My Texas chili recipe is the tried-and-true beef chili recipe of your dreams! Thick, spicy, and smoky as all chili recipes should be, this “Bowl o’ Red” covers the flavor bases with homemade goodness your family will love.
Chili is the state dish of Texas, so you know this Texas chili recipe isn’t messing around! It’s also a no bean chili — part of what makes Texas chili, well, Texas chili is the absence of beans and the punch of other flavors and texture.
Simmer up a pot of full-flavored Texas chili today! Let’s get cooking!
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What I Love About This Recipe
There is nothing better than settling down with a big steaming bowl of chili on a chilly day! Get it? Chili, chilly. Wordplay is part of the fun!
- Thick, meaty texture
- Easy to add variation
- Belly-filling goodness
- Cook-all-day taste in less than two hours!
How To Make Texas Chili Recipe
Texas Chili is made by simmering beef with beer and a variety of spices and seasonings. Follow these four easy steps to rustle up your own award-winning Texas Chili recipe.
First, brown your beef. Next, cook the onions with garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano. Third, add salt, pepper, bay leaves, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Better than Bouillon, amber ale beer, and water, and add the beef back in.
Finally, supplement the mixture with additional beer and water as needed. Dinner is served!
Recipe Notes
The Houston Press describes chili con carne as a uniquely Texan invention from the 1800’s, popularized by working-class “chili queens.” Some stories trace this popular dish back to a 1600s Spanish nun whose spirit traveled across the ocean to preach Christianity to the Native Americans, according to National Chili Day.
Whatever you believe about the mythic origins of chili, today’s Texas chili is best known for tender beef, seasoned onions, and ground chilies. My Texas chili recipe plays with some other yummy ingredients. Let me walk you through the flavors!
Ingredient Notes
Beef: You will need a cut that has sufficient fat to hold up to the simmering process and deliver a texture that isn’t dry. Hand-cut cubes from a chuck roast work beautifully.
I prefer a coarsely ground 80/20 (also called a “chili grind”) that I can pick up from my local butcher. You might also use a standard grind 80/20, but it will have a smoother, less chunky texture.
Chili Powder: Chili powder is no trivial matter for true chili aficionados. My family prefers meals on the milder side, so I usually go for a good commercial blend.
The result gives you a sturdy chili flavor with deep tones and detectable smokiness without burning your tastebuds!
Tomatoes: This is the most controversial ingredient in an authentic Texas chili! Some chefs swear by tomatoes; others refuse to even entertain the idea. If you scoff at tomatoes in your chili, give this recipe a try — I’ll make a tomato convert out of you yet!
Masa: Masa is flour made from corn. It’s most often used to make tortillas and other baked goods in Mexican cuisine. But for this recipe, you’ll use it the same way you use corn starch — as a thickener!
Better than Bouillon: I love adding Better than Bouillon to my soups and stews to give dishes an extra punch of beef flavor! This is one of the secret ingredients to make your chili taste like it’s been simmering all day. Better Than Bouillon is available at most supermarkets.
Storing Tips
The best part of my Texas chili recipe is the leftovers! Chili tastes even better the next day, once the spices and flavors have a chance to really settle in. To make sure you get the best leftovers you can out of your chili, read on!
Can You Freeze This?
Yes! My Texas chili recipe will last you up to six months in the freezer. Just make sure you thoroughly cool your chili before you freeze it — residual heat will create steam during the freezing process, which will lead to freezer burn. And no one likes freezer burn!
Make Ahead Tips
The best way to make this Texas chili recipe ahead is to follow the steps through Step Five, stopping just before you simmer. Since your meat is fully cooked, you can store the chili base as you would normal chili, in the fridge — where it will last for up to four days — or in the freezer — for up to six months.
Simmering is what gets all the flavors condensed, so once you’re ready to finish the chili, don’t skip the simmering! You’ll definitely want to get all those yummy flavors married together properly.
How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?
This Texas chili recipe will store in your fridge for up to four days. I think it always tastes better the next day, once the ingredients have had time to settle, so this makes a great next-day lunch leftover meal!
You can shake up the flavor combination day to day by using different toppings. One day, go for cheese; the next, do avocado and salsa for a Mexican splurge. The possibilities are endless!
Recipe Variations
Every chef has their own version of chili! What are some variations you can try?
Can I Bake This Instead?
I love the deep, rich flavor that oven baking gives to dishes! Chili cheese dog bake is a great way to have the State Fair favorite in your home. For a complete meal, try chili cornbread casserole — all the luscious chili flavors in one scoop!
Can I Add Pasta?
Chili spaghetti is a surefire winner! If the idea of noodles and chili doesn’t get your kids excited, try chili mac — mac and cheese and chili? Yum!
Or go for a Cincinnati classic, my Skyline chili recipe! This meat sauce is typically served over spaghetti noodles with lots of yummy cheese on top!
Can I Add Some Beans?
Texas chili with beans?? Blasphemous!
Kidding, kidding. Well, sort of. There are certain Texas chefs who would never add beans to their chili, but I love dishes like Mexican chili and taco chili. And one of my favorite chili shake-ups is Frito chili pie. Yes, pie! Everything is better in pie form!
What Other Famous Chili Recipes Can I Make?
There is an infinite number of chili recipes to try! Pioneer Woman chili is rich and delicious while Wendy’s chili recipe brings the fast-food favorite within your grasp. And Alton Brown chili is always a crowd pleaser!
What Other Beef Chili Recipes Can I Make?
Chili colorado earned its name from the red color (“colored red”), not the state! The red chilis give it a delicious pepper bite. Steak chili is extra yummy for the chunks of hearty steak in the rich sauce — perfect for a winter date night. And of course, let’s not forget the classic chili burger! Make sure to have fries handy too!
Texas Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds coarse ground beef, 80/20 or chuck also called chili grind
- vegetable oil as needed
- 2 cups yellow onions chopped
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 (28-ounce) Can crushed tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 heaping tablespoon Better than Bouillon - beef flavor
- 1 (12-ounce) bottles amber ale beer
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons masa
Toppings:
- cheddar cheese shredded
- sour cream
- red onions chopped
- jalapeno sliced
Instructions
Make Chili:
- In a 6-quart saucepan, over medium-high heat, brown the beef crumbling as it browns, in batches so as not to crowd the pan. Remove the browned meat to a paper towel lined plate.
- Remove all but 1/4 cup of the fat in the pan, if there's not 1/4 cup fat, add vegetable oil, as needed. Add the onion and cook, on medium, stirring occasionally, until browned and soft, about 10-12 minutes.
- Stir in garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika and oregano and cook, stirring constantly so as not to burn the spices, until the spices are fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Return the browned beef to the saucepan and add the salt, pepper, bay leaves, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Better than Bouillon, 3/4 cup of the amber ale beer and 1/3 a cup of water and simmer 20 minutes.
- Add the remaining 3/4 cup of beer, another 2/3 cup of water, and masa and simmer 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chili is thick.
- Serve with any toppings you like.
Nutrition
More No Bean Chili Recipes
Want to explore more hearty chili recipes? I’ve gathered my best dishes for you:
- Chili Dog – Chili is a great condiment!
- Sweet And Spicy Cashews – Follow that spice to your snacks.
- Stuffed Chillies – Love chilis? This is for you!
- Pork Chili Verde – Mexican chili goodness!
Conclusion
My Texas chili recipe may cause some commotion (tomatoes!!), but I think we can all put aside our differences and agree that chili is delicious.
Now, for another divisive question: do you eat cornbread or biscuits with your chili? Let me know in the comments!
Will says
January 26, 2020 at 10:45 pmI use cubed chuck roast instead of ground. All other ingredients are exactly as presented.
This chili is phenomenal!!!
Kathleen says
January 27, 2020 at 10:18 pmThank you so much, Will! So happy to hear you enjoyed it! 😃
Brittney says
January 9, 2020 at 6:10 amWow. That’s all I can say. I definitely had seconds. This chili recipe is AMAZING! Thank you.
Kathleen says
January 9, 2020 at 10:29 pmThanks, Brittney!😃 So happy to hear you liked it!
Chris says
December 16, 2019 at 12:11 amNew favorite chili recipe.
Don’t need the Mesa.
Add some cayenne on the 1st dump of seasoning to give it a little heat.
Add some extra chili powder towards the end and give it an extra 20 minutes to simmer.
Kathleen says
December 16, 2019 at 6:14 amSo glad you enjoyed!!
Ruth Horrell Allen says
November 8, 2019 at 6:58 pmLove this. I don’t ever use the mesa. But I always add a little extr, like I am making this now as we are going to have really cold weather next week. (22) the coldest ever in middle Mississippi in November. I grid my meat. Kroger hass English pot roast for $2.99 lb. Yes I bought a bunch and used 3 lbs in miy chili
John Murphey says
November 4, 2019 at 7:07 pmFor more heat try 1/4 t each, Ancho Chili powder, Adoba Chili powder, Gujillo Chili powder, & ground Cayenne. All available from Penzey’s Spices or local Latin grocers.
Also, you can use one jalapeno with seeds instead.
Kathleen says
November 5, 2019 at 1:01 amThank you, John!😀 These are great tips!
Rossana says
September 5, 2019 at 2:56 amLoved this texas chili. The only thing i had an issue was it wasnt spicy in any way. I did everthing what it said, but it wasnt spicy at all. What did i do wrong. Mind you it was delicious. But i love my chili to be spicy.
Kathleen says
September 10, 2019 at 11:00 pmHi Rossana! It must be the chili powder you used. Try adding some more and let me know how it turns out. Enjoy! ❤️
Michael Selewach says
March 2, 2019 at 9:28 pmExcellent recipe. You covered the very important step of browning the meat. Personally I would increase the chili powder by by 2 or 3 tablespoons but that’s just me. Not for heat but for depth of flavor. I’ve always been know to throw in some ground sausage along with the chunks of beef. Agree with Better Than Bouillon. Great stuff!
Kathleen says
March 2, 2019 at 9:39 pmThank you, Michael! I love your insights and appreciate you sharing them! 🙂
Tvo says
October 31, 2018 at 12:57 pmWhat can I use instead of Masa? I’m allergic to corn. Thanks.
Kathleen says
November 4, 2018 at 12:25 amHi, I’d simply omit the masa. Masa adds a corn flavor but because of it’s fine texture (vs.cornmeal), it blends in without making the chili grainy or kinda gritty. There’s just not a great substitute. It also acts as a thickening agent. So if you decide to omit it, you can simmer the chili a little longer to achieve the desired thickness. Hope that helps 🙂
Diann Athey says
August 30, 2018 at 8:53 pmYou mention Better than Bouillon as a flavoring but no place to order or buy. Any ideas? This is definitely Texas Red as I grew up with, can’t wait to cook up a batch! Lovely. Texasgal41
Kathleen says
August 31, 2018 at 4:24 amHi Diann, you can find it at most supermarkets. Here’s an Amazon link if you cant find it . It’s an affiliate link, by the way. Amazon pays me literally a couple of pennies <3
Cathy says
August 30, 2018 at 6:34 pmWhat is masa
Kathleen says
August 31, 2018 at 4:38 amHi Cathy! Masa is a dough made from corn flour. It is commonly used in Latin American dishes like tamales and tortillas.
John says
March 1, 2019 at 1:49 amIf people are really really in a pinch and can’t find masa anywhere I reccomend just buying yourself some corn tortillas and tossing them in a blender and getting it as fine as you possibly can as an alternative. You will get masa harina which you can mix with a little bit of water to make masa like dough/paste to thicken up as well.
Kathleen says
March 2, 2019 at 9:42 pmWow, John! That is such a great idea!! Thank you 🙂
Cathy says
August 30, 2018 at 6:32 pmWhat is masa
Janine says
August 26, 2018 at 1:10 pmLooks great! Can the Masa be left out? Have all the ingredients to make this today not no Masa.
Kathleen says
August 27, 2018 at 9:37 pmHi Janine. Yes it can. You might need to simmer the chili longer to get it to thicken up to the correct consistency.
No!caj says
August 8, 2018 at 1:24 pmYour nutrition list does not give the size of a single serving. Would you kindly tell me the serving size for this chili?
Kathleen says
August 22, 2018 at 2:58 pmHi. Sorry about that. Will get that fixed soon <3
scott says
November 28, 2018 at 7:43 pmYou still haven’t fixed it
Kathleen says
December 7, 2018 at 4:34 amHey Scott, I.m sorry I’m not sure what you’re referring to. The nutrition info has been updated, is that what you mean?
lindsey says
August 6, 2018 at 6:27 amOmg, Do you deliver?? This looks AMAZING!!