Easy No Bean Chili Recipe | Just 5 Minutes Of Prep Work Needed

This no bean chili recipe is perfect when you want something hearty, flavorful, and delicious. It's packed with ground beef, diced tomatoes, and plenty of spices, and you'll be hooked on this stuff after just one bite. What's even better is how easy this chili is to make. This no bean chili takes just a few minutes of prep, and then your pot does all of the heavy lifting after that.

The Best No Bean Chili

If you don't like beans, it doesn't mean that you have to miss out on all of the deliciousness that a good chili recipe provides. And this chili recipe is proof of that.

This chili is just as thick, flavorful, and hearty as any "regular" chili recipe out there - but, of course, this one is made without beans.

Now, I know I'm a little biased, but I think this is one of the best chili recipe in existence - beans or no beans! Seriously, this is the meatiest bowl of chili you'll ever have, and it's complete with a blend of veggies and spices that give it one heck of a flavor.

Best of all though, this recipe for chili without beans is ridiculously easy to make, and it's ready in less than one hour! After sautéing the ground beef with everything else, all you have to do is let it cook on the stovetop when you sit back and relax.

Also, since all of the cook time is basically "hands off", you can prepare a delicious side to go with it - like this Little Caesars crazy bread or this garlic bread. Honestly, this no bean chili is delicious on it's own, but it's even better with some bread on the side for dipping. So, don't sleep on making those recipes to go with it.

Anyway, let's get into what you'll need to make this Texas chili.

Ingredients

As far as ingredients go, there's nothing fancy about this homemade no bean chili recipe.

You'll find that it's made with the usual chili ingredients, such as crushed tomatoes, beef broth, onion and garlic, ground beef, and all of the common chili seasonings you'd expect. Seasonings like cumin, oregano, paprika, and, of course, a bay leaf. So there's a good chance you have everything already at home to make it!

Anyway, here's everything you'll need to make this no bean Texas chili:

• 1 pound of ground beef 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 onion, diced finely
• ½ green bell pepper, diced 
• 1 clove of garlic, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 can of crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups of beef broth 
• 1 bay leaf

And here are some optional toppings:

• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Cilantro
• Sour cream
• Jalapeño slices

Pretty simple stuff, right?

Plus, you can use almost all of these ingredients to make my Wendy's chili recipe and Texas Roadhouse chili. They're both really tasty in their own right -  but, just keep in mind, they do contain beans though. Anyway, if you're looking for some equally delicious chili recipes check those out.

Ingredient Substitutions

Now, if you want to make some substitutions to this no bean chili recipe, making them shouldn't be a problem. This recipe is super customizable.

For instance, you can use veggie broth - or chicken broth - instead of beef broth if that's what you have on hand. Both of those options will work great to make this no bean chili.

If you don't have canned tomatoes you can always use tomato paste, tomato sauce, or even fresh tomatoes made into a sauce. Along with fresh tomatoes you could even use a can of fire-roasted tomatoes for more flavor.

By the way, just so you know, you can also use ground turkey - in place of the ground beef - and the chili will be just as delicious.

Toppings For No Bean Chili

What's chili without toppings?

I'll tell you what it is, it's almost like it's naked.

So, once this amazing no bean chili is done, don't be afraid to dress it up a bit. To keep things classic you can load it up with the shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and some jalapeno to give it a little bit of heat.

Or, you can even go a "little extra" with your no bean chili and add some of these toppings to it too:

• Sliced avocados
• Tortilla chips
• Lime wedges
• Mexican queso
• Green onions
• Pico de Gallo
• Roasted corn
• Pickled onions
• Red pepper flakes

With that said though, feel free to top this chili with anything you want!

How to Make No Bean Chili

As I mentioned earlier, this no bean chili is effortless to make.

In fact, all you have to do is add the ingredients to a pot, give it a few stirs here, and cook. Sounds pretty simple, right?

Anyway, let's not waste any more time and get to cooking!

Step 1: Cook the Beef

First things first, if you haven't done so already, gather - and prep - all of your ingredients.

Also, just so you know, I'm using a Dutch oven for this recipe because I think it does the best job of evenly cooking the chili. But if you don't have a Dutch oven, you can use any heavy-bottom pot, and it will work just as well.

With that said, to start, you'll want to add the oil to the Dutch oven - or pot - and put it over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Let the oil heat for a minute, then add the lean ground beef, diced pepper, minced garlic, and salt and pepper.

Now you'll want to let everything cook together in the pot until the beef has browned on all sides. You can break the beef apart with a spoon, stirring occasionally so it cooks evenly on all sides.

Step 2: Simmer The Chili 

Once the beef is cooked, you can add all of the spices to the pot - that would be the cumin, paprika, and dried oregano - along with the crushed tomatoes.

Follow that by adding the beef broth and bay leaf, and cook everything for about 30 minutes or until the chili thickens. Also, be sure to check on it and stir it occasionally while it's cooking.

Step 3: Serve

Finally, once the chili is done, ladle it into some bowls and top it with your favorite toppings! I like to add shredded cheese, cilantro, sour cream, and jalapeño slices to my chili. However, you can add whatever you like to yours.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

What to Serve with No Bean Chili

This beef chili is hearty enough to stand on its own, but it tastes even better when paired with the right side dish!

Here are some of my favorite things to eat with this:

• Sweet potato cornbread
• Martha White cornbread
• Sweet corn cake
• Air fryer tortilla chips
• Air fryer baked potatoes
• Fried polenta

How to Store No Bean Chili

This recipe for ground beef chili will make 4 large servings. So it should be plenty for a big family dinner, and you might even have some leftover as well!

With that said, if you do have some leftover chili it will store incredibly well. So, to store it, let it completely cool down, and then add it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. Stored like this the no bean chili will last for up to 4 days.

However, if you want to keep the chili for even longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. To freeze the chili just follow the same steps as above, but instead of storing in the fridge, store it in the freezer.

How to Reheat Chili

Now, if you have leftovers, you'll definitely want to reheat them before enjoying them.

The best way to reheat any chili, including this one, is on the stovetop. To reheat, add the chili to a pot and warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes until the chili reaches your desired temperature.

Oh, and you can also microwave it in 30-second increments, stirring between each one.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make chili without beans!

This recipe really is as good as any classic chili out there. I mean, it's super easy to make, doesn't take a lot of time, and the results are as flavorful and hearty as it gets.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this no bean chili recipe as much as I/we do!

If you do give it a try, let me know how you like the recipe by leaving a comment below!

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If you're looking for more delicious recipes, we have a ton on the blog to try next!

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Also, for even more deliciousness check out our Youtube, TikTok, or Instagram page. We post new recipes every day on them.