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Ground Beef Stovetop Chili
Lily

Best Ground Beef Stovetop Chili

This hearty stovetop chili brings bold, smoky flavor in under an hour—no slow cooker, no bland beans, and definitely no regrets. Perfect for cold nights, meal prep, or chili snobs everywhere.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 cups
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Calories: 310
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 fat ratio)
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 1 can kidney beans, drained
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 0.5 cup strong coffee
  • 1 tsp ground cumin

Equipment

  • large pot or Dutch oven
  • wooden spoon or spatula
  • chef’s knife
  • cutting board
  • measuring spoons

Method
 

  1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, add ground beef. Break it up and let it brown undisturbed for 2 minutes to develop a crust, then stir and continue browning.
  2. Push beef to one side. Add diced onions and cook until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add fire-roasted tomatoes, drained beans, chili powder, cocoa powder, coffee, and cumin. Stir well, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  4. Reduce heat to low and let chili simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Make ahead and refrigerate to let the flavors deepen. Freeze flat in ziplock bags for easy storage. Add cayenne or chipotle powder for heat. For a vegetarian version, sub in lentils or plant-based crumbles. Omit beans for keto diets.