Print

Best Smoky Three-Bean Chili con Carne: Easy Slow Cooker Recipe

smoky three-bean chili con carne - featured image
Print Recipe

A deeply smoky, hearty chili con carne made with three beans and tender beef chuck, slow-cooked to perfection. This recipe recreates the magic of a beloved dive bar’s chili, layering flavors through searing, toasting spices, and chipotle peppers.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 2 cups)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 2 cups beef broth, low-sodium
  • 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt to taste (start with 1 teaspoon)
  • 1 bell pepper, diced (optional)
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
  • Shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (for topping)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for topping)
  • Diced avocado (for topping)
  • Lime wedges (for topping)
  • Crushed tortilla chips (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, chop the bell pepper and jalapeño if using, and cut the beef chuck into 1-inch cubes. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Sear the beef in batches. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the beef cubes in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until a deep brown crust forms, then flip and brown the other side. Work in batches if needed. Transfer the seared beef to your slow cooker.
  3. Sauté the aromatics. Reduce the heat to medium and add the diced onion to the same skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic, diced bell pepper, and jalapeño, and cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Bloom the tomato paste and spices. Push the vegetables to the side of the pan and add the tomato paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until it turns a deeper brick-red color. Then add the smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, and black pepper. Stir together and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Deglaze the pan. Pour about 1/2 cup of the beef broth into the skillet and scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Let it simmer for a minute, then pour the entire mixture into the slow cooker with the beef.
  6. Add the remaining ingredients. To the slow cooker, add the fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato sauce, remaining beef broth, chipotle peppers and adobo sauce, Worcestershire sauce (if using), and brown sugar (if using). Stir everything together until well combined.
  7. Cook low and slow. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the drained and rinsed beans.
  8. Finish and adjust. Once the chili is done, taste it and adjust the seasoning. If the chili seems too thin, let it cook uncovered for another 15-20 minutes to thicken up. If it’s too thick, stir in a little more broth.
  9. Serve with all the fixings. Ladle the chili into bowls and let everyone top it with their favorites—shredded cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, diced avocado, lime wedges, and crushed tortilla chips.

Notes

Don’t skip searing the beef or toasting the spices—these steps build deep flavor. Add beans at the end to keep them from getting mushy. Chili tastes even better the next day. For a milder version, use one chipotle pepper and skip the jalapeño. For more heat, add both chipotles and leave the seeds in the jalapeño.

Nutrition

Keywords: chili con carne, slow cooker chili, three bean chili, smoky chili, beef chili, game day chili, comfort food

Find it online: https://gleefulfork.com/best-smoky-three-bean-chili-con-carne-easy-slow-cooker-recipe/