Classic Beef and Sausage Chili

This classic beef and sausage chili is made with ground beef, hot pork sausage, and three beans: pinto, kidney, and black beans.

Cozy up this winter with a warm bowl of meaty chili. You will love this double meat recipe if you like a chunky chili filled with meat and beans. Classic beef and sausage chili calls for lean ground beef and hot pork sausage (also known as breakfast sausage).

This is the best recipe for chili season with just the right amount of kick. For more classic ground beef recipes, try this meatloaf with Ritz crackers or this cheeseburger pasta.

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Ingredients

Chili is an easy pantry recipe made with common ingredients you may have on hand.

• 85% lean ground beef - this recipe works best with 80 to 85% lean ground beef.
• hot pork sausage - also known as hot breakfast sausage.
• yellow onion - you can also use white onion or sweet onion.
• green bell pepper - diced.
• chili powder - for that classic chili flavor.
• cumin - ground cumin (not cumin seeds)
• garlic powder - for flavor
• paprika - or smoked paprika for a different flavor profile.
• salt - to enhance the flavors.
• diced tomatoes - fire roasted diced tomatoes or regular diced tomatoes
• tomato sauce - to enhance the tomato flavor
• pinto beans - drained and rinsed
• light red kidney beans - drained and rinsed
• black beans - drained and rinsed
• beef broth - the liquid base for this beefy chili

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Brown the ground beef and spicy sausage over medium-high heat in a large stockpot. When the fat begins to release, add the diced onion and green bell pepper, breaking up the meat and cooking until the meat is browned. You can drain the excess grease at this point if desired.

Tip: This recipe works best with 80 to 85% lean ground beef. The fats are used to cook the onion and bell pepper rather than adding additional oils. Do not drain the excess grease before adding the veggies.

Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, and salt, stirring to coat the meat and veggies.

Next, add the remaining ingredients, stirring to combine. Bring the chili to a low boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for one hour.

Garnish with your favorite toppings.

Substitutions

• meat - you can use any combination of ground meets like ground beef and breakfast sausage in this meaty chili recipe, or you can substitute (some or all) with ground turkey or ground chicken, though you may want to add a little olive oil for sauteing the veggies. Spicy Italian sausage is a good swap for the breakfast sausage. For vegetarian chili, try this meatless bean chili recipe.
• onion - you can also use white onion or sweet onion.
• bell pepper - use green bell peppers, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, or orange bell pepper.
• seasoning - you can use a packet of chili seasoning instead of individual seasonings.
• diced tomatoes - fire roasted diced tomatoes or regular diced tomatoes (or even petite diced tomatoes).
• tomato sauce - you could swap this with more broth and add tomato paste to enhance the tomato flavor.
• beans - black beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans are my favorite. You could also use chili beans which are usually pinto beans in a seasoned sauce.
• beef broth - beef broth is best for the flavor profile, but you can also substitute it with water and bouillon.

Equipment

• Stockpot: You need a large pot or a large Dutch oven. You can make this in a 6-quart stockpot. The stockpot photographed is an 8-quart Cuisinart stockpot.
• Chef's knife: To dice the veggies.
• Cutting board: To dice the veggies.

Pairings

• Cornbread: Homemade cornbread goes with any chili recipe.
• Baked potato: If you've never served your chili over a tender baked potato, you're missing out.
• Rice: I like long grain white rice or basmati.
• Tater tots: Make loaded tater tots!

Related

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Classic Beef and Sausage Chili

This classic beef and sausage chili is made with ground beef, hot pork sausage, and three beans: pinto, kidney, and black beans.

4.65 from 37 votes

Recipe by: Kelsey Smith

Prep time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook time: 1 hour hour

Total time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

• Stockpot
• Chef's knife
• Cutting board

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
• 1 pound hot pork sausage
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 1 green bell pepper diced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 28 ounces fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 15 ounces tomato sauce
• 15.5 ounces pinto beans drained and rinsed
• 15.5 ounces light red kidney beans drained and rinsed
• 15.5 ounces black beans drained and rinsed
• 1 cup beef broth

Instructions

 

• Brown the ground beef and pork sausage over medium-high heat in a large stockpot. Once some of the fat is rendered, add the diced onion and green bell pepper, breaking up the meat into small pieces and cooking until the meat is browned. You can drain the excess grease if desired.
• Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, and salt, stirring to coat the meat and veggies. Cook for 30 seconds to one minute.
• Add the remaining ingredients, stirring to combine. Bring the chili to a low boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for one hour.
• Garnish with your favorite toppings.

Notes

This recipe works best with 80 to 85% lean ground beef. The fats are used to cook the onion and bell pepper rather than adding additional oils. Do not drain the grease off after cooking.

Storage: Refrigerate for 3 to 4 days or freeze for up to 6 months in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bags.

Slow cooker: To make this in a slow cooker, brown the meats and saute the veggies in a large skillet before transferring to the Crockpot (6-quart size). Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or on LOW for 6-8 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 547kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 34gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 1409mgPotassium: 1186mgFiber: 16gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1350IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 127mgIron: 7mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: ground beef

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