Mexican Chili
Posted: 09/15/22
Updated: 04/03/25
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Hearty and flavorful Mexican chili may just be the best chili you’ll ever eat. Packed with protein and so much flavor, this is a simple one-pot recipe you’ll find yourself craving all winter long.
What Makes This Recipe So Good
- Mexican chili is a super-satisfying one-pot meal that you’ll want to cook (and eat!) over and over again. The protein in this recipe will keep you full, happy, and feeling your best until your next meal.
- It’s full of incredible flavors from 5 different spices, fire-roasted tomatoes, sautéed onion, and red enchilada sauce. Nothing’s too bold or overpowers another ingredient, though. No, no. Instead, everything melds together beautifully, deepening as the chili simmers. This is one meal you’ll look forward to eating.
- Chili is a wonderful make-ahead meal, and this chili is no exception. It keeps and reheats really well, so don’t hesitate to make a big batch at the beginning of the week to carry you through to the weekend. Just refrigerate it in an airtight container and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Chef’s Tips
- If you’re not a fan of heat, omit the cayenne pepper from your chili. Of course, if you’re someone who can’t get enough heat, feel free to lean in and add a little more cayenne. It’s entirely up to you!
- Looking for a slow cooker Mexican chili? You can totally make this recipe work without much effort! Brown the ground beef in a skillet first, then add the ground beef to your Crockpot with the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, spices, tomato paste, onion, garlic, and enchilada sauce. Stir to incorporate everything, then cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours or high 3 to 4 hours. Portion into bowls, add your toppings, and enjoy!
Delicious Chili Recipes You’ll Crave
- Seafood Chili
- Chili’s Southwest Chicken Soup
- Bison Chili
- Keto White Chicken Chili
- Boilermaker Chili
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
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Mexican Chili
Packed with protein and so much flavor, this is a simple one-pot recipe you'll find yourself craving all winter long.
servings
Ingredients
For the Mexican Chili
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or other neutral oil
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 2 pounds ground beef lean preferred
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- ½ tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt more or less to taste
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper optional
- 2 14-ounce cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes do not drain
- ½ cup red enchilada sauce
- 2 15-ounce cans red kidney beans drained
Suggested Toppings (All Optional)
- sour cream
- shredded cheddar cheese
- tortilla strips
Equipment
- Large pot with lid
- large wooden spoon
Instructions
- Heat large pot over medium heat. When pot is warm, add avocado oil and heat until oil is hot and shimmering.
- When oil is hot, add chopped onion and minced garlic to pot. Stir to incorporate then sauté undisturbed until tender, approximately 5 minutes.
- When onion is tender, add ground beef to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until ground beef is crumbled and no longer pink.
- Add tomato paste, chili powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and cayenne pepper to pot. Stir to incorporate, then cook 1 to 2 minutes or until spices are fragrant.
- Add diced tomatoes, red enchilada sauce, and red kidney beans to pot. Stir to incorporate, then reduce heat under pot to low and cover pot with lid. Simmer chili on low heat 20 to 30 minutes until all ingredients are warmed through and beans are tender.
- Portion chili into serving bowls. Top with sour cream, cheddar cheese, tortilla strips, or other toppings as desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- Oregano: Mexican oregano has a more citrus flavor while traditional oregano has mint undertones. If your grocery store doesn’t have Mexican oregano, substitute it with marjoram.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 531kcal | Protein: 45g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Total Carbs: 45g | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 6g | Net Carbs: 31g | Vitamin C: 7mg | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 956mg | Potassium: 1207mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 10mg
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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