Truly heartwarming and with a couple ‘top secret’ famly tips, this keto chili is bound to have you swooning! Oh, and there’s no skipping the ‘cornbread‘!
Paleo & Keto Chili
The Absolute Best!!
There are numerous (endless?!) ways to tackle chili, starting with the meat. Be it chicken or beef, ground or Texas-style chunks. Hey, you can even make it vegan with just veggies! And, of course, the spices used (and amounts) vary widely to taste.
Real chili purists will advocate for a chili with little tomato and no beans. As in… naturally keto!
And this recipe is a mix of just that. A traditional chili recipe sans beans, mixed with a friend’s sweet grandma’s recipe (a real crowd pleaser). The story goes that no one has ever left the table without going for seconds on this one… and I can definitely attest to that!
Her trick is to lightly caramelize the onions before adding in the beef for a big flavor boost, allowing each ingredient to cook fully before adding in the next. Plus! Her additions of a touch of beer and coffee truly are marvelous. Enjoy!
The Method
You ought to be browning each ingredient fully before adding in the next one. It might seem excessive even, but every great slow cooking meat dish has this in common. Be it American chili, Italian ragù, Mexican mole or French bourguignon.
So repeat after me: browning is truly essential!
Seconded only by the longest possible cooking time. I think 3 hours is good enough if you’re in a pickle, but if you can stretch it to 5 or 6 (or even 8!) you’re golden. Just keep adding 1/4 cup stock or water as needed.
The Spices
Chili spices can vary a lot in taste (and preference!). Buying a ready-made chili powder mix is a good place to start.
But do feel free to play around with the individual spices to your liking (think chili, oregano, cumin, coriander, paprika, chipotle… you could even add some chili ancho!).
One last trick
Make your chili the day before, because second-day chili is always best! Or at the very least make a double batch, because you seriously will want to try second-day chili.
Ah, and don’t forget the keto ‘cornbread’!
And… to pair it with!
My low carb cornbread muffins (with actual cornmeal!).
(The Absolute Best!) Keto Chili
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic ran through a press
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 500 g ground beef
- 2 cloves
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder *
- 1-2 teaspoons ground cumin to taste
- 1-2 teaspoons paprika to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder optional, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, to taste
- 1 400 g can diced tomatoes
- 240 ml beef broth
- 120 ml (gluten free or low carb) beer optional**
- 60 ml strong brewed coffee optional**
- kosher salt to taste
Serving suggestions
Instructions
- Heat up olive oil in a dutch oven or large pot over medium/high heat. Add garlic and onion, and cook until it just begins to brown (about 8 minutes).
- Lower heat to medium, add ground beef, cloves and a large pinch of salt. Cook until it begins to brown, stirring every so often (5 to 7 minutes). Add in all the spices and cook for a couple more minutes until fragrant. Some peeps enjoy their chili spicier, others strong on cumin, etc... so feel free to adjust the spices slowly as the chili cooks (the fun part!).
- Add tomatoes and continue to cook over medium heat until it begins to simmer. Lower the heat to low and continue to cook for 15 minutes, stirring every so often.
- Add in the beef broth, beer (optional) and coffee (optional). Continue to cook for 3 to 8 hours. Adding 1/4 cup water (or broth) at a time, as needed. Remember that the longer you cook it, the more flavor it gets!
- Allow your chili to rest for 10 minutes prior to serving with your favorite toppings.
I’ve made this chili several times and is absolutely delicious. If someone wanted to add beans and make it it not keto is also excellent. The flavor is to die for. Thank you
I omitted the beer, but this was fantastic! Definitely making again.
This chili is absolutely amazing. I think today is my 6th time making it. The last time I made it was for friends so I added a can of black beans. Everyone loved it. Even if you aren’t doing keto you can add kidney, pinto, black beans or whatever beans you like. The flavor is just awesome with all those spices. Thank you!!
This is the best chili hands down! My son loves it, I have to always double or triple it!I don’t do the coffee or beer and I add like 1/4 cup chicken base powder, so good. Thank you! Making it again tonight for the 100th time! I’ve made the corn bread too, it kinda tastes like yellow cake, I’m not mad at it!
This is absolutely the best chili recipe I have ever made! It’s been a staple meal in our home for a couple of years.
Thank you Gnom-Gnom!
THE best chili I’ve ever eaten and I have spent 60 years trying to find a chili this good! Full of sophisticated and complex flavors… truly wonderful! Thank you so much, Paola!!