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Cozy Smoky Chipotle Chili – Best Easy No Bean Recipe

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This smoky, no-bean chili is a happy accident turned staple. Made with ground beef, chipotle peppers, and fire-roasted tomatoes, it delivers deep, soul-warming flavor in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 large green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • For serving: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, fresh cilantro, diced red onion or green onions, pickled jalapeños, cornbread or tortilla chips

Instructions

  1. Brown the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until deeply browned, about 8-10 minutes. Spoon out excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  2. Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add onion and bell peppers; cook until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeño (if using); cook 1 minute more until fragrant.
  3. Bloom the Spices: Push ingredients to the sides of the pot. Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, and cayenne (if using) to the center. Toast for 30 seconds, then stir everything together.
  4. Add Tomatoes and Chipotle: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, minced chipotle peppers, and adobo sauce. Stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
  5. Simmer the Chili: Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Rest and Serve: Turn off heat and let chili sit covered for 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with desired fixings.

Notes

For best flavor, do not skip browning the meat and toasting the spices. Let the chili rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. Leftovers taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: smoky chipotle chili, no bean chili, easy chili recipe, ground beef chili, comfort food, gluten-free chili, low-carb chili

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/cozy-smoky-chipotle-chili-best-easy-no-bean-recipe/