Chili con Carne

Chili con Carne is a classic dish that’s big on flavor and easy to make! Loaded with ground beef, bacon, tomatoes, peppers, onions, kidney beans, and a delicious blend of spices… it’s hearty, flavorful, and oh so satisfying!

I partnered with TOSTITOS® to bring you this recipe. All opinions are my own.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that winter is chili season. And this Chili Con Carne is the BEST. It’s heavy on the meat, light on the beans, and packed with the most amazing flavor!

It’s exactly the kind of meal you want in winter, whether it’s for a cozy family dinner, a fun game day with friends, or a comforting meal to warm up to when you come in from outside.

As with all chili recipes, there are countless ways to make Chili con Carne… but once you try my version there’s no going back! Not only because it has bacon (can you really go wrong?) but because my version is served over TOSTITOS® Cantina Thin & Crispy Tortilla chips. Which adds the most amazing flavor and crunch to the entire dish!

TOSTITOS® has always been our favorite chip and dip brand, and it’s pretty much a staple dish for hosting. We’ve recently been incorporating TOSTITOS® into more of our meals – like this Chili con Carne – and let me just say they make ALL the difference.

They’re the perfect flavor complement and a delicious alternative to corn bread. And when you serve the chili right on top of them? The whole thing turns into a chilaquiles-like dish that really is next level. If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE Chili con Carne recipe, look no further. You’ve come to the right place!

🥓 Ingredients

Don’t be fooled by the ingredient list… 6 of these ingredients are spices you most likely already have in your cupboard! In fact, one thing I love about this recipe is how easy it is to have nearly all the ingredients on hand.

• 2 pounds ground beef
• ½ pound bacon
• 1 large onion
• 1 large green pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• ½ cup beef broth
• 15 ounce can dark red kidney beans
• 1 bag TOSTITOS® Cantina Thin & Crispy chips

📋 Instructions

Cook the bacon – Chop the bacon and fry it in a large pot over medium heat until crispy. Remove it from the pot, reserving 1 tablespoon of bacon grease. Set the bacon aside for later.

Saute the veggies – Add chopped onion and chopped green pepper to the same large pot; saute it in the reserved bacon grease for 2-3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and saute for an additional 3-5 minutes until fragrant.

Brown the meat – Add the ground beef to the sauteed veggies. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until the meat is browned. Drain the meat and return it to the pan.

Add the seasonings – Add the seasonings and tomato paste and stir to combine.

Add the tomatoes, beef broth, and beans – Add the reserved bacon, tomatoes, beef stock, and beans. Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour. 

🍲 What is Chili con Carne?

Chili con Carne literally means chili with meat, and is a spicy stew made of chili peppers, meat, tomatoes, and often beans. The dish originated in northern Mexico or southern Texas, and today there are countless variations.

🥩 Recipe variations

• Substitute chunks of chuck roast for the ground beef
• Use ground turkey or ground chicken in place of beef
• Omit the kidney beans for a more traditional chili con carne OR add more according to your tastes
• Substitute diced tomatoes for the crushed tomatoes
• Use any variety of bell pepper
• Add additional seasonings, including oregano, black pepper, or cinnamon
• Serve with any of your favorite toppings, including sliced jalapeños, sliced green onions, avocado, or crushed TOSTITOS® Cantina Thin & Crispy chips

📍 Make-ahead and storage tips

This dish is perfect for making ahead, because the flavors develop over time. Feel free to let it simmer over low heat for the whole day, or you can also transfer it to a slow cooker to keep it warm. To store leftovers, bring them to room temperature before transferring them to a smaller container. Store them, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, transfer the chili to a small saucepan and reheat on the stovetop over medium heat.

❄️ Freezing 

This dish freezes quite well! Simply transfer cooled chili to a container or freezer bag, being sure to remove as much air as possible. Chili can be frozen for up to 6 months. To use, remove it from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat on the stovetop.

🍜 Related recipes

Looking for more recipes that would be delicious served with Tostitos? These are some of our favorites!

• Chili Mac
• Creamy White Chicken Chili
• 5-Bean Chili
• Black Bean Soup
• 3-Bean Salad
• Cheesy Baked Taco Dip
• Queso Dip

Chili con Carne

Chili con Carne is a classic dish that's big on flavor and so easy to make! Loaded with ground beef, bacon, tomatoes, peppers, onions, kidney beans, and a delicious blend of spices... it's hearty, flavorful, and oh so satisfying!

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Calories: 460kcal

Author: Cathy Trochelman

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 pound bacon
• 1 large onion
• 1 large green pepper
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 15 ounce can dark red kidney beans
• 1 bag TOSTITOS® Cantina Thin & Crispy

Instructions

1. Chop the bacon and fry it in a large pot over medium heat until crispy. Remove it from the pot, reserving 1-2 tablespoons of bacon grease. Set the bacon aside for later.
2. Add the chopped onion and chopped green pepper to the same large pot; saute it in the reserved bacon grease for 2-3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and saute for an additional 3-5 minutes until fragrant.
3. Add the ground beef to the sauteed veggies. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until the meat is browned. Drain the ground beef mixture and return it to the pan.
4. Add the seasonings and tomato paste and stir to combine.
5. Add the reserved bacon, tomatoes, beef stock, beans. Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour.

Notes

Recipe variations:

• Substitute chunks of chuck roast for the ground beef
• Use ground turkey or ground chicken in place of beef
• Omit the kidney beans for a more traditional chili con carne OR add more according to your tastes
• Substitute diced tomatoes for the crushed tomatoes
• Use any variety of bell pepper
• Add additional seasonings, including oregano, black pepper, or cinnamon
• Serve with any of your favorite toppings, including sliced jalapeños, sliced green onions, avocado, or crushed TOSTITOS® Cantina Thin & Crispy chips

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 460kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1027mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g