Name: Four Bean Beef and Beer Chili
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 130 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large sweet onion (chopped); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 3-4 tablespoons brown sugar; 12 ounces dark beer (or your favorite beer, root beer or Dr. Pepper); 2 pounds ground chuck (or ground sirloin if you prefer a leaner beef); 15 ounces kidney beans (drained and rinsed); 15 ounces chili pinto beans (drained and rinsed (regular pinto beans can be used instead)); 15 ounces black beans (drained and rinsed); 15 ounces cannellini beans (drained and rinsed); 24 ounces heavy crushed tomato; 8 ounces chicken stock; 2 tablespoons corn masa (or fine cornmeal); 3 tablespoons chili powder; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 2 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste); cayenne can be added for extra heat (use with caution)

5 from 18 votes

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Wintertime is my favorite time for chili and my Four Bean Beef and Beer Chili is comfort food at its best, especially for the men in your house.

There are a lot of different ways to make chili and if we’re talking about Texas chili, you won’t a bean in the mix. Beans were always served separately. But most chili’s have evolved to include beans in the mix and I like a variety of beans in my chili!

four bean chili in a white bowl topped with cheese jalapenos and sour cream

What do I need to make four bean beef and beer chili?

ingredients to make four bean chili in glass bowls on a wooden cutting board

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients to make this hearty beef and beer chili. In chef speak, we call that the mise en place or everything in its place.

Do I have to use all the ingredients in the recipe to make Chili?

Remember that recipes are guidelines in most cases and if there is an ingredient you don’t like, leave it out or exchange it for an ingredient you’d rather use.

If you don’t like beer, use your favorite cola, rootbeer, ginger beer or Dr. Pepper.
If you don’t eat beef switch out the beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.
If you’re not a fan of one of the types of beans, leave them out and use the kind of beans you like.
Not a fan of beans at all? Use potatoes, carrots, hominy, corn and root vegetables in place of the beans.
If you don’t like hot and spicy foods, cut back on the amount of chili powder you use and leave out the cayenne!
If you like your chili like molten lave, kick it up with any brand of hot sauce or spice that you like!

This is going to be your dinner so make it the way you’re going to enjoy eating it.

The first step after gathering the ingredients is sauteing the onions and garlic in olive oil allowing them to cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add the ground beef and cook till almost done. If the beef clumps up a stiff wire whisk will break up the meat easily.

seasonings with cooked ground beef in a large sauce pan

After the beef has cooked add the seasonings to the pan and mix well. Continue to cook the seasoned beef for 2-3 minutes.

beans and tomatoes on top of the seasoned beef in a large suacepan

The final step is adding the beer to meat, followed by the beans and tomatoes. Place the pan back on medium-high heat and allow to come back to a boil. Then reduce the heat and let the beef and beer chili simmer for 1-2 hours.

As the chili cools it will thicken up a bit. I like to let my chili sit for a day or two before using it allowing the flavors to build.

Can I freeze chili?

Yes, you can. In fact, I’m the only chili eater in the house and I always make a large batch so I can freeze some for another time.

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5 from 18 votes