Spicy Taco Chili

This is the best, easy-to-make Spicy Taco Chili, giving you your taco fix in a bowl! Familiar taco seasoning flavors cook with beef and beans, making it a simple meal you will love to serve up all season long. Make it in the slow cooker/crockpot, instant pot, or on the stove!

about this spicy taco chili

I always relish the moment the weather turns a little cooler in Colorado because it means I can make all of the chili. My love for chili recipes is well known at this point after all!

A big bowl of chili with a ton of toppings is simply put, my happy place.

I’ll take any excuse to serve you up more chili, of course 😉

Having a good base chili like this is absolutely necessary to keep you warm all fall and winter long. Just don’t forget all the toppings! The tortilla chips, the sour cream, the sliced jalapeño and the cheese all bring a whole new level of flavors and textures to keep every bite interesting!

It’s essentially the only way to celebrate Taco Tuesday and get a warm bowl of soup all in the same bowl.

ingredients

oil. We recommend using either extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.

onion. You can use either a white onion or yellow onion for this recipe.

beef. Use lean ground beef, an 80/20 ratio is best.

beans. You will need hot chili beans and kidney beans for this recipe. Do not drain the beans as you will need the liquid in the cans for the chili.

tomatoes. Fire-roasted tomatoes are recommended. You can also use regular diced tomatoes, but the flavor from the fire-roasted tomatoes makes a big difference.

tomato paste. Use your favorite brand of tomato paste for the chili.

spices. You will need a combination of salt, pepper, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and dried oregano for the seasoning mix.

cocoa powder. Use a Dutch processed cocoa powder to add depth of flavor to the chili mixture.

toppings. We recommend using sliced avocado, sour cream, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, crushed tortilla chips, and sliced jalapenos.

this recipe’s must haves

I absolutely love having a chef’s knife handy for the perfect knife cuts.

If you want a durable and reliable skillet, I always recommend reaching for a cast iron skillet. You can also pick up a more inexpensive option with this Lodge cast iron skillet to cook down the onions and brown the beef.

The Instant Pot Ultra, of course! It’s so much more than just a pressure cooker!

If you prefer the stovetop method, use a Dutch oven.

Note: This is an updated version of the original post published on October 2, 2017.

here’s how to make spicy taco chili

choose your cooking method

You can make this chili in the slow cooker, Instant Pot, and on the stovetop. The steps are generally the same for each cooking method. The specific instructions for each are in the recipe card below.

cook meat and onion

Cook the onion until softened in a skillet or in the Instant Pot set to saute. Add the beef and cook it until it is browned, about 4 to 5 minutes.

cook the chili

Combine the meat and onion with the remaining ingredients and cook according to the cooking method you selected.

Serve in bowls with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

More delicious chili recipes to try out: Chipotle Chili | Queso Chili | Turkey Pumpkin Chili | Instant Pot Carne Asada Chili

can I use leftover taco meat for this recipe?

If you have leftover cooked taco meat, you can use it in this recipe! Skip the cooking of the meat and add it in with the remaining ingredients to simmer the chili.

how can I make this chili more or less spicy?

You can make this chili more mild by swapping the hot chili beans for regular chili beans. You can also omit the cayenne pepper.

To make the chili even spicier (which is how we like it!), add another 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the recipe.

can I use taco seasoning instead of the spice mix in the recipe?

If you have taco seasoning on hand and don’t have everything for the spice mix, you can use the taco seasoning instead. You will need to use 3 to 4 teaspoons of the seasoning to flavor the chili. We recommend swapping it out for the ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Still use the cocoa powder though for added depth!

can I use a different meat?

Yes! Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground lamb.

can you freeze taco chili?

This chili freezes very well! Make the chili and cool it to room temperature. Add to a freezer safe container and place in the freeze for up to 4 months. We like to freeze them in container that are pre-portioned so you can reheat and eat as much as you like.

Need more inspiration for dinner? Check out my main dish recipes page!

what to serve with spicy taco chili

Use your favorite toppings for this recipe! We like to top our bowls with sliced avocado, sour cream, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, crushed tortilla chips, and jalapeno slices. You can also use other toppings like cojita cheese, queso fresco, Fritos, red onion, hot sauce, pico de gallo, and green onion.

how to store

Store. Store leftovers cooled to room temperature in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for up to 4 to 5 days.

Reheat. Reheat the soup in a big batch on the stovetop in a Dutch oven over medium heat. You can also reheat in individual portions in bowls in the microwave until warmed through.

Freeze. Freeze room temperature chili in a freezer safe airtight container for up to 4 to 5 months.

Thaw. Thaw leftovers overnight in the fridge and reheat as instructed above.

more comforting soups to enjoy

Creamy pumpkin and sweet potato soup is comforting and versatile, with three different possible cooking methods.

Hearty Tuscan white bean soup is packed with white beans, fresh vegetables, and wilted greens.

Comforting Instant Pot tortilla soup bring together simple ingredients for a warm bowl of flavorful soup.

Want a quick weeknight meal shortcut? Make this chili seasoning recipe for nights when you are short on time to make easy chili or to season meats and veggies.

Finally, if you make this spicy taco chili recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star recipe rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!

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