• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • italian
    • How To
    • entertaining
  • about
  • Shop
    • Amazon Prime Day
  • Contact
  • Josie + Nina
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Josie + Nina

Josie + Nina

Cozy comfort food with a touch of Italian old school cool

  • white plate of cut open enchilada and a fork
    Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas

    Homemade chipotle chicken enchiladas made easy using a store-bought rotisserie chicken. A simple and spicy…

  • cut tortillas on a blue background with a pizza cutter
    Best Homemade Tortilla Chips

    Making homemade tortilla chips is easy and when they're this good, you'll want to do…

  • overhead of white bowl with carnitas, red peppers and onions, rice and guacamole
    Authentic Carnitas

    Summer's answer to comfort food, authentic carnitas are easy to prepare and easier to eat.…

  • two fish tacos on a parchment paper wooden plate with limes in the background
    Fish Taco Seasoning

    This easy Fish Taco Seasoning is a blend of two kinds of chili powders and…

  • guacamole ingredients in a molcajete with avocados, cilantro, limes and a blue napkin
    Authentic Guacamole

    Next time you're at the store and you have a bag of tortilla chips in…

Home » Recipe » Soups and Salad » Completely Steak Chili

Completely Steak Chili

October 31, 2019 By Lori Murphy

  • Facebook
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Bowl of Steak Chili with corn chips and cheese on top on a gray and white checked background
Bowl of Steak Chili with corn chips and cheese on top on a gray and white checked background

You have entered a bean-free chili zone. And that comes from a bean lover. There’s something about chili that’s ALL steak. Completely Steak Chili is loaded with steak (and mind-blowing flavor) that won’t break your bank, but will keep them full through the game. Adapted from The New Basics*.

white bow of steak chili on a gray and white checked runner with bowls of fritos, cheese and onions nearby

For many, making (and eating) chili is a highly personal thing. People have their family recipes, their top-secret recipes, their secret ingredients. Heck, there are over 125 chili cook-offs in the United States with more popping up all the time. Chili is a sport, my friend. Sweating while eating a bowl of chili counts as exercise, right?

All that being said, I too have a chili recipe that I have made and tweaked and made and tweaked. Countless times.

And any changes to my chili recipe have to be either

  1. subtle so as not to arouse suspicion or
  2. sanctioned by certain family members. (Trust me, once I dared to try a completely different chili recipe that had ancho chiles and chocolate in it and mutiny ensued. This girl doesn’t have to be told twice.)

As passionate as people are about chili, I find that it’s a dish that can also be very polarizing. Just one word divides chili people into 2 camps.

BEANS.

Chili without beans

Do me a favor. If you are a passionate “chili with beans devotee”, give this recipe a try first.

When you try it, make sure you top your bowl of chili with all the good stuff (see below for the best toppings) and take a bite. I think you’ll find that good steak chili can more than stand on its own because the meat is the star. And this chili recipe showcases the star in the best way.

Caveat: if you love beans in your chili (and I understand completely), then add a few! Nothing bad is going to happen. They’ll add a nice bit of bulk and can help stretch the recipe for a crowd. Just don’t tell my family.

two pieces of chuck roast on parchment paper and a board and gray backgroundThe best meat for steak chili – it might surprise you

Alright. Now that we got the bean discussion out of the way, let’s get to the beef. This recipe traditionally calls for a round bottom roast which I used for many, many years. The chili WAS good – some might even say great- but I knew it could be better. If you think about chili meat the way you do choosing meat for meatballs, then you won’t be surprised to learn that the same principles apply.

Chili meat needs marbly fat. Fat brings flavor.

And I think fat is cool with the keto and paleo crowd so this chili’s got that going for it.

Whew.

What about the cost? Steak is expensive, right? Here are some cuts of meat you might think of when you hear “steak”:

  • Filet – You don’t have to worry too much that I’m going to suggest filet because filet isn’t fatty enough. Next.
  • Ribeye/New York Strip – What about these cuts? While ribeye is great for so many things, you don’t need to get all spendy and use it in your chili. Ribeye is best cooked and eaten quickly and at high heat. All of those reasons make New York Strip overkill for chili too.
  • Top/Bottom Round Roast – while they have a good layer of fat on top, there isn’t enough running through these roasts to give that jolt of meatiness we crave. They work perfectly well though because they have an advantage over the cut of choice in that they’re very easy to cut. There isn’t a lot of fat to remove.

The best cut of meat for chili is…

CHUCK ROAST!

Why?

  1. Marbly fat – while you may have to do a little trimming up depending on where you purchase your roast, the chuck roast creates a load of flavor.
  2. Inexpensive – you can buy a lot at a reasonable price and serve chili to your friends and neighbors and family and passers-by.
  3. Texture – becomes super tender from low and slow cooking

chili seasoning ingredients in large red dutch oven on a gray and white checked runnerTime to make the chili

The first thing you’re going to do is

  • Trim and cut your meat with a sharp knife eliminating the big, obvious pieces of fat as you go. Set the meat aside on a cutting board until you need it.
  • Cut your meat lengthwise into 3 large pieces separating from the fat in between the sections. It should be fairly easy to distinguish these sections.
  • Next, cut each section into 2-3 sections and then crosswise into 1/2″ x 2″ long strips. This is an approximation as it’ll depend on your cut of meat and where the fat lies.

This chili recipe is a little backward in that you don’t brown your meat first.

You brown your onions in oil and then add the seasonings all together and toast them at the bottom of the pan. Ok..let’s talk seasonings. There’s one more thing to say about them:

seasonings and vegetables used in steak chili like chili powder, cumin and oregano, garlic and onionPut down the seasoning mix

No packets, no pouches, no can.

You are going to make chili with about four or five spices and herbs that you likely have already in your pantry. If you don’t, you’ll have them for the next time you make chili. Or tacos. You don’t need to buy anything labeled chili mix. We want to know what’s in our food and that goes for our seasonings as well.

browned steak in a red dutch oven on a gray and white checked runner with a napkin tied to the handleChili-making steps

  • You need a big pot.
  • After you have sauteed your onion and seasonings together, you going to start adding your beef in batches. You want the beef to sear so don’t be afraid to use some heat.
pot of chili in a red dutch oven with a wooden spoon resting on the pot and the lid nearby on a gray and white checked runner
  • Once all the beef is browned, add it all to the pot and to that add some tomato paste, pureed whole tomatoes, beef stock, and some sugar. Oh and some salt and pepper.
  • Bring up the heat a bit to make sure everything in the pot meets and gets to know everything else.
  • And then bring it back down to low and slow for about 3 hours. You’ll put the lid on when the chili starts to thicken up.

zoom shot of chili topped with fritos, cheese and green onions in a black bowl on a gray plateCrowd-pleasing chili toppings

While the chili is bubbling away, it’s time to assemble all your toppings. These are the toppings that have to be on the table when we have chili:

  • sharp cheddar cheese
  • Fritos or your favorite corn chip (my family lived in Texas and we adopted their tradition)
  • onions –  typically green but red or white work too!
  • sour cream (not pictured)

Some other toppings:

  • cornbread (either on the side or crumbled on top)
  • elbow macaroni for a little chili mac
  • hot sauce or sriracha
  • pickled jalapenos

After the chili has cooked up and you’ve eaten it on Game Day cheering on your home team, what are you going to do with the leftovers?

What to make with leftover steak chili

First of all, chili is one of the best leftovers you’ll find rummaging through your fridge. If you have enough for a whole other meal, then certainly put it in a freezer-safe Ziploc,  label it and freeze it for about 3 months. But if there’s only enough for a couple of servings, here are some ideas on how to use leftover chili:

  • Cheesy Chili Omelet:  make a cheese omelet and spoon chili over top for a hearty breakfast. Some of those pickled jalapenos would come in handy about now.
  • Steak Chili Nachos: cover a sheet pan with foil and place a hearty, single layer of tortilla chips on the pan. Spoon over some chili and top with your favorite shredded cheese, diced jalapenos or peppers, roasted corn. Serve with guacamole and sour cream.

white bowl of steak chili with bowls of green onions, white grated cheddar and fritos on a gray and white checked runnerWhy is chili better the next day

A couple of reasons. One has to do with the proteins breaking down further into amino acids as food sits in the fridge which is all sciency and good. Another reason has to do with umami. I’ll let you check that out here. Tomatoes are already loaded with umami (called “the fifth taste” along with salty, sweet, sour and bitter) and the next day more of that umami has developed further. Umami is the rich, satisfying flavor that some recipes just have hands down. Foods with umami produce that mouth watering sensation you sometimes experience when eating. Some other umami-rich foods include cheeses like Parmesan, mushrooms, red meat (like what’s in this steak chili), and soy sauce.

Tips

Making Chili for one:

Make a half batch and freeze it into smaller bag portions.

Make ahead tips:

  • Can be made 1-2 days ahead of serving.
  • Can be frozen for up to 3 months. Cool completely before refrigerating/freezing.

**Note: The New Basics is out of print, but copies can be found here. Full credit to the authors for inspiring this recipe!

These recipes are the perfect chili mates:

  • These Bacon and Scallion Buttermilk Biscuits from Kathryn make amazing chili partners
  • Kendell’s amazing Pumpkin Donuts would be an awesome treat on your Halloween night buffet
white bowl of steak chili with bowls of green onions, white grated cheddar and fritos on a gray and white checked runner
5 from 2 votes

Completely Steak Chili

Print Recipe
A hearty steak chili that is rich with savory spice. The perfect meal on a cold day, steak chili more than satisfies.
Prep Time:45 mins
Cook Time:2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time:3 hrs 15 mins
Servings 12

Ingredients
 

  • 4 TBSP peanut oil, divided; can use canola or olive oil as well
  • 6 lbs chuck roast, trimmed and diced into 1" pieces
  • 1-2 large chopped onions, about 1 1/2 cups
  • 4-6 TBSP chili powder, start with 4 and add more if needed
  • 4 TBSP cumin
  • 1 TBSP oregano
  • 1 -2 tsp crushed red pepper, I start with 1 depending on the crowd being served
  • 2 cans whole San Marzano tomatoes, 28 oz each. pureed in blender to desired consistency
  • 6 oz can of tomato paste
  • 1 qt. beef stock
  • 2 TBSP sugar
  • 1 TBSP salt
  • 2 tsp pepper

Toppings

  • corn chips
  • chopped green onions
  • sour cream
  • pickled jalapenos

Instructions

  • Puree tomatoes in a blender until almost smooth (for about 10 seconds).
  • In a large dutch oven, heat half the oil over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and saute until lightly browned about 4 minutes.
  • Add the spices and herbs (minus the salt and pepper) and saute the onions in the spice mixture for about 3 minutes toasting everything up all nice and good.
  • Move the onions and spices to one side of the pot. Add the remaining oil and brown the meat in batches until it gets a nice sear. Add more oil if you need it.
  • When the last batch of meat has been browned, add all the meat back into the pot along with the beef stock, both kinds of tomatoes, and the sugar. Stir until everything is mixed together and season with the salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a low simmer. Taste for seasoning. This is when I'll add a little more chili powder or salt and pepper if needed. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 2 1/2 hours until the meat is tender covering when the chili thickens after about 1 1/2 hours or so. Periodically check for seasoning.
  • Serve big large bowls with toppings and bread (see below).

Notes

  • Toppings: 
    • corn chips
    • shredded sharp cheddar cheese
    • chopped green onions
    • sour cream
    • pickled jalapenos
  • Serve with cornbread 
  • Make ahead tips:
    • Can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months.
    • Can be made 1-2 days before serving as well.
Course: Meat, Soup
Cuisine: Tex Mex
Author: Inspired by The New Basics from Sheila Lukins and Julee Rosso

 

Disclosure: Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and/or affiliate for other brands which means I earn some coffee money from qualifying purchases that in no way affects the price you pay

Filed Under: Comfort Food, Meat, Soups and Salad || Updated: October 4, 2020 15 Comments

Get your guide to a well-stocked pantry here!

Previous Post: « Peanut Butter Mousse
Next Post: Butternut Squash Crostata with Ricotta »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Kathryn says

    October 31, 2019 at 12:14 PM

    5 stars
    Oh my gosh! I can’t wait to try this chili, Lori. This looks phenomenal, and I love all the tips and tricks you’ve included in this post!

    Reply
    • Lori says

      October 31, 2019 at 2:21 PM

      Thanks Kathryn! So happy you want to try it and that you found the info useful!🤗Please let me know if you end up making it and what you think!

      Reply
  2. James Murphy says

    October 31, 2019 at 3:24 PM

    Today, would be a great for some chili. This is a Lori Murphy staple. Perfect for any snowy day. Even better for leftovers.

    Reply
    • Lori says

      November 2, 2019 at 7:35 AM

      ♥️ thanks JP! you’re always my biggest cheerleader xox

      Reply
  3. Marsha Engle says

    November 2, 2019 at 10:20 PM

    Here I am in Los Altos Hills, Ca. It is so very cold tonight! 45 degrees! So, I will make this dish so we can survive the harsh Bay Area winter. 🙂
    thanks for this recipe. I will make it and I will send you pictures!

    Reply
    • Lori says

      November 3, 2019 at 9:53 AM

      Yay – thanks Marsha! Hope you are well out there where it’s SO cold 😂 – enjoy nonetheless! And please do!

      Reply
      • Marsha Engle says

        November 13, 2019 at 9:22 PM

        I made it! It is fabulous!!! Got some very nice pictures, too!
        Will send to you.

        Reply
        • Lori says

          November 14, 2019 at 1:21 PM

          Yay! So happy you guys enjoyed it! Hope sunny Cali is treating you well – you’re missing nothing here but icy cold!

          Reply
  4. Marie says

    November 6, 2019 at 1:27 PM

    Hi Lori! Can’t wait to try this. Looks delish! What size cans for tomatoes/paste? 28/8? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lori says

      November 6, 2019 at 7:03 PM

      Hey Marie! The paste I use a whole 6 oz can and the tomatoes are a 28 oz one. I’ll adjust the post to reflect this! Thanks!

      Reply
  5. Emma says

    November 16, 2019 at 1:04 PM

    When simmering over the 2.5 hours, do you recommend covering the pot? I enjoy your recipes and the stories you share about your grandmothers.

    Reply
    • Lori says

      November 18, 2019 at 9:11 AM

      Thank you for the kind comment, Emma! Yes, you cover it once it thickens. I will make sure the recipe reflects that. Please let me know how you like the chili!😀

      Reply
  6. Jessica says

    May 8, 2020 at 3:54 PM

    What kind of sugar, Brown or regular sugar?
    We will be making this but we don’t need a lot I am only planning on buying 2lbs of meat.
    How do I adjust the amount of seasoning and beef broth?

    Reply
    • Lori says

      May 8, 2020 at 5:01 PM

      Hi Jessica! All great questions😊- use regular granulated sugar. And for the seasoning and beef broth -start with 2 Tablespoons each of chili powder and cumin and 1 teaspoon of oregano. For the crushed red pepper, start with 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon depending on how spicy you like things. I’d start with 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper. For the beef broth, use 1 3/4 cup of broth and 1/2 can of tomato paste. I adjust the seasonings after tasting. Please let me know how you all like it! And thanks for trying it!!

      Reply
  7. Caleigh Murphy says

    October 4, 2020 at 4:48 PM

    5 stars
    The best football Sunday meal! I start around noon and let it simmer till right about three pm or so- the best!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome! Josie + Nina was named in honor of my two Italian grandmothers who made putting food on the table look easy every day. Feeding a party of one or a house party, empty nesters or a full bus - my recipes come with some hand-holding and the direction to make them fit your needs.

So happy you're here! Read More

Never Miss a Recipe!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

popular recipes

stack of brownies on a white pedestal with a fork and plates nearby

Triple Chocolate Brownies

lemon cookies on a cake plate with two cups of coffee, plates and a striped towel and a lemon

Lemon Drop Cookies

close up of two burritos stacked on top of each other with pickled jalapenos on top all on a white plate and some cilantro

Crispy Beef Burritos

beef tenderloin sandwich with arugula and horseradish sauce on a gray slate board

Beef Tenderloin Sliders

in season

black bowl with zucchini noodles and a piece of roasted salmon on top with blackberries

Honey Sriracha Salmon Salad

a white bowl with ravioli and tomato sauce and a white fork

Easy Tomato Sauce with Butter and Onion

baking tray with stuffed portobello mushrooms with a bowl of pine nuts

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Wild Rice and Pancetta

white plate of cut open enchilada and a fork

Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas

Josie + Nina

Footer

Categories

Copyright © 2021 · Josie + Nina · Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy