  1. Sauté the Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add garlic and onion, cook 1 minute. Add bell pepper and cook 2 minutes until softened.
  2. Brown the Beef: Increase heat to high. Add ground beef, break apart, and cook 5 minutes until no longer pink.
  3. Bloom the Spices: Add cayenne, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and salt. Stir and cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Build the Sauce: Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, bouillon cubes, sugar, and water. Stir well.
  5. Simmer: For quick cook, simmer uncovered 20–40 minutes. For slow cook, cover and simmer 1 ½–2 hours. Stir occasionally.
  6. Adjust & Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot with rice, tortillas, or corn chips. Garnish with sour cream, cheese, and fresh coriander.

Notes

Adjust heat by reducing or increasing cayenne. For vegetarian version, use lentils or extra beans instead of beef. Flavors deepen overnight, making it ideal for meal prep. Can also be cooked in a slow cooker on LOW for 6–8 hours after browning meat and spices.