Braised Beef Chilli Recipe

Slow-Cooked Braised Beef Chilli: The Ultimate Comfort Food – Have you ever had one of those days when only a rich, hearty bowl of something spectacular will do? Me too! That’s why I’m absolutely obsessed with this Braised Beef Chilli recipe.

Braised Beef Chilli

Lumina Liu

Tender braised beef slowly cooked with chorizo, aromatic spices and borlotti beans for a rich and flavorful Mexican-inspired chili. Perfect for cold weather gatherings and family dinners.

4.9 from 287 votes

Prep Time 20 Minutes

Cook Time 3 Hours

Total Time 3 Hours 20 Minutes

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6 servings

Calories 520 calories kcal

Ingredients

 

• 1kg beef
• 3 onions
• 4 cloves garlic
• Olive oil
• 300g chorizo
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp cloves
• 1 large cinnamon stick
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 ancho chillies
• 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 x 400g plum tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 2 x 400g tins borlotti beans

Instructions

 

1. Preheat the oven to 120C/225F/gas mark 1. Take the meat out of the fridge to de-chill.
2. Pulse the onions and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped.
3. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large casserole and sear the meat on all sides until golden. Set to one side.
4. Add another small slug of oil to brown the chorizo. Remove from the pot.
5. Add the onion and garlic, spices, herbs and chillies then cook until soft in the chorizo oil. Season with salt and pepper and add the vinegar, tomatoes, ketchup and sugar.
6. Put all the meat back into the pot with 400ml water (or red wine if you prefer), bring up to a simmer and cook, covered, in the low oven.
7. After 2 hours, check the meat and add the beans. Cook for a further hour.
8. Just before serving, pull the meat apart with a pair of forks.

Nutrition

Calories: 520.00 caloriesFat: 28.00 gCarbohydrates: 24.00 gCholesterol: 110.00 mgFiber: 6.00 gProtein: 42.00 gSaturated Fat: 9.00 g

Keyword braised beef chilli, beef chili, Mexican beef stew, slow cooked beef, chorizo chili, spicy beef recipe

It’s not your quick weeknight dinner — this is the weekend special, the “invite your friends over and blow their minds” kind of meal.

Trust me, the aroma alone will have your neighbors wondering what magical things are happening in your kitchen!

Why This Braised Beef Chilli Will Change Your Life

Let’s get real for a second. There are a million chilli recipes out there. So what makes this one worth your precious weekend cooking time?

The secret is in the braise! Unlike those rushed versions made with ground beef, this recipe uses a whole kilogram of chunky beef that slowly transforms into the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth morsels you’ve ever tasted. And the flavor? It’s seriously next level.

The combination of chorizo (hello, built-in flavor bomb!), ancho chillies, and a perfect blend of spices creates something that’s hearty, complex, and darn close to life-changing. Yeah, I said it!

The Magic Behind Braised Beef Chilli

The beauty of this recipe lies in its patience. Good things come to those who wait — and this chilli is definitely worth waiting for!

Braising is essentially a cooking method where meat is seared at a high temperature and then finished in a covered pot with liquid at a low temperature. It’s the perfect technique for transforming tougher cuts of beef into something extraordinarily tender.

In this Braised Beef Chilli recipe, we’re taking advantage of the low-and-slow cooking approach to develop flavors that simply can’t be rushed.

The chorizo releases its oils, the spices bloom, the beef becomes tender, and everything melds together in a symphony of deliciousness.

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Braised Beef Chilli Recipe

Before we dive into cooking, let’s gather our ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create this showstopper:

For the meat base:

• 1kg beef (chuck roast works beautifully!)
• 300g chorizo
• 3 onions
• 4 cloves garlic
• Olive oil for cooking

For the flavor powerhouse:

• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp cloves
• 1 large cinnamon stick
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 ancho chillies

For the sauce:

• 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 x 400g plum tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato ketchup (yes, really!)
• 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 2 x 400g tins borlotti beans

How Do You Make The Best Braised Beef Chilli?

Here’s the step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prep & Sear the Beef

First things first — preheat your oven to 120C/225F/gas mark 1. This low temperature is crucial for the magic that’s about to happen!

Take your beef out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking. Why? Cold meat doesn’t sear well, and we want that beautiful golden crust. While your meat is de-chilling, pulse those onions and garlic in a food processor until they’re finely chopped.

Now for the fun part! Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large casserole dish and sear that beef on all sides until it’s gloriously golden brown. Don’t rush this step — good searing equals good flavor.

Step 2: Build Your Flavor Base

Remove the beef and set it aside. Add a small splash of oil to the same pot and brown that chorizo. The fat from the chorizo will release, creating an incredible flavor base for the rest of your ingredients.

Once the chorizo is browned, take it out and add your processed onion and garlic mixture. Toss in all those wonderful spices — cumin, allspice, cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, oregano, and those glorious ancho chillies.

Cook until everything is soft and fragrant in that beautiful chorizo-infused oil.

Can you smell that? That’s the smell of your kitchen becoming the most popular place in the neighborhood!

Step 3: Create The Sauce & Slow Cook

Now it’s time to season with salt and pepper and add the vinegar, tomatoes, ketchup, and sugar. These ingredients might seem like an unlikely combination, but they create the perfect balance of acidity, sweetness, and richness.

Put all the meat back into the pot along with 400ml of water (or red wine if you’re feeling fancy — and honestly, when am I not?). Bring everything up to a simmer, cover it, and pop it into your preheated oven.

After 2 hours of cooking, check on your chilli and add those borlotti beans. Cook for another hour, and just before serving, use two forks to pull the meat apart. This step transforms the texture and allows the beef to soak up even more of that incredible sauce.

Tips For Braised Beef Chilli Success!

Want to make sure your Braised Beef Chilli is absolutely perfect? Here are some pro tips:

1. Choose the right beef cut — Chuck roast, brisket, or short ribs all work beautifully for this recipe because they have enough fat and connective tissue to break down during slow cooking.
2. Don’t skip the sear — That initial high-heat sear on the beef creates the Maillard reaction, which is fancy food science talk for “makes things taste amazing.”
3. Toast your spices — When adding your spices to the onion mixture, let them cook for a minute or two until they become fragrant. This wakes up their oils and intensifies their flavor.
4. Be patient — I know it’s tempting to rush and crank up the heat, but low and slow is the name of the game here. You absolutely cannot rush greatness!
5. Make it ahead — Like most stews and chilies, this recipe actually tastes BETTER the next day after the flavors have had time to meld. Talk about meal-prep magic!

Serving Suggestions — Make It a Fiesta!

This Braised Beef Chilli is fantastic on its own, but why stop there? Here are some of my favorite ways to serve it:

• Over cilantro-lime rice
• With fresh cornbread (the slightly sweet cornbread with the spicy chilli? Heaven!)
• Topped with avocado, sour cream, shredded cheese, and cilantro
• Stuffed into baked potatoes for a hearty meal
• In warm tortillas as a taco filling

The versatility of this chilli is what makes it a staple in my kitchen. Make a big batch on Sunday, and you’ve got multiple meal options for the week!

Can I Make Substitutions?

Absolutely! This Braised Beef Chilli recipe is wonderfully adaptable:

• Can’t find ancho chillies? Substitute with 1-2 tablespoons of chipotle in adobo or 2-3 teaspoons of smoked paprika.
• No borlotti beans? Kidney beans or pinto beans work perfectly.
• Watching your meat intake? Reduce the beef and add extra beans, or replace some of the beef with hearty mushrooms.
• Need it gluten-free? Good news — it already is!

Why This Braised Beef Chilli Recipe Stands Out

What makes this particular Braised Beef Chilli recipe so special is the combination of techniques. We’re not just throwing everything into a pot and hoping for the best. We’re building layers of flavor through searing, using chorizo oil, balancing spices, and allowing time to work its magic.

The addition of ingredients like balsamic vinegar, tomato ketchup, and dark brown sugar might raise some eyebrows, but trust me — they create a depth of flavor that will make your taste buds dance!

And can we talk about those borlotti beans? They add a creamy texture and absorb all those incredible flavors while providing heartiness and substance.

Ready to Impress With Your Braised Beef Chilli?

This recipe might take a bit more time than your average weeknight meal, but isn’t that what weekends are for? Put on some music, pour yourself a glass of whatever makes you happy, and enjoy the process. The reward at the end is so worth it!

Remember, cooking is about joy and feeding the people you love. This Braised Beef Chilli recipe is guaranteed to bring both to your table.

So, are you ready to create the most amazing chilli of your life? I thought so! Tag me in your creations — I absolutely love seeing your versions of this recipe!