Easy Chilli Con Carne
This easy chilli con carne recipe uses items typically found in a household pantry – a tin of tomato soup, a tin of baked beans, you’ll have dinner knocked up in no-time! Simply throw it all together and wait for the deliciousness to come!
Timings
Prep Time
10 mins
Cooktime
1 hr
Total time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings
4
Why should I make easy chilli?
- It uses economic pantry staples like a tin of beans and tomato soup!
- It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare – quickness is of the essence!
- The cream of tomato soup is so flavoursome in this chilli you have to try it for that reason alone.
- A good one to make ahead and leave to bubble away in the oven!
A chilli con carne with shortcuts!
Everyone has those days when they just cannot be bothered to go to a huge amount of effort to cook, but don’t want to compromise on flavour!
If that’s you, then read on –
I’m passionate about creating recipes with shortcuts. As a parent of a toddler, I KNOW those nights when you just want something quick. Minimum effort is essential but maximum flavour is NOT compromised.
After discovering a tin of baked beans and a tin of cream of tomato soup in the larder, this recipe was made. I had an idea and I HAD to try it.
The Original Chilli
According to Felicity Cloake at The Guardian, the real, authentic Mexican chilli would contain chunks of beef, as well as: suet, wild onions, oregano and chillis. Quite different to the chilli we are used to! Here’s what you need to make our delicious, quick chilli recipe…
Ingredients
- 500g beef mince
- 1/2 a chopped onion
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp cayenne powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 240g tin of kidney beans
- 415g tin of baked beans
- 400g tin of cream of tomato soup
Spice alternatives!
Our easy chilli contains the following spices…
- Ground cumin
- Dried oregano
- Cayenne powder
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
All of the above spices are commonly found in your larder. Can’t find a spice? You could use the following alternatives:
- Ground cumin > ground coriander
- Dried oregano > dried thyme
- Cayenne powder > chili powder, cajun powder
- Garlic powder > A fresh garlic clove, crushed
- Paprika > Feel free to use sweet or smoky paprika instead or cajun powder
Equipment Needed
- Deep frying pan with a lid or a medium casserole pot
- Wooden spoon
- Chef’s knife for cutting
- Tin opener
- Saucepan with lid for cooking your rice
Make it family-friendly
This chilli con carne recipe is pretty much family-friendly anyway, especially since kids love baked beans! When we made it for our little one, we omitted the cayenne and he loved it!
Chilli con carne is actually quite a fun dinner for children. Add lots of toppings such as grated cheese, salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips (who doesn’t like crisps with their main meal?!) and you’ll be onto a winner!
Can’t find an ingredient?
- Beef mince > pork mince would be the best alternative. Or go traditional and use chunks of beef, like chuck steak or the cheaper cut: skirt – perfect for slow-cooking.
- Kidney beans > any tinned beans such as borlotti would work.
- Baked beans > white beans and a tin of chopped tomatoes + 1 tsp of sugar to add some sweetness.
- Cream of tomato soup > any tomato soup, be it fresh or tinned. No soup? Use a tin of chopped tomatoes + 1 tsp of sugar + 2 tbsp of double cream.
Step-by-step method
Step 1 – Fry the onions 
Step 2 – Add spices 
Step 3 – Fry mince 
Step 4 – Kidney beans, baked beans and tomato soup + stir. Simmer, cover with lid and cook in an oven for 1 hour.
FAQ
Can I make chilli con carne vegan?
Definitely! You could add a mince alternative such as the Meatless Farm’s mince. You would just need to use a vegan tomato soup (the one I used contained cream) such as the Biona tomato basil soup.
Is this chilli recipe gluten-free?
Yes, it’s totally gluten-free.
How should I serve my chilli?
There are so many ways you can enjoy a chilli, from guacamole to tortilla chips.
- A dollop of sour cream or if not, creme fraiche or natural yoghurt would work too
- Grated cheese of any kind
- Guacamole or smashed avocado/avocado slices
- Tomatoes (I garnished mine with cherry toms)
- Herbs such as oregano (I used the dry kind)
- Tortilla chips (we used Manomasa’s chipotle and Lime), bought or homemade (cut a tortilla into triangles and bake for 2-3 mins until crispy)
- Jalapeños or any type of pickled chilli
Chilli Con Carne
Ingredients
- 500 g minced beef
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp cayenne powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 240 g kidney beans
- 415 g baked beans
- 400 g cream of tomato soup
To serve
- Grated cheese
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Tortilla chips
- Chopped cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Fry the chopped onion in a deep frying pan (with a lid) or a casserole pot.
- Add all the spices and fry for a few minutes until fragrant.
- Add the mince and fry until brown.
- Add the kidney beans, baked beans and tomato soup. Stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and place in a low oven at 150 degrees for an hour.
- Serve with rice and a selection of toppings: grated cheese, taco chips, guacamole, salsa, tomatoes…
Notes
More recipes the kids will love:
Sweet and sour pork meatballs
Frying pan toad in the hole
The best pork schnitzel
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