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The Pioneer Woman Chili Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 107 reviews

The Pioneer Woman Chili is a hearty and flavorful chili featuring ground beef, beans, and a blend of classic spices, thickened with masa harina for a unique texture. Perfect for a cozy meal, this recipe offers versatile cooking methods including stovetop, crock pot, and Instant Pot preparation, making it easy for any kitchen setup. Garnish with shredded cheddar, lime wedges, sour cream, tortilla chips, or diced green onions to customize your bowl.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. ground beef (80% lean)
  • 2 cloves garlic (diced)
  • 8 oz. tomato sauce
  • 15 oz. kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 15 oz. pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 cup masa harina (white or yellow)

Additional Ingredients for Instant Pot Version

  • 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with juice

Garnishes (Optional)

  • Shredded Cheddar
  • Lime wedges
  • Sour cream
  • Tortilla chips or Fritos
  • Diced green onions

Instructions

  1. Brown the Beef: In a large pot over medium heat, cook and crumble 2 pounds of 80% lean ground beef until fully browned. This step can be done on the stovetop, in a stove-top-safe crock pot, or using the sauté mode on an Instant Pot.
  2. Drain Grease: Remove excess grease from the pot to avoid a greasy chili base, ensuring the flavors shine through.
  3. Add Garlic and Tomato Sauce: Stir in 2 diced garlic cloves and 8 ounces of tomato sauce. Cook for about 1 minute to combine the flavors.
  4. Add Spices: Incorporate 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Stir well to evenly distribute the seasoning.
  5. Simmer or Transfer: For stovetop, reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If using a crock pot, transfer mixture now to the crock pot and proceed to the next step. For Instant Pot, continue to the next step immediately.
  6. Prepare Masa Mixture: In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup masa harina with 1/2 cup water, stirring until smooth. This will thicken the chili and add a unique flavor.
  7. Add Masa and Beans: Stir the masa mixture into the chili. Then add the drained and rinsed kidney beans and pinto beans (15 oz. each). For Instant Pot, also add 14.5 oz. canned diced tomatoes with juice.
  8. Cook Based on Method Selected:
    • Stovetop: Simmer the chili with beans and masa for 10 minutes, adding more masa or water as needed to reach desired thickness.
    • Crock Pot: Heat on low for 4 hours or all day, stirring occasionally. Adjust consistency with additional masa or water as desired.
    • Instant Pot: Close lid, seal pressure valve, and set to Chili/Beans mode for 20 minutes. After cooking, perform a quick or natural pressure release. Adjust consistency with additional masa or water if needed.
  9. Serve and Garnish: Ladle the chili into bowls and top with shredded cheddar, lime wedges, sour cream, tortilla chips or Fritos, and diced green onions as preferred. Enjoy with cornbread for a complete meal!

Notes

  • If the chili becomes too thick or dry during cooking, gradually add water until your desired consistency is reached.
  • The masa harina acts as a thickener and adds a subtle corn flavor, but you can adjust the amount based on texture preference.
  • Different cooking methods can be used interchangeably based on your equipment; stovetop gives classic cooking control, crock pot offers set-it-and-forget-it convenience, and Instant Pot significantly reduces cooking time.
  • For a spicier chili, increase the cayenne pepper or add diced jalapeños along with the garlic.
  • Leftover chili can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Keywords: chili, ground beef chili, Pioneer Woman chili, hearty chili, masa harina chili, easy chili recipe, stovetop chili, crock pot chili, Instant Pot chili

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/the-pioneer-woman-chili-recipe/