Dutch Oven Chili (Easy, Classic One-Pot Beef Chili)
Dutch Oven Chili is a hearty, one-pot chili made with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and warm spices, simmered low and slow for rich, cozy flavor. It's an easy stovetop dinner that works well for cold nights, game day, and make-ahead meals when you want something filling without extra cleanup. Unlike many recipes, this version uses smoky bacon and a small scoop of refried beans to build deep flavor and a thicker, more satisfying texture.
Servings: 4
Calories: 139kcal
Equipment
- Le Creuset Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 4 slices Bacon chopped
- 1 medium Yellow Onion diced
- 1 Red Bell Pepper diced
- 1 Orange Bell Pepper diced
- ½ Jalapeño seeded and diced
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 lb Grass-Fed Ground Beef
- 6 oz Beer gluten-free
- 2-3 tablespoon Chili Powder to taste
- 2 tablespoon Cumin
- 1 ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 15 oz Crushed Fire Roasted Tomatoes canned
- 15 oz Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes canned
- 15 oz Mixed Beans drained and rinsed
- ¼-1/2 cup Refried Beans optional
- ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Cilantro
- Greek Yogurt/Sour Cream
- Green Onions
- Avocado
- Cheddar Cheese
- Tortilla Chips
- Cornbread
- Jalapeño
- Lime Wedges
Instructions
- Step 1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather and prep all your ingredients. Wash and chop the veggies, drain and rinse your beans, and open all canned items. Having everything ready to go will make the cooking process smoother and quicker.
- Step 2. Crisp the Bacon: Over medium heat, add bacon to a large Dutch oven and cook for 3 4 minutes or until browned. Remove the bacon and place it on a plate lined with a paper towel. If your bacon renders more than 2 3 tablespoons of fat, remove the excess. If your bacon is lean and doesn't render much, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the Dutch oven.4 slices Bacon
- Step 3. Sauté the Veggies: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the onion and bell peppers with a pinch of salt, and sauté for about 5 minutes or until soft. Stir in the garlic and jalapeño, and cook for 1 minute.1 medium Yellow Onion, 1 Red Bell Pepper, 1 Orange Bell Pepper, ½ Jalapeño, 4 cloves Garlic
- Step 4. Brown the Beef: Push the veggies to the side, then add the ground beef to the Dutch oven. Break the beef up with a spatula and let it caramelize. Once it starts to brown, stir everything together and cook until no longer pink (about 5 minutes). Pour in the beer to deglaze the pan, then increase the heat and bring to a boil for 2 minutes.1 lb Grass-Fed Ground Beef, 6 oz Beer
- Step 5. Season the Chili: Add the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for about 2 minutes to bloom the spices.2-3 tablespoon Chili Powder, 2 tablespoon Cumin, 1 ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika, 1 ½ teaspoon Paprika, ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- Step 6. Combine the Ingredients: Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, mixed beans, refried beans, and cooked bacon. Bring to a boil for 2 3 minutes. Add the salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.15 oz Crushed Fire Roasted Tomatoes, 15 oz Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes, 15 oz Mixed Beans, ¼-1/2 cup Refried Beans, ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt, ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- Step 7. Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
- Step 8. Serve: Once the chili has reached your desired thickness and the flavors have developed, serve it hot with your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, or chopped green onions.
Notes
Expert Tips And Tricks
- Let it hang out for 10 15 minutes off the heat before serving, this gives the flavors time to settle and get even better.
- Browning the beef is key! Don't rush it; that caramelized crust adds major flavor.
- The refried beans help thicken everything up and make it super hearty. Want it looser? Just leave them out.
- This is a hearty chili for meal prep; it somehow tastes even better the next day (and the day after that).
Nutrition
Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0.2mg | Sodium: 735mg | Potassium: 368mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4309IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 4mg
