One Pot Guinness Chili
This Guinness chili is a thick, beefy bowl of comfort with a can of stout stirred right into the pot. The beer adds a deep, almost roasted flavor you don’t get from regular chili, but it’s still simple enough for a weeknight.
This is the kind of chili you make on a chilly Sunday and then eat all week. It only takes one pot and about 40 minutes, so there’s no real planning required — just brown the beef, dump in the rest, and let it simmer.
For more easy one-pot dinners, be sure to try my slow cooker white chicken chili or high protein turkey chili. lThey’re all simple, hearty recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this Guinness Chili:
Ingredient Notes
Guinness Draught: Grab the can, not a random stout off the shelf. Guinness Draught has a smooth, roasty flavor that mellows as it simmers.
Ground Beef: I like 80/20 here because the extra fat gives the chili more body.
Kidney Beans: Rinse and drain them well so the chili stays thick and clear instead of cloudy.
Brown Sugar: This rounds out the bitterness from the beer without making the chili taste sweet.
Diced Tomatoes: Keep the juices in the can and add them too. That liquid helps build the chili base.
Recipe Variations
Go Half Black Bean or Bulk It Up: Swap half the kidney beans for black beans, or stir in diced bell pepper or corn with the tomatoes.
Make It Smokier or Hotter: Add smoked paprika, diced jalapeño, or cayenne with the spices.
Try the Slow Cooker: Brown the beef and onion first, then transfer everything to the slow cooker and cook on low until thick.
How To Make Guinness Chili: Step by Step
Here are quick visual instructions. Be sure to check out the full instructions with exact ingredients in the printable recipe card below.
Step 1: Brown the ground beef, then add the onion and cook until softened.
Step 2: Pour in the Guinness and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Step 3: Add the diced tomatoes and brown sugar to the pot.
Step 4: Stir in the kidney beans until everything is combined.
Step 5: Simmer until the chili is thick and rich, then season to taste.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Don’t skip the simmer time — even 15 to 20 extra minutes helps the beer flavor mellow.
Use a big pot so the chili has room to bubble and thicken without making a mess.
If the chili tastes flat, add salt in small pinches and taste again before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not really. The Guinness adds a deep, roasted background flavor that makes the beef taste richer.
Yes. This chili gets better as it sits, so making it a day ahead and reheating gently is a great option.
Let it simmer uncovered a little longer and stir more often near the end. It will thicken as the liquid reduces.
I hope you love this Guinness Chili. Please consider leaving a star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below. Thank you so much!
More Recipes To Try
Guinness Chili
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 1 large red onion chopped
- 2 teaspoons chili seasoning
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 11.2 ounces Guinness Draught beer 1 can
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes with juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 15 ounces kidney beans rinsed and drained
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley for serving
- sour cream for serving, optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it browns, until no longer pink.
- Stir in the chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened.
- Add the chili seasoning, cumin, and garlic powder, and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Pour in the Guinness, stirring well and scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits.
- Add the diced tomatoes with their juice, the brown sugar, and the kidney beans. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve hot, topped with sour cream and fresh parsley.
Notes
The nutritional details for recipes are estimated using MyFitnessPal and can vary with different products, measurement accuracy, and source reliability. We aim to provide accurate information but cannot guarantee the precise accuracy of the nutritional data