Easy Beef Chili with Cacao and Cinnamon (Nutritionist-approved)

My easy beef chili is anything but ordinary. As a Nutritionist, I love taking classic comfort food recipes and giving them a nourishing twist. This beef chili recipe is infused with cacao and cinnamon, giving it a unique, cozy flavour and nutrition boost. It’s the perfect one pot meal for busy weeknights or slow Sundays when you want to serve the family something wholesome and grounding.

Key ingredients in this chili recipe

Lean ground beef: Lean ground beef is one of the proteins in this chili recipe, along with the beans. Cook it in olive or avocado oil, as opposed to canola oil, for the healthiest chili recipe

Mixed beans: Beans are packed with fibre and protein that benefits heart health, gut health, and satiety. If you find that beans are difficult to digest, rinsing them well and cooking your chili for longer helps to break down the enzymes that can sometimes contribute to gas

As for the types of beans to use, either add individual canned beans, like kidney beans, chickpeas, black beans, and white beans, or add a can of mixed beans and add additional beans as you like. I usually start with a can of mixed beans, and add an extra small can of kidney or black beans to bulk up my chili

Tomatoes: I used one large can of whole, peeled tomatoes in sauce, but a few freshly chopped tomatoes are also perfect in this chili, providing iron, vitamin C, and lycopene. If you want a thicker, more saucy chili, add 1 cup of pureed tomatoes. If you prefer a chili without a tomato base, try my Turkey Chili without Tomatoes

Veggies: Many veggies work in this chili, so feel free to make it your own. I used zucchini, mushrooms, onion, garlic, carrots, and corn. Some other popular vegetables to use in chili are sweet potato, celery, parsnips, broccoli, and cauliflower. All and any vegetable is a good choice, high in fibre, vitamins and minerals

Spices: Chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, paprika, oregano, sea salt, cacao powder (real cacao, not hot chocolate powder) and a dash of cinnamon give this chili its deep, warm flavour, a gentle heat, and extra nutrients to support blood circulation and immune system. If you don’t use fresh garlic in this recipe, then add 1/2-1 tsp of the powdered version in the spice blend

How to make this easy beef chili

1. Heat olive or avocado oil in a deep dutch oven, or soup pot on low-medium heat
2. Break up a pound of lean ground beef as it cooks in the pot and starts to brown
3. Add in diced onion and chopped garlic and cook until onion becomes translucent
4. Add in chopped carrots and all other vegetables, along with a can of whole, peeled tomatoes. Break them up with a spoon as they start to cook. Put a lid on the pot and reduce the heat to low to let the veggies steam and soften for 5 minutes
5. Stir in the spices, beans (drained and rinsed well), corn and chicken broth. Keep the lid on the pot while the chili cooks on a low simmer for at least an hour, stirring occasionally. If it starts to become too thick, add 1/2 cup of water or broth as needed
6. Spoon chili into bowls and garnish with toppings of choice (sour cream, avocado slices, chives, jalapeno peppers, tortilla chips, and/or grated cheese). Note that the nutrition info will change as you add toppings

What to serve with chili

Sour cream: Will add more saturated fat to your chili, but nicely offsets the spice and adds a creamy texture when stirred in to the chili

Grated cheese: Melts nicely on top of chili, if you like a cheesy bite!

Avocado: Either use sliced avocado or make a quick guacamole to garnish chili with. It also adds an extra health factor, providing more healthy fats to the recipe

Tortilla chips: If you like a bit of crunch, add a few tortilla chips to scoop the chili up with, or crumble them on the top when serving

Fresh herbs: Try garnishing your chili with fresh cilantro and chopped chives, and add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for extra heat

Lime wedges: A little citrus livens up an dish, especially a chili!

Jalapeno peppers: For those who like more heat, serve sliced jalapeno peppers on or on the side of chili. For less heat, remove the seeds

On a bun: Transform your chili into a Sloppy Joe-style sandwich!