Name: True Texas Chili
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 2 ounces dried, whole New Mexico (California), guajillo, or pasilla chiles, or a combination (6 to 8 chiles); 1½ teaspoons ground cumin seed; ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; Kosher salt; 5 tablespoons lard, vegetable oil, or rendered beef suet; 2½ pounds boneless beef chuck, well trimmed and cut into ¾-inch cubes (to yield 2 pounds after trimming); ⅓ cup finely chopped onion; 3 large cloves garlic, minced; 2 cups beef stock , or canned low-sodium beef broth, plus more as needed; 2¼ cups water, plus more as needed; 2 tablespoons masa harina (corn tortilla flour); 1 tablespoon firmly packed dark brown sugar, plus more as needed; 1½ tablespoons distilled white vinegar, plus more as needed; Sour cream; Lime wedges

Image may contain Dish Food Meal and Curry

True Texas ChiliLucy Schaeffer

This Texas classic doesn't include beans or tomatoes, only beef, homemade chile paste, and a few flavorings. It's what Texans call a "Bowl o' Red" and tastes intensely of its two main ingredients. Take care to cook the chili at the barest possible simmer to avoid evaporating the sauce before the beef is tender. Whatever combination of dried chiles you use, make sure they're as fresh as possible by buying from a store with good turnover. Dried chiles should be pliable (but not damp) and without signs of mold.

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Our 33 Best Chili Recipes
Because a big bowl of hearty chili is always warming and satisfying.

Classic French Bouillabaisse With Rouille

This flexible recipe is all you need to bring this iconic Provençal seafood stew to your table.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Key Lime Pie Thumbprint Cookies

The classic dessert reimagined as a soft and chewy cookie with a buttery, brown-sugar-sweetened graham cracker dough and a silky lime custard filling.

Recipe notes

Our 33 Best Chili Recipes