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Large pot of Three Bean Chili with a ladle.
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5 from 18 votes

How To Make Three Bean Chili

Hearty and delicious, this three bean chili is the ultimate comfort food that has layers of delicious flavors in every bite! Full of ground beef, a variety of beans, chiles, and tomatoes, this is the perfect family meal!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 361kcal
Author: Amanda Mason

Equipment

  • large pot

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 14.5 ounce fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 2 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 Tablespoons worcestershire sauce
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 15 ounce cans of chili beans, undrained
  • 2 15.5 ounce cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 ounce can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 16 ounce can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 24 ounce cans of tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Mix
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 1 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion, garlic, salt, and pepper, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the fat and then pour into a large pot.
  • Add the can of fire roasted tomatoes to the pot and mix well. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Next, add the Worcestershire sauce and chili powder. Mix well to combine. 
  • Add the chili beans, stir and simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Drain and rinse the other beans and add them to the chili mixture.
  • Finish by pouring in the tomato sauce, adding the cumin, and Hidden Valley Ranch packet.
  • Lastly, add the cinnamon stick and cloves. Stir well to combine.
  • Bring to a slow rolling boil and then simmer uncovered for 1 hour on medium-low heat. The chili will start to thicken about 30 minutes into cooking.
  • When done, discard the cinnamon stick and top with your favorite toppings and serve.

Notes

  • While using canned beans and tomatoes is quicker to make, this recipe can be made from scratch by cooking dry beans, using fresh tomatoes to make the sauce, and adding in some fresh chopped jalapenos and other peppers.
  • For even more flavor, use a higher fat ground beef such as 80/20 or 75/25 percent. To add even more flavor, don't drain the ground beef.
  • Substitute ground beef with stew meat, ground turkey or ground chicken.
  • To make it more spicy, add in red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
  • Top with shredded cheese, tortilla chips, sour cream, onions, or chopped peppers!
  • Try serving on top of a bed of rice, spaghetti noodles, or crumbled up cornbread.
  • This recipe freezes really well. Once it has completely cooled, add the leftovers to a freezer safe container or bag and lay flat in the freezer. It will last in the freezer for 3-4 months.
  • To reheat, remove it from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator to slowly thaw. Once thawed, add to a large pot on the stove to reheat over medium heat. It can also be reheated in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 430mg | Potassium: 471mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 603IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg