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Hearty Dutch Oven Chili

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A warm, filling, and easy Dutch oven chili recipe perfect for camping and outdoor meals, featuring a rich, smoky flavor with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (no-salt-added optional)
  • 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 cup dark beer (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheddar, chopped green onions, sour cream, fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. Prepare your fire or heat source to medium heat for steady simmering.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the Dutch oven until shimmering (about 2 minutes).
  3. Add diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic; sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened and fragrant.
  4. Add ground beef and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 8 minutes, breaking up large chunks.
  5. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano; cook for 1 minute to toast spices.
  6. Mix in 2 tablespoons tomato paste to thicken and enhance tomato flavor.
  7. Add canned diced tomatoes with juice, beef broth, dark beer, kidney beans, and black beans if using; stir well.
  8. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
  9. Taste and adjust salt and pepper; add more broth or water if chili is too thick.
  10. Serve hot with optional toppings like shredded cheddar, sour cream, and fresh herbs.

Notes

Maintain steady medium heat to avoid scorching. Toast spices before adding liquids to enhance flavor. If chili sticks to the bottom, add extra liquid and stir gently. For vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with mushrooms and lentils and use vegetable broth and non-alcoholic malt beverage instead of beer.

Nutrition

Keywords: Dutch oven chili, camping meal, hearty chili, easy chili recipe, outdoor cooking, cast iron chili, smoky chili, camping food

Find it online: https://emmaoven.com/hearty-dutch-oven-chili-recipe-easy-perfect-camping-meal-for-outdoors/