Big pot. Low effort. High reward. The kind that feeds everybody, smells amazing, and makes the whole house feel like it’s about to be a good night.
It’s Super Bowl week, it’s been unusually cold here in Florida (which feels rude, honestly), and life has been moving fast. People are hungry…yes…but not just for food. They’re hungry for something warm, familiar, and filling. Something that says, you’re home, you’re safe, and supper’s handled.
I go straight to the chili pot.
No beans! Because you can take the girl out of Texas…but you absolutely cannot take the Texas out of the girl.
This is the chili I make when I need the house to feel relaxed. When I need something simmering on the stove while I juggle the rest of the day. When dinner needs to feel like comfort instead of another decision.
It’s simple. It’s forgiving. And it smells like care.
I don’t measure much anymore when I make it. I’ve made it enough times to know when it’s right. This pot has been on the stove during cold nights, busy weeks, and game days when the fam wanders in and out of the kitchen “just to check on it.”
And every single time, it does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
It brings us together.
Someone always asks if the cornbread is ready. Someone always sneaks a spoonful before it’s technically done. And somehow, the mood shifts just a little. The house settles. The evening feels easier.
That’s why this recipe belongs in a chapter of my future cookbook. Not because it’s fancy or impressive, but because it shows up. It feeds people. It holds the evening together.
Texas Chili Rules
(Worth repeating)
Beef only.
No beans.
Cornbread is required.
If you call it “white chili,” we’re still friends…but this pot is not for you. 🤠🌶️
Let me say this kindly.
This is beef chili.
Not turkey chili.
Not vegetarian chili.
Not white chili.
Those are fine foods. I wish them well. They just don’t live here.
I’m a Texas girl through and through, and when I’m cooking comfort food for my people…the kind of food you make when everyone needs grounding…beef is the only option.
If I’m cooking for strangers or trying to be polite, I can adapt. I have manners. I’m Southern.
But when it’s my house? When everyone needs comfort? We’re browning beef and calling it a day.
🌶️ Texas-Style Comfort Chili (No Beans)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef chuck, cubed (or ground beef)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½–1 tsp cayenne (to taste)
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1–1½ cups beef broth
Instructions
- Brown the beef in a large pot over medium heat. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add onion and cook until soft. Stir in garlic and cook just until fragrant.
- Sprinkle in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Stir well and let the spices bloom for a minute.
- Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and beef broth. Stir to combine.
- Lower heat and let simmer uncovered for at least 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Longer is better.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot.
🌶️ Make It Yours (But Still Texas)
This chili is forgiving and flexible as long as we agree on the beef part.
Add-ins I use depending on the mood:
- A splash of strong brewed coffee or Worcestershire for depth
- A pinch of cocoa powder for richness (don’t argue, just trust)
- Jalapeño or serrano sautéed with the onion for heat
- Chipotle powder or adobo for smoky flavor
- A tiny pinch of brown sugar if the tomatoes are feeling bossy
Texture tweaks:
- Simmer longer for thicker chili
- Add more broth if you want it soupier
- Stir in a spoonful of masa harina for real-deal Texas vibes
And yes, it’s better the next day.
🧡 Serve It Like You Mean It
- Cornbread (non-negotiable)
- Honey butter if you’re feeling generous
- Shredded cheddar, sour cream, diced onions
- Football on in the background is optional, chili is not
This chili doesn’t solve everything.
But it warms hands, fills bowls, and makes the house feels like home and sometimes that’s exactly what everyone needs.
💛Natalie🤠
Honey without Flowers 