Spicy American Chili with Black Beans and Corn

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-08 · Updated 2026-08-08

Hearty and spicy chili featuring black beans, sweet corn, and ground beef, perfect for sharing at casual gatherings. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 55 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 380 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, minced garlic cloves
• 1 large, diced red bell pepper
• 2 cups cooked or canned, drained and rinsed black beans
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• to taste salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped, for garnish fresh cilantro
• optional, for serving sour cream

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and 4 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef to the pot, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for 6-7 minutes until browned and no longer pink.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 large diced red bell pepper, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and salt to taste. Cook for 2 minutes to toast the spices.
4. Step 4: Add 2 cups black beans, 1 1/2 cups corn kernels, 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices, 1 cup tomato sauce, and 1 cup beef broth. Stir well to combine.
5. Step 5: Bring chili to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes until chili thickens and flavors meld.
6. Step 6: Serve hot topped with 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and a dollop of sour cream if desired.