Black Bean Chili Recipe (2024)

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by Mike Hultquist · Nov 30, 2022 · 55 Comments · Jump to Recipe

A comforting, easy one-pot black bean chili recipe with plenty of seasoned ground meat and piquant spices. Good old comfort food with just the right amount of heat. It's perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Chop, pour, simmer, done. On the table in under an hour.

Easy Black Bean Chili - Big Zesty Flavor

Who wants chili? I know I do. There are many chili recipes out there. They can be time consuming, where you spend time prepping the initial ingredients, work on layering in flavors, then let them simmer and develop over the course of several hours.

Or, they can be easy where you cook down a few select ingredients, add the proper seasoning, then give a quick simmer.

This is one of those easy chili recipes.

We're talking Easy Zesty Black Bean Chili. It's comforting and meaty, and with just the right amount of spice and heat for my chilihead friends.

Although! You can very easily adjust it to your own heat and spicy levels. No need to get TOO spicy when you really just want a little.

I'll also show you how to make a few different variations of the recipe so you can make it extra meaty, healthy with ground turkey or chicken, and even vegetarian with sweet potato or butternut squash.

Let's talk about how to make black bean chili, shall we?

Black Bean Chili Ingredients

Olive Oil. For cooking.
Chili Peppers. I'm using jalapeno peppers, but use diced green or red bell peppers for a milder version.
Onion and Garlic.
Ground Meat. I often make this with ground turkey or a mixture of ground turkey and ground pork, but you can use others, like ground beef, ground chicken or a combination.
Black Beans. Used caned (drained and rinsed), or dried beans that have been soaked and cooked.
Chicken Stock. Chicken broth is good, or try this with a good flavored amber colored beer – I used a white ale.
Fire Roasted Tomatoes. I'm using canned. Diced tomatoes are good, too.
Tomato Paste. For extra tomato flavor.
Spices. Chili powder, ancho powder, cayenne, oregano, cumin, and salt and pepper.
Hot Sauce. Optional, for flavor and heat.
For Serving. Crumbly white cheese, spicy chili flakes, chopped red onion, fresh chopped parsley, any of your favorite chili toppings.

How to Make Black Bean Chili - the Recipe Steps

First,heat the oil in a large pot to medium heat and add onions and jalapeno peppers. Cook the onions and peppers down about 5 minutes, or until they become tender.

You can use other red peppers.

Add the garlic and cook for another minute, until the garlic becomes fragrant.

Next, add the ground meat (I used turkey, but you can use ground beef, chicken or pork for this) and break apart with a wooden spoon.

Cook until the turkey is mostly cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the tomato paste and seasonings, and cook another minute.

Add in the beans, chicken stock (or beer), and fire roasted tomatoes, plus hot sauce to taste.

It will be very brothy-soupy at this point.

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for at least 20 minutes to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can easily let it simmer for an hour to let the flavors develop even further.

It will thicken up nicely, like so.

BOOM! That's it, my friends! Serve this chili up!

Of course you can also garnish with your favorite toppings. I used a bit of chopped red onion for crunch, some fresh sliced jalapeno peppers, and lime wedges for a citrus pop.

Sour cream helps if it's a bit too hot and spicy. Toss on some tortilla chips for crunch.

Crumbly white cheese is always great. Or use shredded cheese. Enjoy it!

Recipe Tips & Notes

You can make this black bean chili recipe your own in many ways. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili. Instead of meat, peel and cube a large sweet potato.

Add the cubes in when you cook the onions and peppers. They will soften later on as they simmer in the flavorful stock.

Vegetarian Black Bean Chili. Skip the meat and use either sweet potato as above, or use white potatoes or peeled and cubed butternut squash. Just follow the directions in the sweet potato version.

Try my Chunky Vegetarian Chili Recipe.

Healthier Version. If you enjoy the meat like I do but want fewer calories, use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef.

You'll save a lot that way.

Ingredient Additions. Corn is a popular addition with black bean chili. You can also include a mix of different beans for color.

Consider also adding other types of chili peppers to up the overall zest factor. Toss in a chipotle chili for a smoky twist.

Time Saving Tip. One way I like to save time in the kitchen is to pre-chop my vegetables. If you chop your onions, peppers and garlic ahead of time, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week in sealed containers.

Then, when you're ready to cook, simply snatch them out and get cooking right away. This makes prep time a snap!

Storage Information

You can store chili in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To enjoy it again, simply reheat it over medium heat in a pot on the stovetop.

You can also freeze chili in freezer proof containers for 3 months or longer. I freeze batches all the time.

That's it, my friends! I hope you enjoy my black bean chili recipe! It's super easy, and definitely ZESTY!

Try Some of My Other Popular Chili Recipes

Southwest Style Slow Cooker Chili
Beef Chili
Homemade Roasted Tomatillo Pork Chili
Pork Chili with Roasted Red Hatch Chili Peppers
Chili Colorado
Chili Verde
Chipotle Chili
Black Bean Soup

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media.

Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Black Bean Chili Recipe

A comforting, easy black bean chili recipe with plenty of piquant spices and just the right amount of heat, all in one pot, one of my favorites.

Save Recipe

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: black beans, chili, recipe, spicy

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Calories: 270kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings: 6

Tap or hover to scale

5 from 24 votes

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 jalapeno peppers diced
1 medium onion diced
4 cloves garlic chopped
1.5 pounds ground turkey or use ground beef, ground chicken, or ground pork
3 ounces tomato paste
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ancho powder
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
15 ounces fire roasted tomatoes (1 can)
2 cans black beans drained - 16 ounce cans
2 cups chicken stock or use a good flavored amber colored beer – I used a white ale
Hot Sauce to taste
FOR SERVING: Crumbly white cheese, spicy chili flakes, chopped red onion, fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large pot and add the jalapeno peppers and onions. Cook them down about 5 minutes, or until they become tender.
Add the garlic and cook for another minute, until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Add the ground turkey and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until the turkey is mostly cooked through, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the tomato paste and seasonings, and cook another minute, stirring.
Add in the fire roasted tomatoes, chicken stock (or beer), chicken stock, black beans, plus hot sauce to taste. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for at least 30 minutes. You can easily let it simmer for an hour to let the flavors develop even further.
Serve into bowls with your favorite toppings.
See Also
Potato, Leek, and White Bean Soup Recipe Wassail Recipe: Slow Cooker or Stove Top (Video)15 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes to Try This Year | The Fox & She Eat like a Manitoban: Hearty Moose Stew with Winter Root Vegetables and Bannock Recipe | Travel Manitoba

Video

Notes

Heat Level: Mild-Medium. You can easily spice this up with hotter chili peppers, though there is some heat here. Hot sauce is a nice addition.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 25gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 460mgPotassium: 586mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1575IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 3mg

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Black bean chili is gluten free.

NOTE: This recipe was updated on 11/30/22 to include new information, photos, and video. It was originally published on 3/11/19.

Reader Interactions

Comments

John says
September 10, 2023 at 6:20 am

Not to brag (took much:-) CPMnation but I kick this go-to chili recipe up another level and prepare Mike’s crazy awesome Mexican Chorizo recipe for the base protein.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  September 10, 2023 at 8:01 am
  
  Haha, I love it, John! Sounds like perfection!
  Reply
Julie says
September 09, 2023 at 9:54 pm

Definitely the best chili I’ve ever made! I used ground turkey and doubled the chili powder because I didn’t have ancho powder.
Served with shredded cheddar and sour cream.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  September 10, 2023 at 8:03 am
  
  Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it, Julie! Thanks for sharing!
  Reply
Maganbhai patel says
August 26, 2023 at 2:42 pm

I love the vegetarian version of chili beans
Reply
Fahiema says
June 02, 2023 at 6:53 am

Excellent recipe! I added roasted red peppers with the onion and jalapeños..I'm in South Africa Cape Town couldn't find amcho powder. Could you please recommend an alternative? Garnished with plenty of cilantro... Was a hit with the family. Thank you Mike
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  June 02, 2023 at 7:10 am
  
  Thanks so much, Fahiema! Glad you enjoyed it. I'm not sure what chili powders you have available to you, but guajillo powder is good, or you can use a dark red chili powder blend that isn't too hot.
  Reply
  - Fahiema says
    June 07, 2023 at 8:10 am
    
    Thank you Mike.. found a dark red Chilli powder at the local spice shop..Family requested it again came out beautiful!
    Reply
    - Mike Hultquist says
      June 07, 2023 at 8:28 am
      
      Great! Glad you all enjoyed it!
      Reply
Mary says
May 05, 2023 at 7:32 pm

This recipe is fantastic! i didn't have any chicken stock or beer, so added tomato sauce. Loved the spices.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  May 06, 2023 at 8:04 am
  
  Glad you enjoyed it, Mary! Yay!
  Reply
Michelle says
March 18, 2023 at 11:17 am

This chili is great! I'm on a big kick of black beans lately and this chili has it all. The beans AND heat. Very easy.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  March 18, 2023 at 11:19 am
  
  Boom! Awesome, Michelle! Glad you enjoyed it!
  Reply
Marty says
March 17, 2023 at 6:59 am

This is awesome! It's great with venison. I made a huge batch and canned several jars for future use!
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  March 17, 2023 at 7:05 am
  
  Nice! I love to hear it! Thanks, Marty.
  Reply
Teresa says
February 12, 2023 at 11:33 am

You must have corrected it, my version didn’t contain the fore roasted tomatoes
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  February 12, 2023 at 11:37 am
  
  Let me know if you see any other issues. Thanks!
  See Also
  Best Instant Pot Spiced Apple Cider Recipe
  Reply
Teresa says
February 12, 2023 at 11:32 am

Hi Mike, this is our favorite chili recipe. Making it for the second time and just noticed it doesn’t say when to add the fire roasted tomatoes. I add them with the broth and beans?
Thanks again for sharing your recipes.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  February 12, 2023 at 11:36 am
  
  You got it, Teresa. Add them with the broth and beans. Glad you like it! So good!
  Reply
Teresa says
February 09, 2023 at 6:07 pm

Will make this again, I tried many chili recipes, this is by far the best! Thank you for sharing your recipes. We enjoy them all.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  February 09, 2023 at 6:59 pm
  
  Thanks so much, Teresa! Glad you enoyed it!
  Reply
Teresa says
February 09, 2023 at 6:06 pm

My husband’s new favorite chili
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  February 09, 2023 at 6:59 pm
  
  Excellent!!
  Reply
Amy Leinberger says
January 16, 2023 at 10:48 am

Hi Mike
I’m excited to try this recipe! Can you tell me where I can get some of your red jalapeño hot sauce?
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  January 16, 2023 at 12:36 pm
  
  Enjoy, Amy. I have a Homemade Roasted Red Jalapeno Hot Sauce recipe here you can try! So good! https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes/hot-sauces/roasted-red-jalapeno-pepper-hot-sauce/
  Reply
  - Amy says
    January 22, 2023 at 8:11 pm
    
    Thank you so much!
    I just made the black bean chili and it’s wonderful! The flavor is perfect! Perfect consistency also
    I can’t wait to make more of your recipes!
    Reply
    - Mike Hultquist says
      January 22, 2023 at 10:42 pm
      
      Glad you enjoyed it, Amy! I love to hear it!
      Reply
Dave says
December 05, 2022 at 12:02 pm

Excellent recipe. The addition of chipotle puts it over the top. I garnish with plenty of chopped cilantro.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  December 05, 2022 at 12:07 pm
  
  Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it, Dave!
  Reply
Dianne Bartek says
December 03, 2022 at 7:22 pm

I made this recipe for game night. It turned out so good, that I’m going to use this all the time. Just enough heat. Thanks Mike for sharing.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  December 03, 2022 at 10:59 pm
  
  Awesome! Thanks, Dianne!
  Reply
Jean says
December 03, 2022 at 4:33 pm

Mike,
This turned out delicious! I used Beyond Meat in place of turkey. I look forward to making it again on a cold day! Thank You!
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  December 03, 2022 at 10:59 pm
  
  Nice! Thanks, Jean!! Glad you enjoyed it.
  Reply
Gloria says
December 03, 2022 at 7:23 am

Made this last night and it is delish! So wicked good. As always, Mike, your recipes are spot on. Thank you!!
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  December 03, 2022 at 8:32 am
  
  Thanks, Gloria!
  Reply
Ron A. says
December 03, 2022 at 7:01 am

I made this chili the other day. It is seriously really good. I used a can of stewed tomatoes which I had on hand as well as extra lean ground beef. Used one and a half jalapenos and added 1/2 of cayenne. Was just the right amount of heat as my wife isn't big on too much heat. Easy to make as the only prepping is onion, jalapeno, and garlic Simmered for one hour. The chicken broth reduced just enough for it to still be juicy enough. Thank you for this go to chili recipe.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  December 03, 2022 at 8:32 am
  
  Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it, Ron!
  Reply
Lavina says
December 02, 2022 at 10:25 am

This looks delicious and right up my alley with all lovely spices and jalapeños! Going to try this with ground chicken and an amber ale. Thanks for sharing!
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  December 02, 2022 at 11:56 am
  
  Thanks, Lavina! Yes, nice and spicy for you!
  Reply
steve says
December 01, 2022 at 7:09 pm

I don't see when to add Roasted tomatoes in the instructions. I'm guessing instruction #4?
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  December 02, 2022 at 6:55 am
  
  Steve, add them in Step #5, when you add the stock and beans. Thanks for alerting me to this!
  Reply
Kris Jones says
December 01, 2022 at 5:30 pm

I tried this tonight and it was the best chili I have ever had. I did end up using almost the whole can of tomato paste. I left some of the seeds from the 2 jalapeno's and the spices were spot on. Will definitely make again!
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  December 02, 2022 at 6:45 am
  
  Outstanding!! Thanks, Kris! I love it.
  Reply
Chris says
November 30, 2022 at 3:07 pm

I’m going to make this and sub the turkey for TVP as I’m Vegan. I’ve made enough of your recipes to know it’s going to be goooooood I can’t wait to try it
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  November 30, 2022 at 3:23 pm
  
  Sounds GREAT, Chris! Enjoy! Make some extra for me. =)
  Reply
Paul says
November 30, 2022 at 7:27 am

Hey Mike Black bean chilli is a great dish , I’m vegetarian so leave out the meat , you can add chopped carrots etc to add colour and I like to make mine quite chilli hot ! I also add some dark chocolate for another layer of flavour
Keep up the great chilli work ; love your ideas
Paul from Yorkshire , England
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  November 30, 2022 at 7:50 am
  
  Sounds awesome to me, Paul! Thanks for sharing!
  Reply
- Chris says
  November 30, 2022 at 3:08 pm
  
  Hi Paul, I use TVP as a sub in these kind of dishes (I’m plant based) also in the U.K.
  Reply
  - Paul says
    December 02, 2022 at 2:04 am
    
    Hi Chris ,tvp is a good source of protein !
    Isn’t Mikes website and recipes brilliant ,gets my Taste buds going evertime I see his pictures and makes me want to get cooking
    Let’s give him a big high five for letting us add comments and ideas !
    Reply
    - Mike Hultquist says
      December 02, 2022 at 6:40 am
      
      Thanks, Paul!
      Reply
Whitney S says
October 11, 2020 at 1:22 pm

This is my go to chili! I do add white kidney beans or navy beans to it. It adds a brightness to the chili. I also use a Guinness beer and ground Turkey. .
All my kids love it.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  October 11, 2020 at 1:31 pm
  
  Great, Whitney! Sounds awesome! I love it.
  Reply
- Chris says
  November 30, 2022 at 3:05 pm
  
  Ooooh, a Guinness addition sounds good
  Reply
Nadia says
March 20, 2019 at 8:47 am

I've made this black bean chili recipe twice now, once with ground beef and once with ground turkey, and I can't decide which one I like better. LOVE that I have options. Peace!
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  March 20, 2019 at 8:50 am
  
  Such a great problem, to have, right? Definitely nice to have choices.
  Reply

FAQs

Can you use black beans instead of kidney beans in chili? ›

Best Kidney Bean Substitutes by Common Use

Black beans, garbanzo beans, and cannellini beans will work best in chili and soups where you want the firm texture of a bean. If you do not mind the beans breaking down a bit, pinto beans will also work well.

Get More Info ›

What is the best bean combination for chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

What is the best liquid to add to chili? ›

Chili cooks low and slow, so you need enough liquid to tenderize the meat and keep everything from drying out. That liquid should also add flavor to the chili, so use chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, or beer.

View Details ›

What happens if you don't rinse canned black beans? ›

"If you rinse your beans thoroughly, you will have a consistently flavored product, but if you do not rinse them, different amounts of salt will remain in the dish each time you cook it, and it will be hard to cook consistently," he says.

Learn More Now ›

Should you drain diced tomatoes for chili? ›

Cooking Instructions

DO NOT DRAIN CHILI BEANS. (That's what thickens it up, I don't use tomato paste) add juice and all! Do Not drain Stewed tomatoes,diced tomatoes,or tomatoes with green chiles. Add all ingredients, and seasoning, mix.

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Do you drain black beans from a can? ›

Many people wonder if they need to drain and rinse canned beans, and the answer is, “it depends.” It's fine to add the bean liquid to many recipes, but if you want to reduce the amount of sodium, it's best to drain and rinse canned beans.

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Are black beans and kidney beans interchangeable? ›

Kidney beans are meaty in texture and on the dense side- unlike pinto beans but quite similar to the texture of black beans which makes them the perfect substitute. They hold their shape and don't break down as easily. They are mild in flavor and taste different than black beans but will work well as an alternative!