This Beef and Dark Beer Chili is the perfect recipe to make for a large crowd.
Beef and Dark Beer Chili
Chili is one of the most comforting meals to make. I whip up a batch of chili when it’s a cold and rainy day, and I like to make a batch to have on hand as a hearty and filling lunch during the week. The best use for chili is for serving at a big party, where everyone can help themselves to the toppings.
Super Bowl Sunday is obviously a favorite day for making chili. This Beef and Dark Beer Chili recipe happens to be a good one for a big party (like a Super Bowl party) since it makes a large batch of chili. You can feed about 15 hungry people with this recipe.
What makes a good chili?
Beer is an essential ingredient in making a good chili. You don’t have to be a beer drinker to use it in chili. It adds flavor and texture to the chili. Beer will impart sugars and malty flavors to the chili that you won’t find with other ingredients. The type of beer you use matters. In this recipe, you’ll use dark beer.
What’s the best dark beer to use for chili?
Try Negro Modelo, Dos Equis Ambar, Guinness or Samuel Adams. You’ll only need one bottle of beer for this recipe. If you’re not really a beer drinker and you don’t know what to do with the other 5 beers left over… scroll to the bottom of this post and make one of the recommended recipes with your leftover dark beer.
I’m pretty crazy about this chili recipe because it’s just a good, substantial beef chili. There are plenty of spices (cumin, coriander, chili powder), onion, bell pepper and chiles. It’s not a chili recipe that is overwhelmed with beans. And you can control the spiciness of the recipe by determining how much of the jalapeno you’d like to add.
Serve with dark beer, of course!
If you’re in need of using up the rest of your beer, you might like to try these recipes:
Beef and Dark Beer Chili
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 5 pounds ground beef (5 to 7% fat)
- 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 2½ pounds onions, coarsely chopped
- 1½ pounds red bell peppers, seeded and cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1½ pounds yellow bell peppers, seeded and cut into ½-inch pieces
- 2 large jalapeno chiles (remove seeds and chop finely)
- 7 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 packed teaspoons minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
- Two 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes with puree
- Two 15-ounce cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- One 12-ounce bottle dark beer (such as stout)
- sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Toast the cumin and coriander in a skillet over medium heat until darker and beginning to smoke, about 4 minutes. Cool.
- Sauté the beef in a heavy large pot over medium-high heat until no longer pink, breaking up with spoon, about 8 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, all bell peppers, and jalapeños. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, about 15 minutes. Add the mixture to the pot with the meat. Mix in the toasted spices, chili powder, and chipotle chiles. Add the crushed tomatoes, beans and beer. Bring the chili to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring often. Season with salt and pepper.
- Ladle the chili into bowls. Serve with sour cream, green onions and cheese.
Notes
- For best results, pick out a five-pound boneless chuck roast and have the butcher grind it for you.
- Chipotle chilies in adobo sauce are found in the Latin foods section of most markets and at specialty foods stores and Latin markets.
- This chili can be made ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated up to 2 days (or freeze up to 1 month). Re-warm over medium-low heat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Sounds great. One thing I like to do with the beer in chili instead of just pouring it in is to deglaze the pan with it and reduce a bit.
Does any prep change if you’re doing this in a crockpot?
I haven’t tried it in a slow cooker, but I’m sure it can be done!
Ever tried this recipe with Shiner Bock (Texas beer)? My fave on a hot sweaty evening. Bet it would be delicious. I’ll put this recipe on my rotation for some really cold weather and try it out, maybe pinto beans instead of kidneys.
Sounds scrumptious, make some cornbread with it and I’ll be right over!
Love your site and your son’s site also. Reminds me of how my Mama used to cook. *****
Thanks for all the foody inspiration, Diann (Xtexgal)
I have not tried it with Shiner Bock yet! Thank you for the kind words 🙂
What’s the best way to cut the recipe in half? Thanks. Would all ingredients be halved?
yes, just cut all ingredients in half.