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Texas Chili (Chili con Carne)

A thick, no-bean chili made with chunks of beef simmered in a deep red chile pepper sauce — true Texas Red.

⏱ 20 minPrep time
🔥 120 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 SoupCategory
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Texas Chili - bowl of Texas chili con carne with beef, onion and cheese

Texas chili — or Texas Red — is a bowl of pure beef and chiles with no beans in sight. Cubed beef simmers for hours in a deep, earthy sauce built from dried chiles, cumin, and garlic until it’s thick, dark, and rich. It’s the official state dish of Texas, and it’s taken very seriously.

Chef Emily presents Texas Chili

True Texas Red — no beans, no apology

Chunks of beef simmered in a deep dried-chile sauce with cumin and garlic — the classic bowl of Texas chili.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Toast the dried chiles in a dry skillet for 30 seconds per side. Cover with hot broth and soak 20 minutes, then puree into a smooth sauce.
  2. Heat the oil in a large pot and brown the beef in batches until deeply seared. Remove and set aside.
  3. In the same pot, cook the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, paprika, and oregano and cook 1 minute.
  4. Return the beef to the pot with the chile puree and remaining broth. Simmer gently, uncovered, for 2 hours, until the beef is tender and the sauce is thick.
  5. Season with salt and pepper and serve with shredded cheese, onions, and crackers if you like.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Toast the dried chiles before simmering to deepen their flavor. Texas purists skip the beans and tomatoes — this version stays true to that tradition.

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Recipe details

Prep20 min
Cook120 min
Servings6
CategorySoup
PublishedAugust 16, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →