Lighter Beef Chili Recipes

MOM'S CLASSIC BEEF CHILI

Steps:

• Place a large frying pan over medium-high heat until hot, about 45 seconds. Add 1 tablespoon oil, then add peppers and onion; saute until soft, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large soup pot and set aside.
• Increase the heat under the frying pan to high and let the pan get very hot, about 90 seconds. Add 1 tablespoon oil, then add 1/2 of the ground beef; cook and stir in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, about 6 minutes. Transfer to the soup pot, and drain and discard grease from the frying pan. Repeat with remaining oil and beef.
• Add tomatoes, broth, chili powder, tomato paste, cumin, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper to the beef mixture; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes.
• Add kidney beans and black beans; simmer until beans are heated through, about 15 minutes.

HEALTHY BEEF CHILI

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add tomato paste, chili powder, and cocoa powder. Cook, stirring, until mixture is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add beef, and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes (with their juice) and beans. Bring to a boil over high; reduce to a simmer, and cook until chili is slightly thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with toppings, if desired.

EASY BEEF CHILI

Steps:

• Cook ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add bell pepper and onion. Cook and stir until the pepper and onion have softened, about 5 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
• Add corn, kidney beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, water, brown sugar, chili seasoning mix, and mustard to the pot. Cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes. Uncover, reduce heat to low, and cook until beans are tender, about 20 minutes more.

BEEF AND LENTIL CHILI

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook ground beef and onion, crumbling meat, over medium-high heat until beef is no longer pink, 6-8 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Add next 5 ingredients; bring to a boil. Add lentils and water. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until lentils are soft, about 1 hour, stirring often. Add water if mixture seems too dry.

LIGHTER CHINESE CHILLI BEEF

Steps:

• Put the meat in the freezer 25-30 mins before you plan to start cooking. This will firm it up a bit and make it easier to slice really thinly.
• Meanwhile, remove the core and seeds from the pepper and cut it into very thin strips. Slice the spring onions diagonally and slice the broccoli spears in half or quarters through the stems and florets. Thinly slice the pak choi. Mix together the orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce and chilli sauce. Set aside.
• Slice the beef into very thin strips. In a bowl, beat the egg white with a fork to make it slightly frothy, then stir in the beef with the five-spice powder, cornflour, flour and a good grinding of pepper so everything is evenly coated. Pour 1 tbsp of the oil into a non-stick wok or frying pan. When it's very hot (test if ready by dropping a small piece of beef in - it should immediately sizzle), put the beef in, stirring to separate, and stir-fry for 3-4 mins. remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Steam the broccoli spears for 11⁄2 mins, then sit the pak choi on top and steam for another 45 secs-1 min until both are tender-crisp. Remove and cool under running cold water so that they stop cooking and retain their colour. Set aside.
• Pour the remaining oil into the wok and heat it again until very hot. Throw in the garlic, ginger, red pepper and spring onions, and stir-fry for 2-3 mins until starting to brown. Add the chilli flakes, then pour in the soy sauce and orange juice mix with 4-5 tbsp water. As it comes to the boil, stir in the beef and steamed veg, and cook briefly just to heat through. If you want a little more sauciness, splash in another 1-2 tbsp water.

LIGHTER BEEF CHILI

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add tomato paste, chili powder, and cocoa powder. Cook, stirring, until mixture is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add beef, and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes (with their juice) and beans. Bring to a boil over high; reduce to a simmer, and cook until chili is slightly thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with toppings, if desired.

THREE BEAN AND BEEF CHILI (LIGHT)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in large pot or Dutch oven over moderate heat. Add the onion, bell pepper and carrots, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
• Add the cumin and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Add the ground beef; raise the heat to high and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink.
• Stir in the tomatoes, water, chipotle and adobo sauce, oregano and salt and pepper.
• Cook, partially covered, stirring from time to time, for 30 minutes. Stir in the beans and continue cooking, partially covered, 20 minutes longer.
• Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

LIGHTER BEEF TACOS

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion and bell peppers; cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water; cook until water has evaporated and vegetables are softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add beef. Cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Season taco filling with salt and pepper. To serve, spoon filling onto tortillas, top with salsa and lettuce, and fold to enclose.