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Rich beef chilli con carne with mushrooms, peppers and kidney beans
NIX KITCHEN · SMALL-POT SERIES

CHILLI CON CARNE

BEEF. MUSHROOMS. PEPPERS. BEANS. PROPER SLOW-COOKED HEAT.

SERVES
3
PREP
20 MINUTES
COOK
5–6 HOURS LOW
CROCKPOT
ABOUT 1.8L
DIFFICULTY
EASY
NIX RATING
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is a compact Crockpot chilli that tastes as though it has been simmering in a much larger kitchen. Beef gives it backbone, mushrooms deepen the savoury flavour, red pepper brings sweetness and kidney beans turn it into a proper filling meal.

The liquid is deliberately restrained. Mushrooms, onion and pepper all release water while the lid is closed, so 50ml of stock is enough. Nobody ordered chilli soup.

As written it is warming rather than reckless. Add the hot chilli gradually—you can always invite more fire to the party.

THE CHILLI LOADOUT

INGREDIENTS

01250g lean beef mince (5% fat)

021 teaspoon rapeseed or olive oil

031 medium onion, finely diced

04100g chestnut mushrooms, sliced

051 red pepper, deseeded and diced

062 garlic cloves, crushed

071 tablespoon tomato purée

081 × 400g can chopped tomatoes

091 × 400g can kidney beans, drained and rinsed (about 240g)

1050ml beef stock

111 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

122 teaspoons mild chilli powder

131 teaspoon ground cumin

141 teaspoon smoked paprika

15½ teaspoon dried oregano

16¼–½ teaspoon hot chilli powder or chilli flakes, to taste

17½ teaspoon salt, then adjust

18Plenty of black pepper

191 teaspoon dark brown sugar, optional

201 teaspoon lime juice or red-wine vinegar, to finish

21180g dried long-grain rice, to serve

22Soured cream, grated Cheddar, coriander or spring onion, optional

CUPBOARD CHECK

SHOPPING LIST

Tick what you already have. What remains is your shopping list.

22STILL NEEDED
NIX FOOD DATA · ESTIMATED

NUTRITION & COST

Approximate values per serving with 60g dry rice, before optional toppings. Ingredient brands, exact weights and cooking losses will alter the final figures.

APPROXIMATE COST≈ £5.40WHOLE RECIPE≈ £1.80PER SERVING WITH 60G DRY RICE, BEFORE OPTIONAL TOPPINGS
ENERGY
2,470 kJ / 590 kcal
PROTEIN
35g
CARBOHYDRATE
80g
OF WHICH SUGARS
12g
FAT
12g
SATURATES
4g
FIBRE
11g
SALT
1.6g

Cost basis: Typical UK supermarket own-brand prices apportioned to the quantities used, including rice.

Nutrition basis: Three equal portions using 5% beef mince and 180g dry rice. Soured cream, cheese and other toppings are excluded.

THE CHILLI SEQUENCE

METHOD

  1. 01

    BROWN THE BEEF

    Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the mince and cook for 5–6 minutes, breaking it up, until properly browned. Drain any excess fat and transfer to the Crockpot.

  2. 02

    COOK THE VEGETABLES

    Add the onion, mushrooms and red pepper to the same pan. Cook for 6–8 minutes until the onion softens and the mushroom moisture has mostly evaporated.

  3. 03

    WAKE UP THE SPICES

    Stir in the garlic, tomato purée, chilli powder, cumin, smoked paprika and oregano. Cook for 60 seconds, stirring, until fragrant.

  4. 04

    LOAD THE SMALL POT

    Tip everything from the pan into the Crockpot. Add the tomatoes, drained kidney beans, stock, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and optional sugar. Stir thoroughly.

  5. 05

    COOK LOW AND SLOW

    Cover and cook for 5–6 hours on LOW or 3–3½ hours on HIGH. Keep the lid closed. The chilli is ready when the vegetables are tender and the sauce is rich and thick.

  6. 06

    FINISH AND ADJUST

    Stir in the lime juice or vinegar. Taste carefully, then adjust the salt, pepper and chilli heat. If it is looser than you like, cook uncovered on HIGH for 20–30 minutes.

  7. 07

    SERVE

    Cook the rice separately. Spoon the chilli over it and add soured cream, Cheddar, coriander or spring onion if wanted.

SMALL CROCKPOT INTELLIGENCE

THE IMPORTANT BITS

DRAIN THE BEANS

Rinse away the thick canning liquid before they go into the pot. It keeps the flavour cleaner and the salt easier to control.

CONTROL THE HEAT

Mild chilli powder supplies flavour; hot chilli or flakes supply danger. Add the latter cautiously.

RICE STAYS SEPARATE

Cook it fresh near serving time. Rice left in a slow cooker all day becomes building material.

NIX VERDICT

SMALL POT.
BIG BOWL ENERGY.

Rich, smoky, filling and easy to tune from friendly warmth to dashboard-warning-light hot.

RICE READY. CHEESE OPTIONAL. SECOND HELPING LIKELY.