Add a helping of easy country cooking to your dining table.
Sometimes, all you really need is a hearty, comforting meal. And nothing says comforting quite like Southwestern cooking! It should go without saying that you don’t need to be anywhere near a ranch to indulge in this cowboy-inspired dish. But hey, with the cozy, spicy flavors of this cowboy chili, you might just feel transported to a country campfire or homestead kitchen.
No matter where you are, this recipe is spectacular for serving a crowd, your household, or enjoying on your own (and having plenty of leftovers). It’s super easy to cook and comes together in one pot, making cleanup a breeze, too.
It all starts with onions, garlic, and ground beef, then tomatoes and beef broth get added to pack tons of flavor. Chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, and oregano do the rest of the work, giving this dish the classic chili taste that everyone knows and loves. You’re definitely going to want to have this one in your regular rotation, especially in the colder months.
Is Cowboy Chili Healthy?
This recipe can be considered a healthier alternative to other chili recipes, since it calls for low-sodium beef broth rather than regular beef broth. You can also opt for extra-lean ground beef instead of lean ground beef to make it slightly healthier. Overall, this cowboy chili recipe is full of clean ingredients like veggies, beans, and spices, which makes it a healthy, protein-packed meal.
What Are The Best Beans to Add To Cowboy Chili?
If you want to know what puts the cowboy in cowboy chili, the answer is beans. Legends say that cowboy ranchers believed it would be a waste of profit to eat their own beef, so they often opted for beans instead, or at least a mix of the two. (Just like this dish!)
My favorite bean to use is pinto beans, but you can also use kidney beans or black beans, if you like. Whatever you choose, just make sure to rinse and drain them well before adding them to your delicious chili.
How to Make Ahead and Store
Cowboy chili is a great meal for when you want something to make ahead, or to make the most of leftovers. It keeps extremely well in the fridge or freezer and reheats easily. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
It’s quite popular for chili to be served with sour cream or shredded cheese, but if you want to skip the dairy, avocado is also amazing with cowboy chili. Better yet—try serving it with these Avocado Fries!
Another common way to serve chili is with tortilla chips. If you want to really impress your guests, swap the store-bought chips for these Air-Fryer Tortilla Chips.
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 can 15 ounces stewed tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 can 15 ounces pinto beans rinsed and drained
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, cook the ground beef, garlic, and onion over medium heat until the beef is browned and the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the stewed tomatoes, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper to the saucepan. Stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and let the chili simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the pinto beans and salt, and continue to cook for an additional 15 minutes. Serve hot.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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