Skip to Content

Meaty Chili Recipe with Stew Meat

This steak chili without beans is, hands down, the best beef chili I’ve ever eaten. It contains all the things you want in a chili, plus slow-cooked beef for an extra tender and hearty meal! Your family will love this flavorful recipe!

This is THE BEST steak chili ever. You can make it in a slow cooker or Instant Pot and it also freezes beautifully! It's also legume-free making it paleo-friendly. | perrysplate.com #steakchili #chilirecipe #instantpotrecipe

Let me introduce you to the Lexus of chili. This steak chili recipe is, hands down, the best chili I’ve ever made. Or eaten. Using bits of steak or stew meat instead of ground beef is a total game changer.

Many of my readers have used this chili in chili competitions and have won or have done really well (even in Texas, which is saying a lot). A lot of people agree that this is the best!

This recipe might look long and slightly intimidating, but it’s worth the extra time and sautéing. I’ll hold your hand. And then we’ll be high-fiving once your family deems you the best chili maker they know.

Award Winning Steak Chili Recipe!

And apparently a lot of you feel the same way because it has won a lot of October chili cook offs! (More on that later.)

This was also the first time I’ve made a chili recipe with steak instead of lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken. It’s like the Lexus of chili.

Looking for a Meat-free Monday Recipe? Try my paleo vegetarian chili!

It’s also unique that it uses only jalapeno peppers and no canned green chile peppers or green bell pepper. It’s a delicious chili, though, so trust me on this!

What is the Best Beef for Chili?

Using steak in chili can seem like an indulgence, right? It doesn’t have to be!

Stew meat or a chuck roast is the best to include in your chili recipe with steak! Because you’re cooking it really slowly for a long time, it’ll soften up and be just as tender as great steak.

If you get grass-fed beef shares like us, then high-quality beef is pretty affordable! I always reserve a package of steak or stew meat to make this chili at least once every winter.

This is THE BEST steak chili ever. You can make it in a slow cooker or Instant Pot and it also freezes beautifully! It's also legume-free making it paleo-friendly. | perrysplate.com #steakchili #chilirecipe #instantpotrecipe

It has to compete with a couple of other beef recipes we love that remind us of living in Europe — Borscht and Goulash. We like hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meals in the winter.

Stew Meat Chili ingredients

  • Spices & herbs (chili powder, cumin seeds, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, oregano, bay leaves)
  • Steak or beef stew meat
  • Onions, celery, garlic, jalapenos
  • Beef, chicken, or vegetable stock
  • Tomato paste & crushed tomatoes
  • Semisweet or dark chocolate chips (yes, seriously)
  • Masa harina or corn flour (just a little makes a big difference)
  • Butternut squash (optional, but fun!)
  • cilantro, parsley, and garnishes
This is THE BEST steak chili ever. You can make it in a slow cooker or Instant Pot and it also freezes beautifully! It's also legume-free making it paleo-friendly. | perrysplate.com #steakchili #chilirecipe #instantpotrecipe

Does Chili Need to Have Beans?

If you’re looking for a classic bean chili recipe, this isn’t it. Most chili recipes have kidney beans or black beans, but this crock pot chili — no beans. (In some parts of Texas putting beans in chili is frowned on — go figure! A beanless chili recipe would do well there.)

It’s a nice homemade chili recipe to have if you’re eating paleo or avoiding legumes. And it’s gluten free as is.

How to make Steak Chili with Stew Meat

There are instructions below to use your slow cooker and I put adaptation for Instant Pot (or another electric pressure cooker) or stovetop as well!

1. Combine the spices and coconut sugar in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Add the beef to a large bowl and season with black pepper and salt.

3. Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or saute pan over high heat. Add the beef to the skillet. Let the meat sit for a minute or so, then stir them up. Cook for another couple of minutes, then transfer the meat to the crock of a 6-quart slow cooker. This might need to be done in batches depending on the size of your pot.

Do You Have to Sear the Beef Before Slow Cooking?

Short answer: No.

Alternate short answer: Yes, if you have time.

Also, this isn’t a “done in 30 minutes” kind of chili. It does require some prep work like chopping and searing beef chunks at medium-high heat, but it makes quite a big of chili, and I love having leftovers.

4. When you’re finished with the beef, add the chopped onion, celery, and salt to the skillet and cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add garlic, jalapenos, and spice mixture and cook for another minute.

5. Pour in the stock, tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir in the chocolate, masa harina, and another couple large pinches of salt and cook for another minute.

6. Transfer this mixture to the slow cooker with the beef. Add the water and the squash cubes (if using).

7. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 7-8 hours, stirring only once or twice, until the beef is very tender.

8.Remove the bay leaves and stir in the cilantro and parsley. Serve the chili with garnishes.

Making Stew Meat Chili in an Instant Pot

Most things that you make in a slow cooker you can adapt for Instant Pot.

And the nice thing is that if the slow cooker requires meat being browned on the stove, you can just use the Saute setting on your Instant Pot!

Converting cooking times might be a little trickier though. It totally depends on the type and thickness of meat you have. For this recipe, using steak or stew meat would only require about 20 minutes of pressure cooking time.

If you feel like this is too long you can play with the timing.

Making Chili with Stew Meat on Stove Top

If you have a large dutch oven and some patience, sure! Just let it simmer over medium-low heat for an hour or so until the beef is tender.

This is THE BEST steak chili ever. You can make it in a slow cooker or Instant Pot and it also freezes beautifully! It's also legume-free making it paleo-friendly. | perrysplate.com #steakchili #chilirecipe #instantpotrecipe

Chili with Stew Meat storage

LEFTOVER STEAK CHILI FREEZES BEAUTIFULLY.

This Slow Cooker Steak Chili is one of those recipes you put together on a lazy Saturday morning that will feed you a few times the next week. It’s not one for busy weeknights.

It’s a great meal prep recipe in that regard. Or if you are looking at the large pot of chili you just made wondering if you overshot.

It’s also a good one to take someone who is sick or just had a baby or needs a little love. Or is super overwhelmed with life. Cozy comfort food meals are great for that. And sometimes meals say exactly what we want to say when we don’t quite know what words to use.

You can warm it up and serve it over baked potatoes or on chili dogs, too.

Is this Meaty Chili Recipe spicy?

It does have a medium heat, but if you’re concerned about that, omit the cayenne and make sure to get all of the seeds and membranes out of the jalapenos. Or leave out the jalapenos entirely.

Typical chili seasonings have chili powder which can vary in hotness depending on the brand.

If you’re looking for a more spicy chili, bump up the jalapenos and cayenne or serve it with a few shakes of hot sauce next time.

This is THE BEST steak chili ever. You can make it in a slow cooker or Instant Pot and it also freezes beautifully! It's also legume-free making it paleo-friendly. | perrysplate.com #steakchili #chilirecipe #instantpotrecipe

This chili recipe with stew meat is an award winner!

I’ve loved hearing about all of the chili cook-offs this recipe has won over the years! It even one in Texas, guys. And Texas chili is no joke.

Yay for the best beef chili recipe! And yay for making chili in a slow cooker! Let me know if you enter this into a contest and win. It seriously makes my day.

If you need a tip, make it the day before you enter it into a contest. Most chili is better when reheated the next day after the flavors have melded together well in an airtight container overnight.

Stew Meat Chili tips & tricks

The ingredients aren’t hard to find either. It has a familiar chili powder base in the spices, but you may need to get some cumin seeds. (If you want, you can substitute a lesser amount of ground cumin — probably a Tablespoon will do.) 

And instead of tomato sauce, it calls for a mixture of tomato paste and crushed tomatoes, which I like. You can even use diced tomatoes blended up in place of crushed tomatoes. I’m not a fan of big tomato chunks in my chili. Beef broth can be swapped out with chicken broth, but beef gives it a richer flavor.

And ALLLLL of the spice action in this chili just blows me away. Not spice as in spicy-hot, but a complex mix of seasonings that give it such richness and depth. More than any other chili I’ve ever made. It’s well worth opening a few extra jars, I promise. You can absolutely make it spicy if you like — just shake in a little extra cayenne pepper.

Steak Chili goes well with these sides

Serving Chili with Stew Meat

I love this chili topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and sliced green onions, but if you’re avoiding dairy, try cubed avocado! It creates a great creamy element without the dairy.

More Chili Recipes on Perry’s Plate

Hearty Winter Chili — A great, quick chili with a BBQ flavor! And comes together really quickly.

Paleo Vegetarian Chili — A great vegetarian chili recipe for those meatless Mondays!

Moroccan Paleo Turkey Chili — This paleo turkey chili recipe has a Moroccan twist with a fun spice blend and a couple of unique ingredients!

PSST — I have even more chili recipes (more chicken and pork chilis especially!) in my cookbooks. Grab a copies of The Big Book of Paleo Slow Cooking and The Big Book of Paleo Pressure Cooking for more delicious chili recipes and a whole slew of Instant Pot and slow cooker recipes!


More Recipes on Perry’s Plate

If you make one of my recipes, be sure to post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

Meaty Chili Recipe with Stew Meat FAQs

What kind of steak is best for chili?

Stew meat or a chuck roast is the best to include in your chili recipe with steak! Because you’re cooking it really slowly for a long time, it’ll soften up and be just as tender as great steak.

Can you put raw beef in chili?

You can, but browning your meat before slow cooking will always add more flavor!

How do you keep meat tender in chili?

Cooking your meat really slowly for a long time, will ensure that they are tender.

What’s the difference between chili and chili con carne?

Chili can be made using poultry, vegetables, legumes, anything you could think of really!
Chili con carne is always made using meat. “Con carne” means “with meat” in Spanish.

What gives chili the best flavor?

Using quality and fresh herbs and spices will ensure a flavorful chill!

Stew Meat Chili Video (for Instant Pot)

Stew Meat With Chili

Stew Meat With Chili

Yield: Serves 8-10
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 7 hours

This is absolutely my favorite chili of all time. And apparently many of you feel the same way! It's a winner in our house as well as many chili cook-offs around the country. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think!

I also included instructions for Instant Pot in the recipe notes.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 2 Tablespoons whole cumin seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons dried Mexican or regular oregano
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons coconut sugar or honey
  • 4 pounds steak, cut into 1-inch cubes (can also use boneless chuck or stew meat)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 1/2 Tablespoons Kosher salt
  • 3 Tablesoons heat-safe oil (avocado or coconut)
  • 4 cups chopped onions (3 medium or 2 large)
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped celery (about 4 ribs)
  • 6 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 jalapeno chiles, seeded and roughly chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups stock (beef, chicken, or vegetable will do)
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 ounce semisweet or dark chocolate chips
  • 3 Tablespoons masa harina (corn flour, not cornstarch -- optional)
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups chopped butternut squash (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • Grated cheddar, chopped green onions, and sour cream for garnish

Instructions

  1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Add the beef to a large bowl and season with the black pepper and 1 Tablespoon of the salt.
  3. Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or saute pan over high heat. Add about 1/3 of the beef to the skillet. Let the meat sit for a minute or so, then stir them up. Cook for another couple of minutes, then transfer the meat to the crock of a 6-quart slow cooker.
  4. Repeat with remaining beef, adding it to the skillet in two more batches and browning them in spots. Add more oil between batches, if necessary.
  5. When you're finished with the beef, add the onion, celery, and 1 Tablespoon of the remaining salt to the skillet and cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add garlic, jalapenos, and spice mixture and cook for another minute.
  6. Pour in the stock, tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir in the chocolate, masa harina, and another couple large pinches of salt and cook for another minute.
  7. Transfer this mixture to the slow cooker with the beef. Add the water and the squash cubes (if using).
  8. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 7-8 hours, stirring only once or twice, until the beef is very tender.
  9. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the cilantro and parsley. Serve the chili with garnishes.

Notes

Nat's Notes: The original recipe had 1 teaspoon of cayenne. I thought 1/4 teaspoon was plenty spicy, and perhaps a little too much for my 4-year-old who filled her chili with cornbread and sour cream.

Instant Pot Adaptation:

  • Omit the water and reduce the broth to 1 cup.
  • Do all the searing in the Instant Pot using the Saute mode.
  • Cook at high pressure for 20 minutes and let the cooker sit for 15 minutes before releasing the steam manually.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

It’s an adaptation of a fantastic recipe from Emeril Lagasse’s book, Sizzling Skillets and One Pot Wonders. (The Slow Cooker Indian Beef was also from this book and are favorites of ours!)

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Purchases made by using these links doesn’t cost you any extra and helps to keep my content free.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Kathleen

Friday 16th of February 2024

I don't give ANYTHING 5 stars, but this, in spite of not asking, gets 5 stars!!! I made it without the squash (low-carbers) but added cooked squash into my own bowl the next day. It is the first time I've ever done "Chili sin Frijoles" and it was FANTASTIC. Followed the recipe for Instant Pot with the only modification being that I used 1 oz. of 72% bittersweet chocolate. Notes: I did get a burn notice on my Instant Pot--I'm new to instant-potting, so I think that you are supposed to NOT *mix* tomatoes in as they are prone to creating a burn notice, but it also could be that I didn't sufficiently scrape the fond up during veg sauteeing and deglazing. Also, I used the 4 lbs of stew meat, but easily could have used all six pounds from the Costco package. Alternatively you could serve it over a bed of rice or polenta. It really was great! Thanks for sharing!!!

Natalie Perry

Wednesday 21st of February 2024

Aw thank you!! And thank you for explaining your process. It's helpful for those who make it. I'm so glad you loved it as much as we do!

Scott

Thursday 17th of February 2022

I Came across this recipe yesterday and I was wondering how to accommodate an 8 quart crockpot with the ingredients

Natalie Perry

Wednesday 23rd of February 2022

Hi Scott! Just make the recipe as written. It'll be fine. enjoy!

Deb

Friday 16th of July 2021

How many carbs?

Shannon

Wednesday 20th of January 2021

Hello!

I love this recipe and have made it several times! Thank you so much for it!!

I wanted to give a tip in case anyone has the same trouble I did. I tried it in my new instant pot for the first time tonight (versus slow cooker or stove top). I got an error message: "food burn". After looking it up, it is 1) Not recommended to do thick sauces like this in an instant pot. I read a suggestion of layering the chili instead of mixing everything together. 2) It is highly recommended to not add any thickener (Masa harina) until after the pressure cooking portion. I had a feeling about this, but am very new to pressure cooking. Because I didn't see any mention of it, I went ahead and added everything all together like normal. I think that is mainly where I went wrong!

Anyway, I just dumped it in my dutch oven and it will still be delicious! Just thought I'd share my experience!! :) Thanks!

Natalie Perry

Saturday 30th of January 2021

Thanks Shannon!

NicoleM

Wednesday 11th of November 2020

I'm personally a bean chili fan, but my husband begged me to make meat-no-bean chili. I found this recipe and I am now sold on meat chili! I altered the recipe as to what I had on hand: 2lbs stew meat, in lieu of 1/4 cup chili powder, I used a mix of Matanzas chili blend and Moroccon spice mix (spice & tea exchange company). I also added about 1tsp of Aleppo flakes and smoked paprika. I didn't have jalapeño or celery, but I added enough spices to make it to our family's liking. I omitted the cinnamon per my personal taste preferences. Since I didn't have all the onions and garlic, I added garlic & onion powder. I was reluctant to add the chocolate, but I'm so glad I did. You can't taste the chocolate individually, but it does add to the wonderful complex flavor. Unfortunately my family won't eat squash, so against my husband's wishes, I did add 1 can of chili beans, and he ended up being perfectly fine with this. I also sautéed 3 slices of bacon, broke it into pieces and cooked it along with the whole mix. I used my InstantPot and 20 minutes was perfect for a flavorful, tender meat chili. We topped the chili over rice since it was a thicker consistency, but we loved it. The masa harina is a must with this recipe. Dinner was complete within an hour and tasted like I had worked on it all day! Great recipe that I'll make again.

Natalie Perry

Tuesday 1st of December 2020

I'm so happy you enjoyed it and that you were able to adapt it to your liking. Thanks for the review, Nicole!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to Recipe