The Best Chili con Carne Recipe

I remember coming home from school on chilly afternoons. The unmistakable aroma of my father’s Chili Con Carne greeted me at the door. We would talk, laugh, and sneak a taste before it was ready. To me, chili is more than just food. It’s a symbol of comfort, warmth, and togetherness. Today, I’m sharing our family’s beloved recipe. This recipe has been tweaked over the years to make it just right for my liking.

Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium onions chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup medium green pepper chopped
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 cans 14-1/2 ounces each diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup water
- 2 cans 16 ounces kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can 10 oz can pork and beans in tomato sauce
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook beef over medium heat until brown, 8-12 minutes; crumble beef. Drain grease and set aside.
- In the same pot, heat oil; saute onions until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the green pepper, salt, chili powder and cumin. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring until combined.
- Add canned beans, tomatoes and ground beef. Stir in water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for about 2 hours.