Chili is seriously one of my favorite parts of the fall-winter season. It’s super easy to make, the leftovers are amazing, and it’s incredibly cozy and hearty. It’s basically all I want to eat from September to March. 😅 Our classic chili recipe is great, but I also love this simple black bean chili because it has a slightly lighter, brighter flavor, and I just have a soft spot for black beans. Gimme all the black beans all of the time! So if you’re looking for something to meal prep for the week or just something to keep you warm as the air outside gets colder, give this black bean chili a try!
What’s in Black Bean Chili
Rather than just substituting all black beans in my classic chili recipe, I also changed the flavor profile of this chili slightly. I used tangy diced tomatoes with green chiles, which gives the chili a nice brightness. I paired that with a little more cumin than usual for a slightly earthy base, and then added some smoked paprika because that smoky flavor pairs really well with the black beans. I also wanted the black beans to be the star of this show, so I actually used half the amount of ground meat as my classic chili, which helps keep it very budget-friendly as well!
Ingredients for Black Bean Chili
Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious and hearty pot of black bean chili:
- Onion and Garlic: Any pot of chili is going to start with plenty of onion and garlic to get those savory base flavors in place!
- Ground Beef: I used only a half pound of ground beef for this recipe, but you can increase it to one pound if you prefer a more meaty chili. You can also substitute with ground turkey if preferred.
- Tomatoes: I used a combination of diced tomatoes with green chiles and tomato paste for this chili. The diced tomatoes add texture and a zingy flavor (thanks to the green chiles) and the tomato paste adds richness and helps thicken the chili.
- Herbs and spices: The spice mix for this chili starts with a hefty dose of chili powder, then we add some extra cumin for earthiness, a little smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Feel free to add a little cayenne if you like your chili spicy!
Toppings for Chili
One of the reasons I love chili the most is all of the fun toppings you can add to your bowl. It’s a great opportunity to use up leftovers in your fridge or pantry, and it can just add tons of flavor, color, and texture to the meal! Here are some of my favorite toppings for black bean chili:
- Fresh or pickled jalapeños
- Diced red onion
- Avocado
- Sliced green onion
- Cilantro
- Crushed tortilla chips
- Sour cream
- Cheddar cheese
- Fresh lime juice
- Diced avocado
- Pico de gallo
Serve with a side of Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread!
Black Bean Chili
Servings 6 (about 1.3 cups each)Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil ($0.11)
- 1 yellow onion ($0.36)
- 4 cloves garlic ($0.32)
- 1/2 lb. ground beef ($3.50)
- 3 15oz. cans black beans, drained ($2.37)
- 1 10oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles* ($1.00)
- 1 6oz. can tomato paste ($0.99)
- 1 Tbsp chili powder ($0.30)
- 1 tsp ground cumin ($0.10)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.05)
- ½ tsp salt ($0.04)
- 2 cups water ($0.00)
Instructions
- Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion and garlic to a large pot with the olive oil and cook over medium heat just until the onions are softened (2-3 minutes).
- Add the ground beef to the pot and continue to sauté until the beef is cooked through (5-7 minutes).
- Add the drained black beans, diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and water. Stir everything to combine.
- Place a lid on the chili and allow it to come up to a simmer. Let the chili simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, to let the flavors blend and help the liquid thicken slightly.
- Taste the chili and add salt as needed (this will depend on the salt content of your canned goods. I added about ½ tsp). Serve with your favorite chili toppings and enjoy!
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
Nutrition
How to Make Black Bean Chili – Step by Step Photos
Begin by dicing one yellow onion and mincing four cloves of garlic. Sauté the onions and garlic with 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat until softened (2-3 minutes).
Add ½ pound ground beef (or turkey) and continue to sauté until the meat is cooked through.
Add three 15oz. cans of black beans (drained), one 10oz. can of diced tomatoes with green chiles (with the juices), one 6oz. can of tomato paste, 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp oregano, ½ tsp salt, and 2 cups of water.
Stir all of the ingredients together until evenly combined. Turn the heat up to medium-high, place a lid on the pot, and allow the chili to come up to a boil. Once it comes up to a boil, give the chili a stir, replace the lid, and reduce the heat to medium-low.
Let the chili simmer over medium-low heat for about fifteen minutes, which will help blend the flavors and thicken the sauce. Give it a taste and add salt if needed. I added about ½ tsp. And that’s it! You’re DONE making dinner!
Add your favorite toppings and go to town! Or divide it up into single-serving portions and refrigerate for really easy ready-to-heat meals for the rest of the week.
I used to make this dish all the time, when it had a base of turkey, not beef: as an Irish lady living in cold, damp Dublin, it warmed the cockles of my heart. I’ll give this version a go, I guess, but I don’t know if it can beat the old version for ease and taste.
Hi Mary, I just emailed you the old recipe for you to keep. :)
A good foundation, but that’s about it. The recipe is very flawed in multiple ways.
1: Cook the ground beef first then remove it. Cooking it with the onions decreases contact with the heat, reducing the Maillard reaction.
2: Cook the onions for a few minutes before adding the garlic. Garlic burns quickly, so adding it later allows you to build up the flavor of the onions more.
3: I never made it the original way, but this recipe sounds very bland. This of course is up to personal preference, but I almost doubled the chili powder, tripled the other spices, and added 2 minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. You have to really try to over season a chili with this many black beans.
Please e-mail me a copy of the old recipe, it was a favorite. Thanks so much.
Just emailed you!
Hello,
Could I please get the old recipe?
Thank you!
Just emailed it! :)
Hi – will you please email me a copy of the old recipe? It was a household favorite! Thank you!
Just emailed it!
Please send the older version.
Just emailed it!
Could I get the old recipe? I’ve been making this chili since I found the recipe in 2018 and I prefer the old one.
Just emailed it to you! :)
Thanks a lot for sharing – such a hearty and spicy dish. I made up a vegan variation too 🌶💚 https://frauvirtin.com/vegan-chili-beans/
Can I make this in a crockpot instead of on the stove? (for a crowd)
Sure! I’d do high for four hours or low for 8 hours.
Could I get the old recipe? I really enjoyed it and this one’s not the same
Just emailed it to you! :)
Michele here…
I live in Texas and it’s a little w🔥rm outside to prepare this yummy dish, but I love black bean chili so I turned the AC down🌬️ and made it. 🍴🍲
I love beans in my chili so I am not a typical foodie from Texas. 🫘
I followed the recipe and added a few things….
Fire roasted green chilies.
I made my lime🍋🟩crema, which is sour cream with fresh lime juice, lime zest, dash of cumin and salt and pepper.🧂
I added a little chipotle🌶️adobo sauce to the chili while simmering. I love spicy.
I stuck with your yummy toppers, red onion, green onion,🧅 fresh jalapenos, avocado🥑slices, cilantro🌿 and the lime crema to cool it off a touch.
It was delicious and so easy to prepare.
I am going to share with friends this evening and we are adding Fritos🌽 and white Vermont🧀cheddar.
We love Frito pie around here. Lol
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe.😋 So many positives, super lean and guests would never know that I didn’t spend hours in the kitchen.
Definitely going down as a VG(Very Good) in my old school recipe📇catalog.
It would be wonderful as chicken chili too.🐔