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    Ask Chef Dennis » Recipes » Main Meals » Beef Recipes » Four Bean Beef and Beer Chili Recipe

    Four Bean Beef and Beer Chili Recipe

    Published: Feb 27, 2020 · Modified: Aug 17, 2020 by Chef Dennis Littley · 22 Comments·This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    5 from 18 votes
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    Pinterest image for four been beef chili

    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.

    sauteing onions in a large sauce pan

    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.

    cooked chili in a large saucepan

    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. 

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

    If you enjoyed this recipe you might like these:

    • Three Bean Bourbon Chicken Chili
    • Spicy Loaded Tater Tot Nachos
    • Spaghetti Sauce Three Bean Chili
    • Chicken Meatballs

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    four bean chili in a white bowl topped with cheese jalapenos and sour cream
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    5 from 18 votes

    Four Bean Beef and Beer Chili

    Nothing says delicious like a big bowl of flavorful chili, and my Four Bean Beef and Beer Chili will not only warm your body but soothe the soul!  Wouldn't this make a great lunch or dinner?
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time2 hrs
    Total Time2 hrs 10 mins
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 655kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    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
    US Customary – Metric
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    Instructions

    • in a large skillet or pot add the chopped onions, garlic and olive oil. Saute for a few minutes until the onions are lightly cooked.
    • Add ground meat and begin the browning process. You may need to add additional olive oil.
    • Brown all the meat continuously stirring to break up the meat. ( you may find a heavy wire whisk helpful in breaking up the chunks)
    • When the meat is browned begin adding in your seasonings including brown sugar( remember you can always add more after its cooked for awhile).
    • Add crushed tomatoes, beans and beer combining all of the ingredients.
    • Reduce the heat to a simmer and allow to simmer for 1 – 2 hours, stirring so the chili won't stick to the bottom of the pan.
    • If the chili begins to get too thick you can add chicken stock or water to get it to the consistency you like.
    • Taste and re-season to your taste.

    Notes

    **Be careful in adding Cayenne if you decide to kick it up a notch as a little goes a long way.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 655kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1369mg | Potassium: 1379mg | Fiber: 17g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1097IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 10mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie

      March 09, 2020 at 7:15 am

      5 stars
      I have a big family gathering this weekend. This recipe fits perfectly on my menu. Chill looks delicious, and it’s so nutritious and filling. Perfect for feeding a crowd. Thanks!

      Reply
    2. Debbie

      March 09, 2020 at 1:57 am

      5 stars
      I made this Four Bean Beef and Beer Chili for my family last night and it was a winner. I loved that you used a little masa for a thickening agent. The seasonings were spot on and the bans combination really added some heartiness . Thanks for a fabulous recipe.

      Reply
    3. LaKita

      March 08, 2020 at 11:12 pm

      5 stars
      This four bean beef and bean chili sounds amazing! I love the addition of the different kinds of beans and of course beer!!

      Reply
    4. Rebecca Blackwell

      March 08, 2020 at 7:46 pm

      5 stars
      We had some friends over for dinner this weekend that I knew were chili lovers, so I tried this recipe and everyone gobbled it up! Including masa and beer is ingenious. Definitely going to make this again! Thank you!

      Reply
    5. Paige

      March 08, 2020 at 4:57 pm

      5 stars
      This one is everything you want in chili, and the fresh toppings send it over the top….so good.

      Reply
    6. Uma S

      March 08, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      Bean chili is an all-time favorite food during cold days… This will never fail even if you add more or omit any spices and ingredients.

      Reply
    7. Veena Azmanov

      March 06, 2020 at 1:35 pm

      5 stars
      Best combination and best recipe for a Happy Dinner too. Looks delicious and presentation yum.

      Reply
    8. Ben

      March 02, 2020 at 12:51 pm

      5 stars
      Aww yeah. I love chili, and I love beer. This seems like a match made in Heaven for me. Great recipe.

      Reply
    9. Rosemary

      March 01, 2020 at 11:57 pm

      This looks delicious. In the winter, chili is truly warming to the bones. I’ll probably replace beef with turkey or chicken and skip the beer. Great timely recipe!

      Reply
    10. Catalina

      March 01, 2020 at 3:09 am

      5 stars
      My family loves chili a lot and I am sure they will love this recipe! Definitely a must try one!

      Reply
    11. Swathi

      March 01, 2020 at 12:56 am

      5 stars
      Delicious Chili, I need to try it, cold is still linguring here. Good bowl of chili is perfect. I like the seasoning as well as the beer you used.

      Reply
    12. Melanie

      March 01, 2020 at 12:35 am

      I also like beans in my chili. I haven’t tried adding beer to the recipe though. This sounds like the perfect dish for the rainy days ahead of us next week.

      Reply
    13. Amy H

      February 29, 2020 at 10:44 pm

      Oh my gosh! This looks so good! We typically only use one type of beans in ours. I also make a large batch as well. That way we can have left overs and I can freeze some for another night.

      Reply
    14. Lizzie Lau

      February 29, 2020 at 9:44 pm

      This recipe looks delicious exactly as you’ve made it. I love that you make suggestions for alternate ingredients though. I always make a vegetarian batch as well.

      Reply
    15. Lynndee

      February 29, 2020 at 7:52 am

      We love preparing chili in the wintertime, but the recipe that we have don’t have beer in it. This must be good. Will try your recipe ASAP.

      Reply
    16. Ruth I

      February 29, 2020 at 7:26 am

      I love this recipe I would maybe give it a try. My husband loves to eat spicy foods. This really looks delicious.

      Reply
    17. Theresa

      February 28, 2020 at 10:02 pm

      5 stars
      I usually just put kidney and chili beans in my pot, but I definitely want to try your 4 bean recipe. It looks so comforting during these cold winter nights!

      Reply
    18. Sara LaFountain

      February 28, 2020 at 6:12 pm

      5 stars
      This chili was amazing! It snowed here last night so I needed a good chili for the family. This one was perfect and all the beans made it really healthy.

      Reply
    19. Kristine Nicole Alessandra

      February 28, 2020 at 5:15 pm

      5 stars
      I will have to try this recipe. However, my husband does not like beans, but maybe he’d change his mind if I tell him I cooked the chili with beer. Haha.

      Reply
    20. Amber Myers

      February 28, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      I love chili, so I’m excited to try this! It’s especially perfect in the winter when it’s cold out.

      Reply
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