Texas Red (No-Bean Chili)
Chunks of tender beef in a deep, chile-rich gravy — true Texas chili, with no beans in sight.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs beef chuck, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 2 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 chipotle in adobo, minced
- Salt, to taste
Method
- Brown the beef in the oil in batches; set aside.
- Sauté the onion until soft, add the garlic, then the chili powder, cumin, paprika, and oregano; cook 1 minute.
- Return the beef; add the broth, tomato sauce, and chipotle.
- Simmer on low, partly covered, 2–2.5 hours until the beef is fork-tender and the chili thickens.
- Season with salt; serve with diced onion, shredded cheese, and crackers.
Real Texas chili has no beans — it’s all about the beef and the chiles.