Slow-Cooked Beef Chili with Southwestern Spices
Hearty slow-cooked beef chili infused with smoky southwestern spices, perfect for a comforting meal that celebrates regional flavors. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 195 minutes, pairs ground beef, yellow onion, garlic cloves 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 lb ground beef
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 14 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed kidney beans
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped, for garnish fresh cilantro
The Dutch oven we’d braise this in → Best Dutch Ovens for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned and no pink remains.
- Step 3: Transfer beef mixture to slow cooker. Add 14 oz canned diced tomatoes, 1 can (15 oz) drained kidney beans, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 cup beef broth, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 4: Stir to combine and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours until flavors meld and chili thickens.
- Step 5: Serve chili garnished with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro.









