Dad's Damn Good Chili

Name: Dad's Damn Good Chili
Prep time: 45 min
Yield: Too many, but is freezable in double-ziplocked gallon bags.
Ingredients: 5 lbs beef (round steak, chuck steak, or stew beef); 2–3 cups onions, chopped; 2 cups peppers, chopped; ½ cup chili powder; 3 tbsp cumin; 1 tbsp black pepper; 1 tbsp oregano; 1 tbsp cinnamon; 2 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tbsp instant coffee; 1 tbsp paprika; 2 tbsp cocoa; 2 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp salt; 1 tsp cayenne pepper; 45 oz stewed or diced tomatoes; 90 oz kidney beans (light and dark); 12 oz tomato paste; 46 oz tomato juice; 30 oz water

The old man's recipe. Simple, hearty, and better the next day.

Published Mar 16, 2026Updated Mar 17, 2026

Prep: 45 minutes
Cook: 4–8 hours
Makes: Too many, but is freezable in double-ziplocked gallon bags.

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Ingredients

Instructions

01Preheat a large Dutch oven over medium heat while you prep. Add a light coating of oil.
02Chop the onions and peppers into small pieces.
03Cut the beef into small chunks.
04Mix all spices together in a small bowl and set aside.
05Brown the beef in the Dutch oven. Once browned, drain any excess grease but leave the beef in the pot.
06Add the onions and peppers to the beef.
07Stir in about half of the spice mixture.
08Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and peppers are softened — about 20–30 minutes.
09Meanwhile, add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker(s) and stir to combine. Note: A full batch requires two 6-quart slow cookers.
10Once the beef and vegetables are ready, transfer them to the slow cooker(s) and stir everything together.
11Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6–8 hours.

Toppings

Sour cream · Shredded cheese · Ritz crackers · Sriracha

From the recipe box

Dad's handwritten chili recipe — The original recipe, written down and well used.

Dad's Damn Good Chili

Ingredients

Meat & Vegetables

Spices

Liquids & Canned Goods

Instructions

Toppings

From the recipe box