Heavy Equipment Hearty Beef Chili
A robust, slow-cooked chili with ground beef, kidney beans, and bold spices, perfect for a hearty meal. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 95 minutes pairs olive oil, large, diced onion, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large, diced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1, diced green bell pepper
- 1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed kidney beans
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté diced onion for 5 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 2: Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces with a spoon. Drain excess fat.
- Step 3: Stir in diced green bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, and tomato paste. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until spices are aromatic.
- Step 4: Add drained kidney beans, diced tomatoes (with juice), beef broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low for 1 hour.
- Step 5: Remove bay leaf, then season with salt and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes to thicken the chili until it coats a spoon.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Heavy Equipment Hearty Beef Chili take to make?
Total time is about 95 minutes (20 min prep + 75 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Heavy Equipment Hearty Beef Chili?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep olive oil from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Heavy Equipment Hearty Beef Chili?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Heavy Equipment Hearty Beef Chili for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Heavy Equipment Hearty Beef Chili?
American slow cooker like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Kids gobbled it up without complaints — that's a 5-star in my book.
- ★★★★☆
Reliable weeknight option. Not going to blow your mind but always satisfying.
- ★★★★☆
Really good but took about 10 minutes longer than stated.
