Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef Chili with Black Beans and Chipotle
Hearty slow-cooked chili bursting with bold spices, tender beef, smoky chipotle peppers, and creamy black beans for a comforting meal. This Mexican-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 375 minutes, pairs ground beef, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large, diced yellow onion
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 peppers, chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 can (28 oz) canned diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed canned black beans
- 1.5 cups beef broth
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- for serving lime wedges
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 large diced yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent.
- Step 2: Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tbsp chili powder, and 1 tsp smoked paprika to the skillet. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Add 1.5 lbs ground beef to the skillet and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no pink remains.
- Step 4: Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker. Stir in 2 chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, 1 can (15 oz) drained black beans, 1.5 cups beef broth, 1.5 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper.
- Step 5: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the flavors meld and the chili thickens.
- Step 6: Before serving, stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and serve with lime wedges to squeeze over each bowl for a bright finish.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef Chili with Black Beans and Chipotle take to make?
Total time is about 375 minutes (15 min prep + 360 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 Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef Chili with Black Beans and Chipotle?
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 ground beef from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef Chili with Black Beans and Chipotle?
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 Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef Chili with Black Beans and Chipotle 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 Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef Chili with Black Beans and Chipotle?
Mexican beef 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.
