Ultimate Homemade Lone Star Chili for Cozy Nights In
Enjoy a hearty Homemade Lone Star Chili, a soul-soothing dish elevated with beer and filled with rich flavors.
Equipment
- - Large pot
Ingredients
Chili Base
- 1 lb Ground Beef 80/20 or 85/15 blend
- 2 tbsp Chili Powder Fresh for authentic flavor
- 1 tbsp Ground Cumin Use freshly ground
- 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper Adjust for heat level
- 15 oz Tomato Sauce
- 10 oz Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies (Rotel)
- 1 tbsp Cornmeal Masa harina makes a great swap
Aromatics
- 1 medium Onion Diced
- 3 cloves Garlic Freshly minced
Liquid Magic
- 12 oz Beer (Mexican Lager) Or beef broth/water
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil For browning beef
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Heat Olive Oil: Begin by heating a splash of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, indicating it’s ready for browning.
- Brown Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the pot and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it apart until most of the pink is gone. Transfer the beef to a plate, leaving all the rendered fat in the pot.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, add the diced onion to the rendered fat and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened. Once the onion is translucent, toss in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Bloom the Spices: Stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper for about 1 minute.
- Deglaze with Beer: Return the browned beef to the pot. Pour in the beer and stir, scraping up any flavorful browned bits.
- Combine Sauce Ingredients: Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and salt.
- Simmer to Perfection: Lower the heat and let your chili simmer gently over medium-low for approximately 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Thicken with Cornmeal: Stir in the cornmeal during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
Notes
Optional: Garnish with fresh cilantro or jalapeño slices before serving for an extra burst of flavor.