Description
Award-Winning Southern Soul Chili is a bold, flavorful chili packed with ground beef, beans, and southern spices. Slow-simmered to perfection, it’s a hearty dish that warms you from the inside out — ideal for game day or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 900g (2 lbs) ground beef
- 2 cans (400g each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (400g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cans (400g each) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (400g) tomato sauce
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth or water (as needed for desired consistency)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and cook for another minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Cook for 2 minutes to bloom the spices.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer uncovered for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened and flavorful.
- Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve hot with cornbread, sour cream, or shredded cheese if desired.
Notes
- Let the chili rest for 10–15 minutes before serving for deeper flavor.
- This chili tastes even better the next day — perfect for meal prep.
- Can be made in a slow cooker after browning the beef and aromatics.
- Customize the heat level with more or less cayenne or hot sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Southern chili, soul food chili, hearty beef chili, award-winning chili, comfort food