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This fast bean-free chili recipe is a simple and filling meal on a cool day. It can be made as spicy (or not) as you like and even kids will gobble it up.
We generally avoid lectins, so I make my chili without beans. Give it a try, and let me know how you like it!
Fast and Tasty Bean-Free Chili
We all have our favorite versions, but chili usually consists of a simple stew of ground meat, diced tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and chili spices. My recipe has a little heat, but if you like your chili a bit spicier, feel free to add additional chili powder or some cayenne pepper.
This is a fast recipe that’s ready in about half an hour. If you have a little more time, simmering the chili longer will really deepen the flavors. It also reheats really well, and in fact tastes even better the next day. Chili is also a meal that freezes perfectly. This recipe makes about 6 cups of chili, so try batch cooking and freezing some.
If you want to work in a larger serving of veggies (and have fewer dishes!) I love the idea of serving the chili in a baked acorn squash bowl.
Sneaky Nutrition Tip
Another trick that I always try is pureeing raw liver in the blender and adding it to this recipe to sneak in the nutrients of liver without my husband or kids knowing (don’t tell them!). We buy grass-fed liver here.
Other Variations
- Make a Cincinnati-style chili by adding a tablespoon of cinnamon and an ounce of dark chocolate plus a few teaspoons of honey instead of the chili powder and cumin.
- For a hands-off approach, try my even easier 5-ingredient chili recipe for the slow cooker.
A Note on Chili Seasoning
To make things easy, I pre-make many of my most frequently used seasonings. I store them in jars in my cupboard and they’re always ready for easy use when I’m making dinner on a busy night.
Some of my favorite blends are my taco seasoning and chili seasoning. If you’re using homemade chili seasoning, use about 2-3 tablespoons for this recipe instead of the spices listed below.
Here is a list of my most frequently used spice blends.
Bean-Free Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground turkey (or beef)
- 2 medium onions
- 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 (18 oz) jars diced tomatoes
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1½ TBSP chili powder
- 1½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a large pot, brown the meat.
- While the meat is cooking dice the onions and bell pepper and mince the garlic.
- When the meat is nearly cooked, add the onion and bell pepper and saute 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and all the spices.
- Simmer 15-20 minutes until well warmed.
- Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese, and chopped green onion if desired.
Notes
- If you like your chili a little thinner or if it's a little too tomatoey for you, try adding about 1 cup of beef stock.
- If you like your chili a little spicier, try adding a little cayenne pepper.
Nutrition
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What is your favorite way to make chili? Ever put cinnamon and chocolate in yours?
I have been adding cubed butternut squash to my chili. Much better than beans!
I love your website and all your information. However, I have to make an objection to the claim this is keto friendly. While is sure sounds delicious, there are way too many carbs in a serving for a truly keto diet.
This doesn’t seem to be keto friendly. Am I missing something?
This looks so good! Katie, I have also been looking forever for a nightshade free chili recipe. Have you seen any, have any suggestions or is chili even possible without tomatoes? I would love to cut them out for a season to see if I’m reacting to them, plus my husband has kidney disease and shouldn’t be eating tomatoes.
You list spices but not measurements. If I make your homemade chili powder, how much do I add to the 2lbs meat? If I don’t use your homemade chili powder recipe, how much per seasoning for regular chili (not Cincinnati)?
Thanks! I hope my family will like this so we can get off of the chili seasoning packets from the grocery store.
I season to taste, so there’s not actual measurements 🙂
Perfect! I made it with 1 lb venison and 1 lb bison and added 5 slices of cooked bacon. Thank you so much! (For this recipe and all you do for us, Katie!)
Great recipe, thank you!!!
Can you please specify which spices you use and how much? Thanks
Krystal, we love 2tbsp chili powder, 1tbsp cumin, 1tbsp cinnamon, 2tsp honey, 1oz dark chocolate, 1tsp salt and 1tsp pepper. 🙂
I have read that tomatoes in a can are unhealthy as the can causes a
release of BPH and they become toxic…I try to avoid canned
tomatoes…is this claim true? Are canned tomatoes safe? I am curious to
what you have heard/read…
I have read that tomatoes in a can are unhealthy as the can causes a release of BPH and they become toxic…I try to avoid canned tomatoes…is this claim true? Are canned tomatoes safe? I am curious to what you have heard/read…
I’ve heard conflicting things on them. We often order tomato products in a jar for that reason though.
Can I ask where you order it from? I have looked for jarred tomatoes and can’t find them…even organic tomato sauce, etc. is in cans:-(
Tropical traditions has strained tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste in jars https://wellnessmama.com/go/tropical-traditions/ ) or I’ve gotten this kind: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0005ZVOR8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0005ZVOR8 Supposedly, Trader Joes also has some in boxes that are safe, but we don’t have one so I can’t check.
Why not use a pasta sauce that contains tomatoes or skin the tomatoes by boiling them.
Delicious! It turns out great in the crock pot too. 🙂