Texas Chili is a hearty beef chili that will warm you up (and fill you up) on cold days. The large chunks of beef are melt-in-your-mouth tender! This is an easy recipe to use when you are trying to feed a crowd.
Texas Chili
I got this Texas Chili recipe from my Uncle Ralph. He made it for a family reunion years ago and we all loved it!
This is a hearty beef chili with chunks of tenderly cooked stew meat. The spices and flavor profile are incredible—this chili will warm you from head to toe, and fill you right up. It’s so good!
Make it More or Less Spicy
I love recipes like this one because you can easily adjust the spice level to make this a family-friendly dish. If your family doesn’t like spicy chili, you can leave out the red pepper sauce and only use 3 tablespoons of chili powder instead of 4.
On the other hand, if they do like spice, feel free to add more of the red pepper sauce. You can also add crushed red pepper flakes to Texas chili for an extra kick. We like the flavor of Frank’s Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce in this chili.
How to Serve Texas Chili
We garnished our chili with sour cream and cheese, but you could also add chopped white or red onions. This chili is also delicious with our Cake-y Cornbread.
This recipe can be doubled (or tripled) depending on how big of a group you are serving. A single recipe makes 6-8 servings. So, if you are serving a crowd, pour it over rice to stretch out your budget even more.
More Chili Recipes:
- “Cheater” Chili – Another award winner. Honestly, I am interested in putting these two recipes head-to-head to see which one will win.
- Crock Pot White Chicken Chili – Also a favorite chili around here. It is made in the slow cooker and is perfect for a cold day.
- Creamy Italian Sausage Chili – This chili is creamy and hearty with a bit of a spicy kick.
- Cafe Zupas Chicken Enchilada Chili – A copycat recipe from Cafe Zupas. This chili is loaded with shredded chicken, black beans, and corn.
- Pork Chili Verde – This is an award-winning chili recipe. It features tender pork in a tasty, savory green chili sauce.
How to Make Texas Chili
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 3 lbs beef stew meat cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 Tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp red chili paste
- 1 quart beef broth
- 1/3 cup cornmeal
- 3 cans red beans drained
For garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oil in large skillet. Add beef and brown on all sides.
- Drain well and put beef into a large stock pot.
- Add garlic, chili powder, salt, oregano, cumin, red chili paste, and beef broth.
- Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Cover and simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add cornmeal and beans. Simmer uncovered for 30 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Garnish with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.
Nutrition
Jen says
I could eat this all week long! I make a toppings bar for my family to load up and customize their own bowls at dinner. Such a family favorite.
April says
Texas chili is amazing. The big chunks of beef are what make it! Could eat this every day.
Stephanie says
I love this type of hearty meal, especially in the winter months!
Jon delPozo says
This ought to be interesting! I lived in Idaho for over 16 years and Chilli there had tomatoes and beans with chunks of beef. I was told that was the first batch from the chuck wagon as the crew ate up the tomatoes. No such thing as ground beef in those days. So hence, real chili, as I grew up with had no beans or tomatoes but included onions. But now I’m spoiled and I include both into my chilli along with onions. It’s all a matter of taste. Oh and another thing, corn meal was made into bread as the crews loved it.
Janie Reed says
Just wondering what is the purpose of the cornmeal in the chili. Is it used as a thickening agent?
Erica Walker says
Yes 🙂 If you don’t like the flavor of cornmeal you can always leave it out. I don’t notice a difference in taste but if you have extra sensitive tastebuds and a cornmeal allergy or aversion it can be left out.
Kenneth Myers says
Fifth Generation Texan here; grew up eating chili with beans, and that’s what I prefer. I have made this recipe twice now, and it is absolutely wonderful. EVERYBODY I’ve cooked it for has loved it.
Favorite Family Recipes says
Thank you so much! We are so glad to hear you like it 😀 We love chili with beans, too. Such a compliment coming from a true Texan!
Vanessa says
What size can of beans?
Favorite Family Recipes says
appx. 15 oz cans
Kate says
Are red beans different than kidney beans? If they’re different, I have never bought them before. I have yet to find a chili recipe my husband likes better than Nalley’s (yes, the canned kind :-O). He doesn’t like chili that’s too sweet or too tomatoey. Hope this is the one!
Echo says
Red beans are smaller and aren’t as firm as kidney beans. You can usually find them in the same place as kidney beans in the grocery store. If you prefer kidney beans, they would also work great in this recipe. Good luck with the recipe – I hope your husband likes it!
Peter says
Just curious if you ever made this, and how it compared to Nalley’s? Thanks!
Doug says
Looks like a great recipe, but real Texas chili has no beans.
Barb Ruka says
I was going to say the same thing. I grew up in Texas. Real Texas chili has no beans.
Alvin says
Amen!
Allison says
I was a contestant in the Tennessee Open Chili Cook-off, which is involved with the Texas Chili Cook-off, I was surprised but Texas Chili is bean less. Anything else is fair game. There were contestants who used some crazy ingredients like cicadas (during one of the famous cicada invasions), fish or venison, like ours one year.