Hearty Chili Beef Soup

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 02/14/22
chile beef soup
Diana Rattray
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings

This hearty ground beef soup obtains its great flavor from chili seasonings, peppers, and tomatoes. The soup offers a beefy, slightly thickened broth and all of the great ingredients you'll find in your favorite chili.

Like many soups, this one is quite versatile. Add extra vegetables to the soup if you like. Corn is an excellent option for both flavor and color, or add about 1/2 cup of diced carrots and simmer the soup until they are tender. Or replace half of the beef with sliced sautéed mushrooms. The recipe calls for kidney beans, but feel free to replace them with black beans, pinto beans, small red beans, or Great Northern beans. And there are many different kinds of tomatoes in supermarkets. Use fire-roasted or chili seasoned tomatoes, or make the soup with basic diced or petite diced tomatoes. If you like spicy flavor, add a small amount of cayenne pepper when you add the chili powder.

The soup is excellent with cornbread or crusty bread, or serve it with a topping of tortilla strips. Make it a day in advance if you'd like. It tastes even better the next day, and it reheats beautifully.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion

  • 1 small red bell pepper, or a combination of red and green pepper

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 (4-ounce) can mild green chile pepper, coarsely chopped

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 2 1/2 cups beef stock, preferably unsalted or low sodium

  • 2 cups cooked kidney beans, fresh or canned, drained and rinsed

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh parsley, optional

  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Peel and dice the onion.

  3. Slice the bell pepper in half; remove the seeds and stem. Dice the pepper into 1/2 pieces.

  4. Peel and mince the garlic.

  5. Heat the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and ground beef and cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, or until beef is browned and no longer pink.

  6. Add the diced bell pepper, minced garlic, flour, chili powder, and cumin. Stir to blend and continue cooking for 1 minute.

  7. Add the can of chile peppers along with the tomatoes and beef stock. Bring the soup to a boil. Add the beans and season with salt and pepper to taste. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

  8. Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle each serving with fresh chopped parsley or shredded cheese, as desired.

  9. Serve the chili soup with freshly baked cornbread or Italian or crusty French bread. 

  10. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

The flour thickens the broth slightly, but you may omit it or replace it with 2 tablespoons of fine cornmeal or masa harina.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
568 Calories
25g Fat
38g Carbs
50g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 568
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 115mg 38%
Sodium 750mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 38g 14%
Dietary Fiber 10g 36%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 50g
Vitamin C 133mg 665%
Calcium 243mg 19%
Iron 8mg 44%
Potassium 1590mg 34%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)