3 Bean Chili

This 3 Bean Chili is made with a homemade chili seasoning, fresh ground beef, fire roasted tomatoes, and three types of canned beans. Great for football or a chilly fall weeknight!

 

Why we love this recipe

If it were up to my oldest son, we would eat homemade chili every night of the week. I have been using my homemade chili seasoning for years to make a pretty basic chili, but every once in a while I’ll add a couple different elements, just to change it up a bit. This 3 Bean Chili fit the bill perfectly without too much fuss.

Some time ago I decided to try a few different beans, mostly for color variation, and spiced up my seasoning just a little to give it a bit more kick. It’s been a favorite ever since.

If you like you can use a seasoning packet from the grocery store. You can call me a snob if you like, but I haven’t bought one of those in over 20 years. Instead, I mix up my chili seasoning mix and keep it in a closed container in the pantry.

Ingredients you will need

Expert Tips and FAQ’S

• There are many ways to change up the spices, the seasoning recipe is just a great starter! Try adding green bell peppers and diced onion, and for more heat toss in diced jalapenos.
• Serve with my delicious sweet cornbread slathered in butter and honey.
• If you prefer a yeast bread with your chili, our favorite is this Italian bread recipe.
• I drain my beans but I don’t rinse them. You can rinse them if you are concerned about the added sodium.

How to Make 3 Bean Chili

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!

1. Prepare the seasoning by measuring all seasoning ingredients into the same bowl and mix together with a fork.

2. Brown ground beef in a skillet or dutch oven until no longer pink. Drain off fat from ground beef and return beef to pan.
3. Add the tomatoes and seasoning mix and stir to combine. Stir in the beans and the broth. Add enough of the water to make it easy to stir.

4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the mixture becomes too thick, add more of the water and continue simmering until warmed through.

Three Bean Chili is a delicious weeknight meal and makes awesome leftovers. Great for packing into containers and taking to work for lunch. Hope you enjoy it!

More chili recipes

• Chili and Cornbread Stuffed Peppers
• Chili Mac
• Make Your Own Homemade Chili Seasoning
• Chicken Chili with Black Beans & Corn
• Instant Pot Chili
• Crockpot Chili

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3 Bean Chili

Three Bean Chili is a delicious weeknight meal and awesome as leftovers. Great for packing into containers and taking to work for lunch.

5 from 37 votes

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 people

50 minutes mins

Calories: 541

Author: Amanda Davis

Ingredients

Chili Seasoning:

• ▢ 2 tablespoons flour
• ▢ 4 tablespoons dried minced onion
• ▢ 2 teaspoons chili powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon of ancho chili powder
• ▢ 2 teaspoons salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin

To Make the Chili:

• ▢ 2 pounds ground beef
• ▢ 30 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes 2 15-oz cans, do not drain
• ▢ 15 oz dark red kidney beans can, drained but not rinsed
• ▢ 15 oz black beans can, drained but not rinsed
• ▢ 15 oz white kidney beans can, drained but not rinsed
• ▢ ½ cup beef broth
• ▢ 1 cup water

Things You’ll Need

• ▢
  5 qt Dutch oven
• ▢
  Ladle
• ▢
  Wooden spoon
• ▢
  Serving bowls

Before You Begin

• There are many ways to change up the spices, the seasoning recipe is just a great starter! Try adding green bell peppers and diced onion, and for more heat toss in diced jalapenos.
• Serve with my delicious sweet cornbread slathered in butter and honey.
• If you prefer a yeast bread with your chili, our favorite is this Italian bread recipe.
• I drain my beans but I don’t rinse them. You can rinse them if you are concerned about the added sodium.

Instructions

• Prepare the seasoning by measuring all seasoning ingredients into the same bowl and mix together with a fork.
• Brown ground beef in a skillet until no longer pink. Drain off fat from ground beef and return beef to pan.
• Add the tomatoes and seasoning mix and stir to combine. Stir in the beans and the broth. Add enough of the water to make it easy to stir.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If mixture becomes too thick, add more of the water and continue simmering until warmed through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 541cal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 898mg | Potassium: 1001mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 722IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 7mg

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This post originally appeared here on Nov 11, 2014.