This Cowboy Chili is vibrantly red and earthy with kidney beans, New Mexico Chile Powder and tomato paste. A perfect balance of Southwestern flavors. Hearty and robust, keeping ingredients simple and pure gives this hearty recipe its unique layers of flavor.
Whether making chili with dried beans or canned beans, everyone loves a hearty bowl of beef chili …. This Cowboy Chili is about as hearty as you can get, but if you’re looking for lighter versions, don’t miss this one for Chicken and White Bean Chili.
What Is Cowboy Chili?
Cowboy Chili is a hearty rustic style chili that differs from from a Texas style chili, or a Texas style Chili con Carne, This classic Mexican and Southwestern recipe features beans. Beans were used for additional protein. An easy and filling Chuck Wagon staple to keep those Cowboys fed on their cattle drives.
Why This Southwestern Version Works
- The ingredients are straight forward and simple. And more than likely you’ll have the spices you need already in your pantry.
- The recipe is simple to make. No fuss, and no special culinary skills needed.
- You control the heat level, adding as much New Mexico chile powder needed to suit your heat tolerance.
- This is one of those recipes that tastes even better the next day. You’re going to love having leftovers.
- This recipe can be made either stovetop or in a slow cooker. You’ll find instructions for both below.
- Making chili with dried beans is more nutritious and more flavorful than using canned beans.
Back when I first started my food blog in 2009, there were just a handful of food bloggers, compared to the thousands today. We were a tight knit group, becoming virtual and many times in-person friends.
One of my very early blogging acquaintances was experienced and creative Chef Christo who lived in New York City, but was born and raised in New Mexico. He suddenly passed away in 2015 and the last recipe that appeared on his site was his Cowboy Chili Recipe.
It’s hands down the best dry bean chili recipes that I’ve ever had. And with it’s Southwestern influence, simply stated, it’s absolutely crazy delicious.
It’s everything you’d expect from a New Mexico chili recipe and from a chef who was an expert on the cuisine.
Let’s take a look.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Lean Ground Beef – 93% lean and 7% fat works good here. You want enough fat to give flavor, but not enough to make the dish greasy.
- Kidney Beans – I highly recommend to make chili with dried beans. They’re healthier and more flavorful than canned beans. To keep the chili rustic and rich with color, I like to make chili with red beans.
- Onion – Sweet or Yellow Onion, chopped.
- Tomato Paste – Rich tomato paste may be my favorite pantry item of all times. It's concentrated and rich in flavor adding nuance and body to any recipe.
- Cumin – Another powerhouse must have spice for your Southwestern pantry, cumin has a slightly sweet warming flavor with a nutty element.
- Chile Powder – I’m lucky to live close enough to New Mexico that I have the luxury of having an arsenal of New Mexico chile powders in my pantry. My favorite is Chimayo Chile Powder. It’s beautiful vibrant orange-red color and earthy flavor is a special treat. A must have seasoning for Cowboy Chili.
- Garlic – Three cloves, minced.
Safety Tips For Kidney Beans
Red Kidney Beans and also Cannellini Beans (White Kidney Beans) can be toxic when cooked in the crock pot. They contain toxic levels of lectin which can cause stomach and gut illness. To eliminate this threat, you need to boil these beans for 30 minutes before adding them to a crock pot meal like this soup. Slow Cookers simply don't reach a high enough boiling temperature to remove these toxins. You can use canned kidney beans and add them towards the end of cooking. Canned kidney beans have already been prepared correctly.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Ground Beef – Substitute ground turkey or ground chicken in place of beef. If using either of these leaner meats, this will call for a splash of oil for browning. Neutral flavored canola oil is a good choice.
- Beans – Pinto beans are a good substitute for Kidney beans. However, you’ll lose that deep red appearance of the final dish. Black beans would also be a good choice. You can use canned kidney beans, but you’ll need to reduce the amount of liquid. See full instructions in the recipe card. Please stick with dry beans for chili, the end result will be superior.
- Chile Powder – Don’t have New Mexico Chile Powder? Substitute Ancho Chile Powder or even cayenne. You can also order New Mexico Red Chile Powder from sources such as Made in New Mexico. Resist using Chili Seasoning, as that’s a blend of many spices used in other chili recipes.
- Substitute one of the cups of beef broth with your favorite rich beer.
How To Make Cowboy Chili – It’s Easy
- Step 1: In a large fry pan, brown the ground beef, adding onions and garlic to season.
- Step 2: Add the cumin and chile powder and stir until everything is coated. If it’s not spicy enough add more red chile powder. Cook, stirring for about two minutes.
- Step 3: Add the tomato paste and water, stirring and simmering for about 15 minutes. You’ll have a consistency that will remind you of Sloppy Joes.
- Step 4: You’re ready to add this mixture to the cooked kidney beans along with two cups of water. Let this simmer for about 15 minutes to marry the flavors and serve.
Pro Tip: If you do find that your particular can of tomato paste has an extra acidy tone, add a splash of vinegar or a squeeze of honey. It will tame that sharp flavor.
Tip For Success
- 85/15%: Choose a ground beef mix labeled 85/15% (85% lean, 15% fat). An 80/20% mix will make the chili too greasy. Save it for making homemade hamburgers. A grade leaner, like 93/7% will be too lean and you’ll miss out on that beefy flavor. Save that blend when making Old Fashioned Meatloaf.
What Garnishes Go Well With Chili?
This chili recipe is so robust in flavor, we like to keep it simple with slices of fresh jalapeno peppers and some grated cheese. But here are some other ideas:
- Corn Chips. Serve with a bowl of corn chips. We like to crush them with our hands over the chili once it’s served.
- Sour Cream: A dollop of sour cream or Mexican crema work well here.
- Onions: Even though this chili contains cooked onions, some fresh raw chopped sweet onions make a great topping.
- Cilantro: Chopped cilantro is a popular topping for chili soups.
- Chopped Avocado
What To Serve With Cowboy Chili
A bowl of Cowboy chili wouldn’t be complete without a side of Cornbread. They simply go hand in hand.
- A cool crisp Fresh Accompaniment Salad would be a likely partner and a fresh contrast to the richness of this chili recipe.
- Chips and this homemade Restaurant Style Salsa would be a good appetizer idea to start the meal. As would Molcajete Guacamole.
- Don’t foget about dessert. How about this unique version of brownies, Mexican Orange Chile Brownies. A very popular choice around here and an easy recipe.
Cowboy Chili FAQ’s
I like to use my crockpot. However, if you do this, you need to boil them 30 minutes stovetop before using the crockpot. Then place the beans in the base of your crockpot with enough beef broth to cover the beans by a couple of inches, about 3 cups. Add a dollop of lard or bacon grease and the beans will be even creamier. Cook on low for five to six hours, or until beans are tender. The age of the bean will determine cooking time. The fresher the beans, the quicker they cook. Once they’re tender, don’t drain and add the ground beef mixture that you’ve made. Cook on low for two more hours. If you’ve never tried it, chili with dry beans is the way to go.
That’s how I make it. Using the method above cook the kidney beans, once the beans are tender, add the cooked ground beef mixture (Steps 1 – 3 above) directly to the crockpot, without draining the beef broth from the beans. Add 2 cups of water and cook on low for two hours.
How To Thicken Chili Without Overcooking It
Pro Tip, How To Make Chili Thicker: If you feel like there’s a tad too much liquid once the chili has cooked, the best way to thicken chili is to add masa harina or corn meal. The flavor profiles of these two ingredients compliment the chili flavor. Just add a couple of tablespoons and stir very well. Simmer for about five more minutes. You can also add fine crushed corn chips. They’ll absorb some liquid. Alternatively, you can use a potato masher to smash some of the beans. Some recipes may advise to add flour or cornstarch by making a slurry with water. These two ingredients can compromise that famous chili flavor. Save those thickeners for beef or chicken gravy.
Make Ahead
As with any type of soup, stew or chili, it always tastes better the next day. This is a great recipe to make in advance, heat and serve the next day. Great for entertaining a hungry game-day crowd. Which also makes it ideal to travel for a pot-luck gathering. Just make ahead, store in the refrigerator, then heat stovetop in your big soup pot. Feeding a crowd: This is an easy recipe to double.
Storage and Reheating
- Cowboy Chili will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 – 5 days sealed in an airtight container.
- You can also freeze this chili and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. I like to use zip-loc style freezer bags. Just fill the bag to about 2 inches to the top, squeeze the air out of it and then lay it flat in the freezer. This saves storage room rather than storing it in a square container. Be sure to use a sharpie and label the bag with contents and date.
- To reheat, thaw the chili in the refrigerator overnight. Re-heat leftovers stovetop in a small saucepan, or in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl.
This Cowboy Chili Recipe is one of the easiest and tastiest chili recipes around. Easy to prepare and rich with Southwestern flavor, you must give it a try.
It’s perfect for game day, or comfort food on a cold night. And chili with kidney beans results in such a rich looking and tasting soup.
And if you love homemade Southwestern Mexican flavors as much as we do, don’t miss my Soup Category. You’ll find lots of recipe ideas, including the most popular on my site for Hatch Green Chili with Pork.
Explore More Southwestern Chili Recipes
You can’t live in our part of the country without having a stellar lineup of chili recipes. Each with a different flavor profile, and each for a different occasion. Check out hearty these chili recipes.
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
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New Mexico Style Cowboy Chili
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried kidney beans Cooked
- 3 cups Beef broth or water
- 2 Tablespoons lard or bacon grease
- 1 Pound lean ground beef 85% lean – 15% fat ratio recommended
- 1 large sweet onion chopped. About 1 – 1 ½ cups
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 Tablespoons cumin powder
- 2 Tablespoons Chile Powder Preferrably New Mexico Chile Powder, And Chimayo Chile Powder even more preferred. Add more if your heat tolerance will allow.
- 6 ounces tomato paste Good quality. Either Cento or Muir Glen.
- 2 cups water
- salt and pepper to taste
- Garnishes listed below
Instructions
- Soak dried beans overnight in water. Use enough water to cover the beans by an inch or two. The next morning, drain the beans and cover them with beef broth. If using your crockpot, boil them stove top 30 minutes before placing them in the crockpot. You can also make this in a Dutch Oven Stovetop. Add the lard or bacon grease to the beans and simmer covered until tender. Depending on the age of the beans, this could take a 2-3 hours in a Dutch oven, or 5 hours in a crockpot on low.
- Once the beans are tender, start making the chili. Brown the meat in a large skillet. When meat is about half browned, add the onion and cook, stirring often until onion is starting to become soft. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. About 1 minute.
- Add the cumin and chile powder to the ground beef and stir till everything is coated. If it's not spicy enough add more red chile powder. The original recipe calls for 4 tablespoons. I used 2 tablespoons. It all depends on the heat of the chile powder and your heat tolerance level.
- Cook, stirring for about 2 minutes. When all of this is a nice deep red color, then add the tomato paste and water.
- Simmer gently for 15 minutes. You'll have a mixture that reminds you of Sloppy Joes. Add this mixture to the cooked beans (don't drain beef broth from the beans). Simmer for 15 minutes in a Dutch oven. If you're using your crockpot, add the beef mixture and the two cups water to the cooked beans and cook on low for 2 hours.
- Serve with garnish and cornbread. Garnishes can include chopped avocado, sliced jalapeno peppers, sour cream, grated cheddar cheese and cilantro.
Notes
Nutrition
Cowboy Chili …. It’s What’s For Dinner
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
This is the best chili recipe I have found. Little confusing on where to add water though. Add it to the beef mixture or to the whole thing after you have mixed with the beans and broth. Either way it’s great.
Decent, needs more badabing
This is the best chili I have ever had or made.
Love it. I have made it several times over the
winter. Great with cornbread!
THANK YOU!
So glad you liked the recipe, and thanks for taking the time to write such a glowing review.
Make it a delicious day.
This is just about THE best chili recipe I’ve ever had. Rich and robust is a great way to describe.
gotta give this recipe a try.
This sounds fantastic! I’ll bet, hands down, this is the best Chili recipe, just by the ingredients! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks Laura and thanks for taking the time to comment. Please come back and give the recipe a star rating once you’ve tried it and leave a comment! Love hearing from my readers and value your opinion.
LOVE chili and this looks terrific! Really. Good. Stuff. 🙂 Haven’t tried Chimayo Chile Powder — need to. Anyway, neat recipe. Thanks. And Happy New Year!
When you say it’s crazy delicious then I know it must be tried. I’ve often said I like my soup so hearty that it can almost be eaten with a fork and judging from the pics, I believe this recipe accomplishes that. While it’s been in the 60’s/70’s here, I have to believe we will have some chili weather this winter at some point.