Every year when football season rolls around and the weather begins to cool, my husband requests I make this hearty, beanless chili. It receives rave reviews from everyone.
I know some people are hesitant to try recipes that have only been rated by a couple folks, but this one you must try! The combinations of the pepper/hot and the brown sugar, along with the bitterness from the vinegar and beer...there are so many hearty flavors that truly make this delicious. I didn't change a thing! Thank you!
Read MoreThis was easy to make, but I think I would omit the vinegar since the beer gives it enough balance against the brown sugar and spices. I would also add 2 cans of kidney beans, 1 dark/1 red. My family did like this even though the vinegar and beer gave it a definite aftertaste.
Read MoreI know some people are hesitant to try recipes that have only been rated by a couple folks, but this one you must try! The combinations of the pepper/hot and the brown sugar, along with the bitterness from the vinegar and beer...there are so many hearty flavors that truly make this delicious. I didn't change a thing! Thank you!
I have made this chili numerous times. Each time I have omitted the vinegar. I made it with a wheat beer, a light rice beer, and without beer. It is best with light rice beer or no beer. This chili is delicious and everyone who has tried it loves it. It's hard to find a chili recipe without beans. This one is fantastic!!!
I received a really good chili spice kit for Christmas...My partner doesn't like the beans, but loves chili...Made this recipe a couple days ago...This stuff is REALLY good!!!!! It is GONE, it has fantastic bite/flavor...Can't wait to make it again..I used coarse ground meat from the butcher...
Outstanding beanless chili! I ALSO USED GINGER ALE INSTEAD OF BEER!! :-) Made this as is but w/1.25 lb ground turkey, so I cut cooking time and all ingredients in half, except for chili powder which I'm glad I used less of... I recommend no more than 2 heaping tablespoons chili powder per pound, very easy to make your own to your liking- a great base is 1 tsp paprika, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp oregano, 2 tsp garlic powder per 1 lb meat... Anywho! I did not drain green chiles and glad I didn't :-) Served this topped w/sour cream, colby-jack & chedder cheese, over macaroni & cheese w/a side of cornbread! Thanks SO much for this recipe!
My husband and I do not like chili (neither of us eat beans, he's not big on spice, and I don't care for a ton of tomatoes), but this was surprsingly wonderful! I subbed a 15oz can of pumpkin puree instead of tomato sauce which added some great flavor and thickend up the chili just a bit. I also used 1 lb of ground beef and 1 lb of pork sausage. I've started making batches just to freeze (in 1-2 serving portions). My husband loves having his new fall favorite at his fingertips and I love having a quick, filling, delicious dinner option.
There is another recipe much like this on allrecipes which is WAY more labor intensive. I LOVE this one because it has the same fantastic taste and so much less work! I followed the recipe exactly but learning from the other recipe, I make the chili the day before and store it in the fridge overnight. It somehow melds all the flavors together perfectly! I suggest you make this chili and let it sit for 24 hours before you make any changes in the recipe.
This was easy to make, but I think I would omit the vinegar since the beer gives it enough balance against the brown sugar and spices. I would also add 2 cans of kidney beans, 1 dark/1 red. My family did like this even though the vinegar and beer gave it a definite aftertaste.
The flavor of this chili is outstanding! I doubled the tobasco, 'cuz we like it hot! And it was sooooo good! I didn't drain the green chilies; figured a little more flavor couldn't hurt anything, and it didn't! Thanks for a great recipe!
I made this Chili with all ingredients and amounts instructed, only difference I did was cook it in my slow cooker for 4 hours. Was excellent! Thank you for a great beanless recipe!
Wonderful recipe! I did make a little change though. I used Pink Himalayan salt and ended up almost doubling the salt & black pepper: When I start to brown my ground beef, I salt and pepper it like I was cooking a hamburger; the add onion and other ingredients as called for, but start with about 3/4 of the salt called for then adjust to taste, after an hour of cooking all ingredients together. I also put a bay leaf per 2 pounds of ground beef. I didn't use the beer, but used water in it's place and it was great that way. I also used extra lean ground beef - 93% lean, and I used about a 1/4 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to brown my ground beef, onions and garlic. When you use Olive Oil and extra lean beef you have very little grease to skim when you save the left-overs in the frig! I used Louisiana Hot Sauce for my hot sauce, and it gave it a very nice warm after taste while not blistering you. Of course you can load it up with various hot sauces to turn the heat up, if you like to suffer when you eat chili! Overall, one of, if not the best chili I have eaten, PERIOD! 01/01/2020 UPDATE: Still my favorite Chili Recipe, and it is very Keto and Paleo diet Friendly! A new tweak to the recipe, since I've started watching my sugar intake since my original review, I use 1 teaspoon of Stevia powder, instead of the brown sugar. I've also switched to Avocado Oil, but Extra Virgin Olive oil is still good choice too. I've cooked this in an Insta-Pot, and it is much quicke
Loved It! I added 1 green pepper 1 red pepper 1 can light red kidney and 1 can dark kidney beans. I also used a bit of spicy hot V8. along with doubling the hot sauce I added a 1/4 cup of maple syrup with the brown sugar. I love mixing it up!!
This was my first ever attempt at making chili & I must say I thought it was fairly simple to make & quite good! I mostly followed the recipe, with the exception of using 1 lb ground beef & 1 lb ground turkey (with the price of beef rising we've been substituting turkey where we can) & instead of simmering for 3 hours on the stove I put in the crock pot for 4 hours. I served with shredded cheese & Fritos, and made a beer bread for a side. I generally do not eat much chili because I don't like beans, however loved this and will certainly make it again! Hubby (who loves chili w/beans) raved about it too, said "it's got great flavor". I was worried the leftovers would be too spicy to eat (heat always tends to grow once it's been reheated), but that was not the case- just as great later! Highly recommended!
SO GOOD! Chili is a tricky thing in our house, because the kids hate beans, so I barely make it. But it's a cold night, and the ingredients are what we had at hand. Typically of how it goes down in our house with chili, I was waiting for the moans from the kids, so I really didn't think we would like this - I mean, beer and brown sugar, really? BUT WOW! that gave it a complexity in flavor REALLY worth trying. Even my picky kids LOVED it. I did omit the hot sauce, because not everyone likes spicy, BUT who cares?! It's still delish! I served it on top of a bowl of rice, top off with sour cream and a sprinkle of cheese. Voila! Don't hesitate! Try it!
Does anyone else think that 1/3 C of Chili Powder is ENTIRELY too much? My husband (who prides himself on loving spicy food) could not even eat it - much less myself. I had to add more diced tomatoes, another bottle of bear, a pound of meat plus two cans of tomato paste to even make this close to edible. It tastes great after you tone it down and I'm happy it's beanless but WHOA BABY on the chili powder AND pepper AND onion AND tabasco!
First time making this and it came out amazing. I did take Kim's recommendations and substituted 1 lb of the beef with 1 lb of pork sausage along with the pumpkin puree in for the tomato sauce. I removed the vinegar and used Sapporo beer (rice beer), thanks kandygirl. I also lessened the chili powder amount to 1/4 cup and add a bit of cinnamon due to my love of Cincinnati chili. It finished not 5 minutes ago and I couldn't have asked for a better chili. This alteration of the recipe is good for those that can't take a lot of heat but love enough of it.
Fiance didn't like the beer flavor and so I changed the beer to a can of spicy V8 and didn't add the salt due to the high sodium - it was great!
I had to make a few changes, due to personal taste and reading other reviews. I used 1/4 c. ancho chili powder, and that was enough for us. I subbed Mexican oregano for basil. I used fire roasted tomatoes, and subbed water for beer and agave for sugar. I added 1 Tbs. beef soup base instead of the hot sauce, salt and black pepper. This makes a beefy tasting, beanless, rich chili, with a bit of heat.
Everyone in my family loved this, to make it a little healthier I added 1 pound ground turkey replacing a pound of the beef. I also used ginger ale instead of beer just because i'm expecting and would rather not use beer. (I'm sure it would be wonderful with beer too.) I also added a cayenne pepper to fulfill my spicy craving... I should have added two. Instead of making this in the pan I browned the meat and put everything in the crockpot. Wonderful idea. We got to watch the game and the chili stayed warm. I loved this recipe. I will defiantly be making this again.
Soooo good! This was my first time making chili and this recipe seemed easy which is why I chose it. Plus, I hate the beans normally found in chili. I ventured from the original recipe only slightly: added about a cup of diced green pepper (because I wanted to use it up before it went bad) and added one big can of Bush's Baked Beans and omitted the brown sugar because it is already in the baked beans. Because I wanted to put this in my slow cooker, I took the suggestion of another reviewer and used tomato paste instead of the tomato sauce. I browned the meat together with the onion, green pepper and garlic, drained then added to my slow cooker with all the other ingredients. Its been simmering now for about 2 hours and it already smells and tastes delishicious! I will serve with oyster crackers, shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream as well as some corn bread. I'm not sure we are going to have the will power to wait 5 more hours for dinner!
I made it without the green chilies and beer (used beef broth instead) because I didn't have either...it was the best chili I have ever made. My family loved it, especially the next day! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Everyone of the 12 people who ate this chili loved it. Its perfect for chili dogs , chili cheese burgers, chili cheese fries or just by its self. I used an October seasonal beer. I think using a seasonal beer adds that extra little something.
How many decades I've been making chili...and finally find a recipe that has exceptional taste! I did cut the chili powder to 2T and added a teaspoon of smoked paprika. And left out the vinegar. I hate when people change a recipe and review it changed...but these were minor, and the core of this recipe is so super good, do try it. Yes to the light beer and to the brown sugar! With chili, there are a lot of personal adjustments one can make. (I also threw in about a cup of mushrooms, chopped, and a fresh tomato, chopped, but it had five star flavor before those last minute additions.)
My Husband had been begging me to make some chili and once I made this recipe he fell in love with it! Very delicious!!!
Excellent. Over the last year, I've been teaching myself to cook using recipes on allrecipes. This is the first time I've wanted to rate and review. I followed the directions exactly. The result was terrific. For the beer, I chose a quality pale ale.
Fantastic recipe, I've made it several times. Only a few small changes to suit our family. Instead of 2 lbs ground beef, I do half ground pork. And instead of the diced tomatoes and the can of green chilies, we use Rotel. Delicious!
I have tried many chili recipes on here. This one is my favorite. Didn't change anything. My husband even liked it, which is a miracle. :)
I can't say enough good things about this recipe! I've already made it twice and plan on making it again this week, most likely a double batch this time! Soooo good. I honestly never thought I'd find a beanless chili that I liked, but this recipe really holds it's own. It's awesome Fall comfort food! I substitute a package of Johnsonville Ground Sweet Italian Sausage for half of the ground beef. Also I use water rather than beer and leave out the vinegar. WONDERFUL WONDERFUL recipe!!! The Italian sausage really makes it, I definitely recommend the substitution!
really liked this chile, but I used a little BBQ sauce instead of brown sugar.. I also added red potatoes to my chile... but I will TOTALLY be using this recipe from now on! :-)
This chili is amazing! I made it as written the first time and it was a bit too spicy for my kids, so the second time I omitted the chilis and then upped the brown sugar to 4 Tbsp. I browned the hamburger and cooked the onion in a skillet first and then add it and all the rest of the ingredients to a crockpot and cooked on low for at least 4 hrs.
Very good. I kept the beer (used Labatt's) and vinegar (cider rather than white) and cooked it in the crockpot on high for 3 hrs. I'm always nervous when cooking with beer but the flavor was nice and tangy - not bitter.
Was searching for a no bean chili recipe to take to a party when I ran across this. I used MGD beer, doubled the recipe and used one can chopped chiles and one can chopped jalepenos (because that's what I had on hand) and put it in a slow cooker after the meat was done. I was concerned at first because it made so much but, by the end of the evening, folks were literally scraping what they could from the bottom of the crock pot! They were using it as hot dog sauce, taco salad meat, any way they could think of to eat it! Everyone said this was the best chili they'd ever eaten and I agree!
I was surprised how prominent the beer was in this recipe. I thought the beer taste would cook off some; it didn't. I added chili beans as I don't consider chili to be chili without beans. This didn't pack a lot of flavor; and even though the description calls it hearty, I didn't consider this to be as hearty as other chilis. It was okay though.
A major triumph at our house!!! Poured it over some pasta, a little grated cheese, sprinkled some diced jalapenos over the top,...my all time favorite!
I liked it. Next time I make it I will leave out the vinegar and use only 2 tbsp of brown sugar.
I searched for bean-less chili because my husband is not of fan of "regular" chili and came across this recipe. It was well received! First of all, if you're making this alone, the prep time is longer (but that could also be I'm not a wizard in the kitchen). It took me about an hour to get it all put together by myself. No big deal since I set aside time on the weekend to do it. I followed the recipe to the letter. Instead of simmering on the stove, I put it in a crock pot and let it simmer. We have a gas stove and I was a little paranoid of letting an open flame just sit for 3 hours. :-) Honestly, it tasted better the second day. I'm guessing the various flavors had a chance to really soak in. Overall, this recipe was great and I will be making it again!
There was an odd, sweet flavor to the recipe. I don't know if it was the cumin or beer. I typically add brown sugar to recipes with tomatoes but the sweetness was not what I expected. I did not add the chili powder or Tabsco, however, as we do not like spicy foods.
This is so delicious. I'm not a bean fan and am always looking for a good beanless recipe. I followed this exactly, and it's just perfect as is. My boyfriend who always has "helpful critiques" on pretty much anything simply stated: "This is the best chili I've ever had." I served it with some corn bread muffins and we had ourselves a great Football Sunday!
We thought this was very good. My kids don't really like beans in chili so this recipe fit the bill. I prepared it exactly as printed. Thanks for the recipe!
I loved this recipe! I made some for a school function and this one was gone long before there was a dent in the other three crock pots of chili! I made it with Shiner Bock beer. It was best after simmering for hours. It took about a recipe and a half to fill the crock pot. I couldn't find the can of green chilis, so I used a can of Rotel instead. Yum!
This is the first chili recipe I have tried and it won me over. I hate beans, my husband loves chili so it's perfect, super easy, and makes enough that we can eat lunch and dinner on it for a couple days. My only gripe is that it could have a little better kick to it spice wise. Making tomorrow to keep the hubs occupied while I'm out of town for the weekend and may try adding a little extra hot sauce and peppers. Last note, I also left out the vinegar on the advise of others reviews and it still tasted great.
Needed an outstanding beans free chili recipe and couldn't find the one I usually use so I gave this a try. I'm so glad I did. I'm not even a beer fan and I found it delicious. I give it 4.5 stars! Thanks so much for sharing!
I have to admit, I was pretty nervous about trying this one...the reviews were kind of all over the place. Some loved it "as is" others thought the beer and the vinegar were too much. Plus I was bummed out that very few of the reviewers commented on which beer they chose to use. In the end I chose this recipe because the list of ingredients was interesting and I was looking for something different. I'm glad I took a chance. And just so you know, I used a can of PBR (I figured a mild beer wouldn't over power the chili, like other reviewers mentioned they had run into). Also like other reviewers mentioned I threw it into the crock pot after browning the beef and adding seasonings. I kept it going for about 5 hours on low. The only changes I made were using ground turkey instead of beef and I added 1 can of pinto beans and 1 can of canellini beans. Other than that I followed the recipe. I will definitely make this again. **I just finished my second helping and wanted to add that the beer flavor does kind of linger in your mouth a bit. I think next time I will try a better beer, still mild but step it up a notch. If it's going to linger it may as well be one I like ;-)
My husband doubled the recipe and made it for a tailgate party and it was gone before halftime! The perfect combination of sweet and heat.
My kids don’t like beans and this is the best chili recipe ever!! I make it all the time during football season and I’m always taking it to potlucks!
I've been looking for a chili recipe without beans - and am SO very glad I found this!!! Other than changing the Tabaso to 1 tbls, I made this recipe as posted. I served it over spaghetti in a sourdough bread bowl, sprinkled with shredded cheddar & a dab of sour cream on top. This recipe is a keeper!!! Thanks Jenn for sharing!
I gave this chili recipe a try and really enjoyed it. My daughter has never really been a big fan of any chili recipe, but she likes this one. I had some chili leftover and used it when making chili dogs one night and they were a hit as well. It is now my "go to" chili recipe. Thank you. Oh, I left out the hot sauce. Other than that, I followed your recipe to the letter.
Very good with minor adjustments. I omitted the hot sauce & brown sugar (figured correctly that it was sweet enough once cooked overtime), used 1/2 the salt and used fresh anaheim chilies (cooked with the onions). Family LOVED it.
A new favorite for us. We skipped the chili peppers & hotsauce and used banana peppers so it's not too spicy for our little ones. Loved it over rice. Yum!
The flavors were off - 1/3 c chili powder and 1 can of beer were too strong. If I try this again, I'll start with 1/4 c chili powder and 1/2 can beer. To compensate this time, I added an additional can of tomato sauce, lime juice, more honey (which I used instead of sugar). I also added lightly cooked bacon. The flavors did come together better after I let the pot sit overnight in the fridge, though.
I made this chili twice both times a hit. Two suggestions. If you are going to do it in the slow cooker use tomato paste instead of sauce (too much liquid) and I thought it was a bit sweet. The second time I made it I started at 1tbsp. and taste tested it from there. Also I left out the hot sauce because my kids, 1yr and 2yrs, don't like hot food. Awesome, yummy and filling ^_^
We love this chili and have been making for years now. Great flavors and a little different. You could certainly add beans if that’s what you like. Great flavor and crowd pleaser so you really don’t need to change a thing!
I too can't stand beans, but love chili. I found this recipe to be fantastic. The only thing i changed was i added a few jalapenos to the green chiles. That's simply because i personally like a little more heat. Thanks so much for the recipe.
I've made it quite a few times. I love good chili and my body hates beans. This is PERFECT!
Recipe is excellent!! Did a trial run for the Super Bowl, This is now our “go to” Chili! After the 3 hour cook, I needed to adjust the seasonings for my family’s personal taste. I added an extra 1/3C chili seasoning, 1Tlb Cumin, 1/2 Tlb Red Pepper flakes and 2 Tlb smoked paprika. (My spices were new and opened today). The Brown sugar gave a unique flavor however, I’ll eliminate or reduce next time. A bit too sweet for us. (I used a local brewery, “Big Boss” Porter for the beer). My husband is still raving how good the chili was!
made per recipe..excellent!..i added an additional dump (chili powder, galic salt, vinegar,tabasco drop) last hour of cooking for more intense flavor. ;)
Absolutely delicious. Exactly the recipe I have been searching for. I skipped the vinegar as others suggested, added some black beans (to suit my crowd) and everyone loved it. It's a keeper! Thank you.
Excellent recipe just like it is written. I have made it many times. Now when I make it, I use ground sausage instead of ground hamburger, I double the diced tomatoes, and I add a can of corn. My family enjoys it served with sour cream, shredded cheese, and cilantro.
This chili does not disappoint. Based upon other reviewers I didn't use the full amount of chili powder. I think I will next time. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Delicious! I left the vinegar out after reading a lot of the reviews. I used Busch Light beer (cheap but it's what was on hand). It didn't have a strong beer taste. Served it over Jasmine rice. Will definitely be making this again!
I love chili, but don't care for beans. I made this exactly as written, and it was excellent, no changes necessary. The entire family loved it.
Everyone has a different idea of chili depending on wher you were raised... For me (a Midwest girl), I did not care for this at all. That's not to say its a terrible recipe, so 3 stars. My husband (Texas) also didn't like it very well. I followed the directions. I agree with the mass majority of reviewers that the vinegar AND beer should be omitted. I only used a small Belgian lite wheat beer due to the reviews... Anyway, not every recipe is a hit!
Delicious! Was hesitant on the amount of chili powder, but it was very good! Only thing I did different was I added kidney beans and I cooked it in a crockpot. Next time I will use tomato paste instead of sauce if I cook in the crockpot again. Taste was great though!
Made this recipe last year, and many times this year. I make it exactly as written and it's great every time. My husband loves it and we don't miss the beans at all.
Awesome Recipe!! It is now a fan of all the girls I work with. For a little change you could add chili beans.
Absolutely delicious chili! Used Negra Modelo beer and added a few diced jalapeños for extra spice. Made it the slow cooker and topped with sour cream and habanero jack cheese. It's my new favorite! Thanks for sharing.
We love this recipe!! So delicious and easy to make. We've always been afraid of chili because we don't like beans, but now it is one of our favorites.
Love love love it was so delicious but I did make some changes to it instead of beer I use sherry wine and no vinegar and I use beef stock....
Best beanless chili ever! Spicy but not too hot. Super good. I added have a tablespoon of extra brown sugar and melted cheddar on top of mine. I also used Franks red hot, instead of Tabasco. This recipe is AWESOME!
I wasn't looking for a beanless recipe but I came across this one and it sounded like it would be flavourful and it certainly was. I changed nothing except I added kidney beans :) It was perfect and it got rave reviews on my ice fishing trip!!! Thanks for sharing...I'm sure this one will become a family fave!
I made it just like the recipe but went a little light on the vinegar and added two cans of kidney beans. It was great the day we ate it and even better two days later. We didn't like the sour cream added but would have liked cheddar cheese on it.
It was awesome! I hate beans and my boyfriend really doesn’t like chili, but we both went back for more. I cut the recipe in half since there is only two of us and that worked out perfectly. I also, as per suggestions on here, omitted the vinegar. For beer I used Bud Light Lime! Yummy. Also, Franks Red Hot for the hot sauce was a good choice.
Best chili recipe ever! No beans!!! Followed ingredients and directions to the t.
It was perfect just the way the recipe was (minus beer cause hubby had drank the last one!) Added some chopped up onions, jalapeños & cheese on top. We ate it on top of a scoop of white rice! Yummy!! It was a Touchdown!
Best chili I’ve ever made! I added red kidney beans at the end because I like them. Also I didn’t have Tabasco or Frank’s hot sauce so I added cayenne powder. It was great! Thanks for the recipe, definitely a keeper! And easy to make! Bonus!!!
This chili is me and my hubby's favorite recipe! I made some small adjustments.. I omitted the vinegar and I added worcestershire sauce along with 1 tbsp of butter, and 2 cans of pinto beans. So delicious!!! Will be making this every time we have chili!
I've made this chili on a regular basis now. The spice is good and for someone that doesn't like beans.... it doesn't feel like you're missing anything.
This was a great chili. I was looking for a good chili without beans. I didn't add the tomato and only used half the beer and only 2 tablespoons of brown sugar because 3 made it too sweet for my taste. This was great and will definitely make it again.
I don't like chili but my family does. Used this recipe and they loved it!! Great for football Sunday around the house. Served it over some cornbread with a spoonful of sour cream.
I used 1/2 of the 0.25oz chili powder container and I would nix the brown sugar. I had to kill the sweetness with the vinegar.
Did everything but the hot pepper sauce and I did a slow cooker for 4 hours. I could hardly eat it. I question the beer I used as well? I felt the chili pepper was a bit much for any recipe but added it anyway and wish I hadn't added as much. Normally I would toss the whole thing not wanting to waste more ingredients but I added another can of diced tomatoes, a can of tomato sauce and another beer (as I read from someone else) and some pasta and I can now eat it but it's not a favorite by any means.
I absolutely love this recipe! I make it often and it's always a huge hit with my family. I add a 24 ounce can of spicy baked beans, some chopped bell pepper, reduce the brown sugar by half, omit the vinegar and, since i grew up eating Cincinnati chili, I added 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon. Then I pour it all into the slow cooker for 6 to 7 hours. amazing! kiddos to the poster of this awesome recipe! :-)
I've made this recipe many times, it is my go-to for chili! It is very delicious and hearty! I think it helps to use a dark brown ale for the beer to bring good flavor.
OMG. I made this chili recipe, omg it is the best chili in all the world. With a few tweeks. I added sauted red,orange, & yellow bell peppers also Paprika. It is amazing. This will be my chili recipe forever. Every time i make chili it will be this recipe. Thank u so much for sharing
I cooked it exactly like the recipe except that I didn't let it simmer for 3 hours. I'm sure it would have been even better if I had. I have been looking for a flavorful chili recipe for awhile and love this one. I have gotten several compliments on it.
Really good and simple. Only thing is that it's not hearty enough. Would like an addition of beans. Regardless, strong 4 star.
my family and I loved this chili. I used ancho Chile's instead of green and it was amazing.
