Cooking With Beer – Beef & Amber Ale Chili

Festive foods take on new meaning when made with serious beer. And with much of the country in the midst of a polar blast, it’s time for more cold-weather offerings like Beef & Amber Ale Chili.

And although this recipe works with a wide range of beers, we used Bell’s Amber Ale, a 5.8% year-round from the renowned Midwest brewery with sweet toasty caramel notes from its carefully selected malts. Capped off by the moderate bitterness we were looking for, it’s incredibly versatile beer for cooking , and very tasty on its own.

This Grand Rapids, Michigan-brewed classic (which is widely available) really adds something special to this hearty dish, so it’s worth chasing down.

Beef & Amber Ale Chili

Servings: 6-8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1.5 – 2 hours

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef (or a mix of beef & pork)
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 (12 oz) bottle of brown ale
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 cup beef broth
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp cocoa powder (optional, for depth)

Instructions

Sauté the Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onions and bell pepper, cooking until soft (about 5 minutes). Stir in garlic and cook for another minute.
Brown the Meat: Add ground beef (or pork) and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if needed.
Deglaze with Amber Ale: Pour in the brown ale, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to cook off some alcohol.
Add Tomatoes & Beans: Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, kidney beans, black beans, and beef broth.
Season the Chili: Add Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne, black pepper, salt, brown sugar, and cocoa powder. Stir well.
Simmer: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer uncovered for at least 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the better the flavors develop!
Adjust Seasoning & Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, or fresh cilantro.