Quick And Easy Chilli Con Carne

This quick and easy chilli con carne recipe is my midweek meal go to, week in and week out. It is bright, fresh yet still perfect winter comfort food. I can pair it with easy sides for grins all round.

Quick Chilli is always a winner at my house. Topped with sour cream and grated cheese for the kids and a generous sprinkling of coriander for the adults.

And actually the secret of this recipe's success is not only the spices  but also the inclusion of a whole load of fresh coriander right in there with the chilli mince. It lifts and gives an amazing freshness that is incredibly moreish. Every time I eat it, I fall for it all over again. Yeah baby.

How Do I Make Quick Chilli Con Carne?

*At the bottom of this post is the printable full recipe card with the exact ingredients and instructions.*

Ingredients and Substitutes

500 grams Minced Beef - I buy the 12-15% fat mince but it doesn't really matter. Drain off excess fat if you use 20 % fat content

400 grams Chopped Tomatoes - tinned you could use passata as a substitute. I do add fresh tomatoes sometimes if I have a few leftover tomatoes that need using up. I blitz them in the food processor first but you can chop them by hand.

1 tsp Garlic Paste - Substitute 1 clove of garlic, I just find it easier to have a jar of paste in my fridge

1 tbsp Fajita Seasoning - any brand that you have. Mine is the supermarket's own.

1 tbsp Mild Chilli Powder - mild because the fajita seasoning is usually hot to trot but if heat isn't a problem for you then dial it up sweet cheeks.

4 tbsp Tomato Ketchup - this gives sweetness so not reduced sugar one if possible.

20 grams Fresh Coriander - this is optional so leave out if you don't like it. Ground coriander would not be a substitute. 

1 medium Onion - standard brown onion but shallots would work.

1 large Pepper - any colour is fine 

100 grams Kidney Beans - tinned or soaked and boiled from dried. You could substitute chickpeas or cannellini beans instead.

1 tbsp Sugar - caster or granulated. Light brown sugar would be fine too if that is all you have.

1 tbsp Flour - plain or self raising

Recipe Steps

This quick and easy chilli con carne comes together in under 30 minutes. Maximum flavour with minimum effort. Boom.

• Firstly fry the chopped onion and pepper in a large frying pan or saucepan. You can blitz them both in the food processor if you can't be faffed with chopping.

• Cover and fry gently for a few minutes until they start to soften. Sprinkle over the spices.

• Fry again for a few minutes before adding in the mince. Use a wooden spoon or similar to break the mince completely up. Fry gently for another few minutes until water begins to be released into the pan.

• Sprinkle over the flour and mix thoroughly in.

• Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic paste, fresh coriander, sugar and salt.

• Mix together and bubble away for 15 minutes until the sauce thickens and gets a little shiny.
• Add the kidney beans and stir in. Allow to heat through for a couple of minutes on the heat.
• Serve piping hot and with your favourite sides and a sprinkle of extra coriander if you fancy.

What Can You Add To Chilli To Make It Taste Better?

A couple of chunks of dark chocolate - melted into the cooked sauce gives a delicious richness

Fresh coriander - compliments the chilli flavours perfectly

Black Treacle - adds a dark, smoky sweet flavour.

Fresh Tomatoes - lifts and brightens the sauce. I sometimes add them if I have a few leftover tomatoes that need using up. I blitz them in the food processor.

Serving Suggestions

It is usually served with plain rice and topped with sour cream, a few tortilla chips and a handful of grated cheddar cheese. My kids love it like that.

You can also stick it in a tortilla or taco with shredded lettuce, salsa, guacamole and more cheese.

I personally love it with a buttery jacket potato and heavy on the grated cheddar cheese. It always reminds me of bonfire night for some reason. It makes me think of the orange polystyrene take away containers and plastic knives and forks.

 Recipe Tips

• Use a food processor to blitz your onion and peppers effortlessly and avoid onion tears and sniffles.
• Use the largest frying pan you have.
• Dial the heat up or down to suit.
• Leave out the kidney beans if you prefer.
• Chilli is perfect for batch cooking. Double up the ingredients and freeze half for another easy meal.
• Freeze your chilli in a stout plastic container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat until piping hot all the way through.

If you like this quick and easy chilli con carne recipe then you may like these beauties.

Loaded Mexican Beef Wedges

Easy Minced Beef and Onion Pie

Teriyaki Minced Beef with Noodles

Minced Beef Tacos

Sausage Pasta

Tomato Pasta

Cheeseburger and Wedges