There’s nothing like a warm, hearty bowl of black bean chili to hit the spot, especially when it’s packed with bold flavors and comes together with minimal effort.
This easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you want something comforting without spending hours in the kitchen.
With a rich, smoky spice blend, tender black beans, and juicy ground meat, every bite is loaded with flavor.
Plus, it’s versatile—you can make it mild or spicy, thick or brothy, and even swap ingredients to fit what you have on hand.
Grab a pot, gather your ingredients, and let’s make some seriously good chili!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 jalapeno peppers diced
1 medium onion diced
4 cloves garlic chopped
1.5 pounds ground turkey or use ground beef, ground chicken, or ground pork
3 ounces tomato paste
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ancho powder
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
15 ounces fire roasted tomatoes (1 can)
2 cans black beans drained – 16 ounce cans
2 cups chicken stock or use a good flavored amber colored beer – I used a white ale
Hot Sauce to taste
FOR SERVING: Crumbly white cheese, spicy chili flakes, chopped red onion, fresh chopped parsley
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add diced onion and jalapeño (or bell pepper). Cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the ground turkey (or chosen meat) and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- It doesn’t need to cook fully, as it will continue to simmer later.
- Stir in tomato paste and let it cook for a minute.
- Add chili powder, ancho chili powder, cayenne, oregano, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
- Stir well and let the spices bloom for about a minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and fire-roasted tomatoes.
- Add black beans and stir everything together.
- Reduce heat and let the chili simmer for at least 30 minutes, up to an hour for deeper flavors.
- Stir occasionally and adjust consistency with more broth or beer if needed.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add hot sauce if desired.
- Garnish with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, avocado, or tortilla chips.
