Ina Garten’s Hearty Brisket Chili Recipe: Comfort in a Bowl

Hearty brisket chili represents the pinnacle of comfort food, transforming robust beef into a soul-warming culinary experience.

Slow-cooked and deeply flavorful, this iconic dish combines complex spices with tender meat in a rich, warming sauce.

Bold Texan-inspired seasonings dance through each robust bite, creating layers of intensity that warm you from the inside out.

Savory bacon adds depth and smokiness, while carefully selected spices build an intricate flavor profile that elevates traditional chili expectations.

The careful balance of ingredients ensures every spoonful delivers maximum satisfaction without overwhelming the palate.

Why You’ll Love Brisket Chili

• Savor Deep, Rich Flavor Explosion: This brisket chili packs an incredible punch of taste with layers of complexity from bacon fat, browned meat, caramelized onions, and robust coffee-infused broth.
• Master Slow-Cooking Comfort: The gentle 2.5-3 hour simmering process transforms tough brisket into meltingly tender meat, creating a hearty dish that fills your kitchen with mouthwatering aromas.
• Customize with Delightful Toppings: Freshly shredded sharp cheddar, crisp minced onions, and crunchy Frito chips provide amazing textural contrast and allow each person to personalize their bowl of comfort.
• Elevate Weeknight Cooking Technique: This recipe teaches professional-level cooking methods like browning meat in batches, developing deep flavor foundations, and using bacon fat as a secret flavor weapon that transforms an ordinary chili into an extraordinary meal.

What Goes Into the Brisket Chili

• Brisket: Rich, tender beef cut perfect for slow cooking with deep flavor and hearty texture.
• Bacon: Provides smoky depth and renders fat for initial cooking process.

• White Onion: Creates sweet caramelized base and adds foundational flavor.
• Garlic: Brings robust, pungent undertone to enhance overall taste profile.
• Salt, Black Pepper, Onion Powder: Essential seasoning blend for developing complex taste.
• Tabasco Pepper Sauce: Optional spicy kick for heat lovers.

• Coffee: Adds unexpected rich, earthy undertone to chili.
• Beef Broth: Provides moisture and deepens meat's savory characteristics.
• Whole Tomatoes: Fresh, tangy base that breaks down during slow cooking.

• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Creamy, tangy topping that melts beautifully.
• White Onion (Minced): Fresh, crisp garnish for texture.
• Frito Chips: Crunchy, salty accompaniment for textural contrast.

Making Ina’s Chili with Brisket Magic

Step 1: Prepare Brisket

Clean and trim the brisket. Cut the meat into small quarter-inch cubes, reserving the point for another meal.

Step 2: Cook Bacon

In a large pot, cook bacon until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, keeping the delicious fat in the pot.

Step 3: Brown Meat

• Work in 3 separate batches
• Avoid overcrowding the pan
• Season with: salt, black pepper, onion powder

Remove each batch to a separate bowl and add extra oil if needed.

Step 4: Caramelize Onions

In the same pot, add diced white onion with a pinch of salt. Cook and scrape the bottom to release flavorful brown bits. Reduce heat and caramelize onions until golden and sweet.

Step 5: Build Flavor Base

Add spices to the onions and stir. Cook for 2 minutes. Add pressed garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.

Step 6: Combine Ingredients

Return browned meat to the pot. Pour in coffee and beef broth. Stir thoroughly.

Step 7: Add Tomatoes

Crush tomatoes by hand and add to the pot with tomato juice. Crumble reserved bacon into the mixture.

Step 8: Slow Cook

Cover the pot and simmer on low-medium heat for 2.5 to 3 hours. Add remaining beef broth as needed.

Step 9: Final Touch

Add tabasco pepper sauce for extra heat if desired.

Step 10: Serve and Enjoy

• Freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Minced white onion
• Frito chips

Tips for Bold, Smoky Chili Flavor

• Trim Like a Pro: Remove thick outer fat from brisket to prevent an overly greasy final dish, ensuring a cleaner, more robust chili texture.
• Customize Your Spice Level: Adjust chipotle and Texas chili powder to match your heat preference by swapping with mild paprika for a gentler kick.
• Thicken with Ease: Stir in cornmeal or masa harina during the last half-hour of cooking to create a rich, hearty consistency that clings perfectly to each bite.
• Boost Flavor Depth: Incorporate fire-roasted tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, or a splash of liquid smoke to elevate the chili's complexity and add layers of smoky richness.
• Broth Flexibility: Swap beef broth with vegetable or chicken stock for a versatile recipe that accommodates different dietary needs without sacrificing overall taste.

Keeping Leftover Chili Like New

• Vacuum Seal Method: Extract all air using a vacuum sealer for maximum freshness. Prevents freezer burn and maintains optimal flavor intensity by creating an airtight environment that blocks moisture and potential bacterial growth.
• Portion Freezing Method: Divide chili into individual serving sizes using freezer-safe glass containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Enables quick defrosting and prevents unnecessary waste by allowing you to thaw only the amount needed for a single meal.
• Glass Container Storage Method: Transfer cooled chili into clean, wide-mouth glass containers with tight-fitting lids. Provides excellent visibility of contents, prevents odor absorption, and allows easy stacking in refrigerator or freezer while maintaining food quality and preventing potential contamination.

Ways to Customize This Chili Bowl

• Smoky Chipotle Chili: Replace standard spices with chipotle powder and smoked paprika for an intense, smoky flavor profile. Add diced poblano peppers for extra depth and heat.
• Mexican Green Chili Version: Swap beef broth with chicken broth and incorporate roasted green chiles. Use shredded chicken instead of brisket for a lighter protein option.
• Southwestern Bean Boost: Introduce black beans and kidney beans to enhance protein content. Include diced bell peppers and corn kernels for additional texture and southwestern flair.
• Vegetarian Mushroom Alternative: Replace brisket with mixed wild mushrooms like portobello and shiitake. Use vegetable broth and add extra umami with soy sauce and miso paste for rich, meaty undertones.

Brisket Chili Conclusion

Culinary magic happens when classic techniques meet bold flavors in Ina Garten’s brisket chili.

Rich, complex layers of taste dance through each spoonful, promising comfort and excitement.

Bacon-infused depths mingle with tender meat and robust spices, creating a memorable dining experience.

Coffee and beef broth add unexpected complexity that elevates this dish beyond standard chili recipes.

Fragrant aromatics and carefully developed techniques showcase Garten’s masterful approach to home cooking.

Passionate cooks will delight in crafting this soulful recipe that connects tradition with contemporary kitchen creativity.

Hungry friends await your kitchen prowess – share this incredible chili, spark conversations, and watch social media likes roll in with your delicious dish.

Ina Garten Brisket Chili Recipe

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4.6 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Brisket Chili brings hearty Texas-style comfort to your dinner table with rich, slow-cooked beef and deep, complex flavors. Robust spices and tender meat create a soul-warming dish that promises to become a family favorite for cozy nights and casual gatherings.

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Ingredients

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Protein:

• 3–4 pounds beef brisket, trimmed
• 4 slices thick cut bacon

Spices and Seasonings:

• 3 ½ tablespoons Texas chili powder, such as Mexene or Gebhardt’s
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon cumin powder
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon chipotle chile powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Liquid and Aromatics:

• 1 quart (4 cups) beef broth
• ½ cup strong black coffee
• 28 ounces whole tomatoes, in juice
• 2 cups white onion, small diced (one large onion)
• 5 garlic cloves, pressed through a garlic press

Garnish:

• Sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
• White onion
• Fritos
• Tabasco sauce
• Jalapenos

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Instructions

1. Meticulously trim and prepare a 3-brisket, removing excess fat and cutting into precise quarter-inch (0.64 centimeters) cubes.
2. Reserve the brisket point for an alternative culinary creation.
3. In a spacious cast-iron pot, render four bacon slices until achieving a crisp, golden-brown texture. Extract the bacon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
4. Elevate the stovetop temperature to medium-high, utilizing the rendered bacon fat to sear meat cubes in strategic batches, ensuring each piece develops a rich, caramelized exterior.
5. Generously season the meat cubes with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and aromatic onion powder during the browning process, transferring each batch to a separate holding bowl.
6. Within the same pot, introduce diced white onions, sprinkling a pinch of salt to encourage caramelization. Gently scrape the pot’s bottom to incorporate flavorful browned remnants.
7. Incorporate a blend of selected spices, stirring thoroughly into the onion mixture. Allow two minutes of gentle cooking before introducing pressed garlic, continuing to stir for an additional minute.
8. Reintroduce the previously browned meat cubes into the pot, creating a harmonious mixture.
9. Pour robust coffee and two cups (473 milliliters) of premium beef broth, stirring comprehensively to blend flavors.
10. Manually crush whole tomatoes, adding them alongside their natural juices to the pot. Crumble the reserved bacon throughout the mixture.
11. Securely cover the pot and reduce heat, allowing the mixture to simmer gently for approximately 2.5-3 hours, developing deep, complex flavors.
12. Periodically monitor liquid levels, supplementing with an additional two cups (473 milliliters) of beef broth as necessary.
13. Optional: Enhance with several drops of tabasco pepper sauce for additional zest.
14. Present the hearty creation garnished with freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, finely minced white onion, and crisp Frito corn chips.

Notes

• Trim excess fat carefully, ensuring a lean and flavorful chili without excess grease.
• Adjust spice levels by reducing chipotle and Texas chili powder, using paprika for a gentler heat profile.
• Thicken the chili naturally by stirring in cornmeal or masa harina mixed with water during the final cooking stage.
• Boost depth of flavor with fire-roasted tomatoes, adding Worcestershire sauce or liquid smoke for complexity.
• Swap beef broth with vegetable or chicken broth, understanding the subtle taste variation that will occur.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 500 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg