Now that we have our ingredients, it’s time to get our hands dirty. Let’s walk through the steps to create this delicious basic chili.

Start by gathering all your ingredients. Dice the onion and bell pepper, mince the garlic and jalapeño, and open your cans. Making everything ready will streamline the cooking process.

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat over medium heat. Add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. This process takes about 5-7 minutes. Once browned, drain any excess grease, but remember, some fat is required for flavor!

To the pot, add the chopped onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic. Stir it all together and let them sweat out their flavors for about 5-6 minutes. You want the veggies to become tender.

Next, sprinkle in the chili powder, smoked paprika, and ground cumin. Stir well to coat the meat and veggies with those vibrant spices. Sauté for another minute. This step really brings the flavors to life and builds that lovely chili aroma.

Now it’s time to add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes (with juices), beef stock, and beer into the pot. Give everything a good stir to combine. This creates that luscious sauce we all love.

Add the kidney beans and tomato paste. If you choose, add the light brown sugar at this step. Stir until everything is well mixed. Bring the mixture to a slight simmer, and watch as it begins to bubble away.

Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes (up to an hour for deeper flavor). Stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.

Once the simmering time is over, remove the lid and taste your chili. Adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or chili powder based on your preferences. If you want more depth, you can add another splash of beer!

It’s time to dig in! Ladle the chili into bowls, and add your toppings of choice. Dive into this warm dish and relish each bite.