An Easy Chilli Con Carne recipe, perfect for the whole family. This slow cooked beef steak dish is also a great freezer filler. (Easily adapted to be Slimming World friendly too.)
Chilli con Carne (or Chili con Carne as the American’s spell it) is one of those family favourite dishes.
A great winter warmer, but also perfect for these British summer days where the weather tends to let us down a bit.
Eating this outside with a side of tortilla chips (and a margharita?!) makes me feel like perhaps we could actually still be on the way to summer, despite grey skies outside.
You’ll love this easy chilli con carne because:
✅ Warming, comfort food – and it’s even slimming world friendly.
✅ It’s a firm family favourite, mild enough for the children, but easy to add heat too if you fancy it.
✅ It freezes so well – a real batch cook hero.
Have I sold it to you yet?!
This is my tried and tested family version of easy chilli con carne. There is some debate about where it originated, Mexico or America, I have no idea how authentic my version is (perhaps not at all) but I’ve been cooking it for years and we all love it.
Which beef is best to use in a Chili Con Carne?
I always use chunks of beef rather than mince to make this easy chilli con carne. I saw it once many moons ago on a programme about cowboy cooking, true story, and I’ve never looked back. I think the texture is so much better than making chilli con carne with mince and it feels like a real treat.
Braising steak (also known as chuck steak), is my preference, but any type of casserole steak would be fine. The slow cooking lends its self to tender, melt in the mouth chunks of beef. I prefer to buy this type of meat from the butcher (or the butchery counter in your supermarket) as they will dice it for you! You could also use beef brisket, or mince (ground beef).
For more top tips for making this Easy Chili Con Carne – see the recipe notes section.
What is Chilli served with?
Chilli is such a versatile dish, it’s the perfect meal for large gatherings, easy to keep warm and people can serve themselves (it often features on our bonfire night menu!) You can serve it with:
- Any type of Rice.
- Use as a filling to Tacos.
- Over oven baked potato wedges, grilled and covered in cheese!
- Tortilla chips to dip, or over as chilli beef nachos.
- Topped with sour creme and chopped chilies (if you like the extra heat!)
- Crushed (or smashed 😆) avocado.
- Jacket Potatoes – makes a great hearty filling.
- Pasta (over pasta shapes or baked into a lasagne)
- If feeling really fancy, as a hot dog topping.
Fancy some other beef recipes?
Beef Enchiladas – a simple, midweek family favourite.
Beef Bourguignon – the PERFECT winter warmer.
Slow Cooker Beef Curry – a “fakeaway” without any guilt!
Beef Stir Fry Recipe with Sticky Sauce and Noodles – an easy 30 minute, one pan meal.
Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. I’d love to know how you got on and what you thought of it if you make this Chilli con Carne recipe. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ by the recipe.
Also, if you’d like to show me a photo by tagging me on Instagram (@tamingtwins) I LOVE to see your creations.
How to make the Easy Chilli Con Carne Recipe:
Easy Chilli Con Carne Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tsp Olive oil
- 750 g Beef Mince
- 1 Large Onion chopped into small pieces.
- 3 cloves Garlic peeled and crushed
- 2 tsp Mild Chili Powder
- 1 tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tbsp Dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Ground Cumin
- Salt and Pepper To taste.
- 800 g Good quality chopped tomatoes (2 tins)
- 2 tbsp Tomato Puree
- 300 ml Beef stock from a good quality stock cube is fine
- 800 g Kidney beans (2 tins) drained and rinsed
- 2 Peppers chopped into small pieces chunks (red or green work best)
- 25 g Dark Chocolate Approx 1 square
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan. Add the mince, and fry for 5-10 mins, or until browned all over, use a wooden spoon to break up the chunks as you go.
- Add the onion, garlic, cumin, paprika, chilli powder, salt, pepper and sugar. Cook gently for a further five minutes, stirring frequently so the spices are toasted in the pan.
- Add the tomatoes, tomato puree, kidney beans, red peppers and beef stock, stirring well, pop a lid on the pan.
- Simmer gently for 45 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, stir through the chocolate until it's melted. Check for seasonings, if it's not spicy enough add more chili powder or sauce to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
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Kerry @ Kerry Cooks says
This recipe looks delish Sarah! I love making big batch meals and freezing some. As someone who has previously touched my eye after cutting chilli, I’d say those gloves are a must have too!
Liana says
I love your tip to use chunks of beef instead of mince – I’m adding this recipe to my shopping list this week 🙂 I also need to start using the gloves when chopping chillis. I once chopped some chillis and then later took my contact lenses out. I cannot tell you just how painful that was!
Sarah Barnes says
Oh my goodness that must have been awful! So pleased you like the beef tip, it’s so much better honestly!
Pamela says
My husband is a big lover of spices. I am confident that this recipe will definitely satisfy his taste buds. Thanks for sharing it Sarah 🙂
loise says
Hii i think when you fancy a chilli con carne but don’t have the time for slow cooking – this is the recipe for you
you can make this recipe instant. very easy recipe.
g bryan says
Chili that is how it is spelled. Just saying
Sarah Barnes says
It’s actually not in the UK, it’s spelled Chilli here. Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Claire says
Kids loved this meal , compliments all round
Laura says
Made in slow cooker, super easy! Delicious as usual. Only had casserole steak in supermarket, worked well.
Wayne says
I like the sound of this one. I try many chilli recipes, but 30 years in I still have not found ‘The one’. Am making tomorrow morning, will put in a very low oven for around 4-5 hours whilst we visit family, then up the heat and add the peppers etc when meat is just about tender. First time on your site, but won’t be the last.
Sarah Barnes says
Welcome Wayne! Hope you enjoy.