The Best Texas Brisket Chili Recipe for Cozy Family Nights

Slow-cooked beef reaches new heights in this mouthwatering Texas brisket chili that promises pure comfort and depth of flavor.

Tender chunks of brisket simmer alongside robust spices, creating a hearty meal that warms you from the inside out.

Rich, smoky notes dance through each spoonful, telling a story of culinary tradition and passion.

Regional ingredients blend seamlessly, delivering a chili experience that stands apart from typical recipes.

Bold and unapologetic, this dish celebrates the robust spirit of texan cooking.

Prepare to savor every complex, soul-satisfying bite that transforms an ordinary meal into an extraordinary feast.

Grab a bowl and let the magic of this chili transport you to the heart of Texas.

What Makes This Texas Brisket Chili Stand Out

• This Texas Brisket Chili delivers an incredible taste journey through carefully layered spices and slow-cooked techniques that transform simple ingredients into a complex, rich meal.
• The recipe teaches professional-level culinary skills like proper meat browning, spice toasting, and slow simmering, helping home cooks elevate their kitchen expertise.
• Easily adaptable recipe allows adjustments in spice levels, meat cuts, and additional ingredients, making it perfect for personalized comfort food that suits individual tastes.
• Packed with robust flavors and hearty ingredients, this chili becomes an instant crowd favorite for gatherings, game days, and family dinners, satisfying even the most discerning food lovers.

Ingredients for Bold Texas Brisket Chili

• Brisket: A flavorful cut of beef that becomes tender and rich when slow-cooked.
• Bacon: Adds a smoky depth and extra richness to the chili.

• Onions, Garlic: Provide a foundational flavor base and aromatic complexity to the dish.

• Salt, Black Pepper, Onion Powder: Essential seasonings that enhance the meat's natural flavors.
• Paprika, Cumin, Texas Chili Powder, Thyme, Chipotle Powder: A complex spice blend that creates a deep, layered taste profile with a slight heat.

• Coffee, Beef Broth: Contribute moisture and add rich, deep undertones to the chili.
• Canned Tomatoes: Provide acidity and help create a thick, robust sauce.

How to Cook Texas Brisket Chili to Perfection

Step 1: Prepare Brisket

Carefully trim excess fat from the brisket, keeping a thin layer for flavor.

Cut the meat into small quarter-inch cubes.

If time is tight, ask your local butcher to pre-cube the meat for convenience.

Step 2: Crisp Bacon

Heat a large stockpot over medium temperature.

Cook bacon until crispy and golden brown.

Remove bacon from the pot, leaving behind the delicious rendered fat.

Set bacon aside for later use.

Step 3: Brown Meat Carefully

Brown brisket cubes in small batches to ensure perfect searing.

Avoid overcrowding the pot, which causes steaming instead of browning.

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Onion powder

Remove each batch and set aside.

Step 4: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

Use the same pot to cook diced onions.

Add a pinch of salt and scrape up the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

Allow onions to soften and develop a slight caramelization.

Step 5: Bloom Spices

• Paprika
• Cumin
• Texas chili powder
• Thyme
• Chipotle powder
• Salt

Incorporate pressed garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Step 6: Combine Ingredients

Return browned brisket to the pot.

Pour in coffee and beef broth.

Crush canned tomatoes by hand and add to the mixture.

Crumble reserved bacon into the chili.

Step 7: Slow Simmer

Cover the pot and simmer on low heat for 2.5 to 3 hours.

Stir occasionally and add extra beef broth if the chili becomes too thick.

The long cooking process will tenderize the meat and blend flavors beautifully.

Handy Tips for Hearty Brisket Chili

• Ask your local butcher to pre-cube the brisket to save time and ensure uniform pieces for even cooking.
• Brown meat in batches to develop deep, rich flavors and prevent steaming. Each batch should have enough space to create a beautiful golden crust.
• Toast spices for 1-2 minutes before adding other ingredients to release their essential oils and intensify their flavor profile.
• Monitor chili's consistency during cooking by adding extra beef broth if it becomes too thick. The slow simmer helps tenderize meat and blend flavors.
• Use bacon fat for initial cooking to add smoky undertones and create a robust base for your Texas-style chili.

How to Save and Reheat Texas Brisket Chili

• Store leftover chili in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Transfer chili to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn. Stays good for up to 3 months. Label with date and contents.
• Place chili in microwave-safe dish. Cover with microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap. Heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval. Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety.
• Pour chili into saucepan. Add splash of beef broth to prevent sticking. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Heat until steaming hot and temperature reaches 165°F. Stir to prevent scorching and maintain consistent temperature.

Top Pairings for Texas Brisket Chili

• Savor Perfectly Paired Delights for Texas Brisket Chili
• Craft a Bold Red Wine Match: Choose a robust Zinfandel or Syrah with deep fruit notes and spicy undertones that can stand up to the chili's intense flavors and rich meaty profile.
• Serve with Cornbread Companions: Whip up a slightly sweet jalapeño cornbread that complements the chili's smoky heat, providing a tender, crumbly texture that soaks up the delicious sauce.
• Create Cooling Contrast: Prepare a crisp, tangy coleslaw with a vinegar-based dressing to cut through the chili's richness and provide a refreshing counterpoint to the hearty dish.
• Enhance with Craft Beer Pairing: Select a dark porter or amber ale with malty characteristics that mirror the chili's deep, complex flavor profile and help balance its spicy elements.

Tasty Twists on Texas Brisket Chili

• Smoky Vegetarian Brisket Chili: Replace brisket with smoked tofu or seitan, using liquid smoke to maintain deep flavor profile. Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth for plant-based protein alternative.
• Low-Carb Keto Brisket Chili: Eliminate beans, increase meat quantity, and add extra fatty bacon. Replace tomatoes with fire-roasted diced tomatoes to reduce carbohydrate content while maintaining rich taste.
• Slow Cooker Adaptation: Transfer all ingredients to slow cooker after browning meats and sautéing onions. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, allowing flavors to develop slowly and brisket to become extremely tender.
• Spicy Southwest Brisket Chili: Incorporate roasted green chiles, increase chipotle powder, and add fresh jalapeños. Include a splash of tequila during simmering stage for additional complexity and regional character.

FAQs

• Why is browning the brisket in batches important?

Browning in batches ensures each meat cube develops a rich, caramelized crust. If you overcrowd the pan, the meat will steam instead of sear, preventing that deep flavor development and preventing proper browning.

• Can I use a different cut of beef if brisket is unavailable?

While brisket provides the most authentic flavor, you can substitute with chuck roast. Chuck roast has similar marbling and will become tender during the long cooking process, though the flavor profile might be slightly different.

• What does toasting the spices actually do?

Toasting spices for 1-2 minutes releases their essential oils and intensifies their flavors. This technique helps create a more complex, deeper taste profile in your chili, bringing out the individual spice characteristics more prominently.

• Why is coffee used in this recipe?

Coffee adds depth and complexity to the chili, enhancing the meat’s rich flavor. The slight bitterness and robust notes complement the spices and help tenderize the meat during the long cooking process.

Texas Brisket Chili Recipe

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4.5 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 3 hours
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Hearty Texas brisket chili brings bold Lone Star State flavors to your table, melding smoky beef with rich spices. Comfort meets culinary craft in this soulful dish you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Meat:

• 3.4 pounds beef brisket, trimmed
• 4 slices thick cut bacon

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon cumin powder
• 3.5 tablespoons Texas chili powder
• 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
• 0.5 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Onion powder

Other Ingredients:

• 2 cups white onion, small diced
• 5 garlic cloves
• 1 quart beef broth
• 0.5 cup strong black coffee
• 28 ounces whole tomatoes, in juice

Garnish:

• Sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
• White onion
• Fritos
• Tabasco sauce
• Jalapenos

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Instructions

1. Meticulously trim excess fat from brisket, preserving just enough for robust flavor. Dice the meat into precise ¼” cubes, ensuring uniform cooking. Consider requesting pre-cubing from your local butcher to save preparation time.
2. Render bacon in a large stockpot over medium heat until achieving crisp, golden perfection. Extract bacon and reserve for later incorporation, leaving behind a flavorful fat foundation.
3. Execute strategic browning of brisket cubes in multiple batches. Prevent overcrowding to guarantee proper caramelization. Liberally season each batch with salt, pepper, and onion powder during searing process. Maintain high heat to develop deep, complex flavor profiles.
4. Utilize the same pot to sauté diced onions, incorporating a pinch of salt. Expertly deglaze the pan, capturing those concentrated flavor remnants clinging to the bottom. Allow onions to soften and slightly caramelize over 5-7 minutes.
5. Introduce a symphony of spices: paprika, cumin, Texas chili powder, thyme, and chipotle powder. Toast the spices for approximately 2 minutes to amplify their aromatic intensity. Incorporate pressed garlic, cooking for an additional minute to release its pungent essence.
6. Reunite the browned brisket with the spice-infused base. Pour in coffee and beef broth, creating a rich liquid foundation. Hand-crush canned tomatoes directly into the mixture, ensuring their juices integrate fully. Crumble reserved bacon throughout the pot.
7. Initiate a low and slow simmering process for 2½ to 3 hours. Maintain a gentle heat, occasionally stirring to prevent scorching. Monitor liquid levels, supplementing with additional beef broth if the chili appears too dense. Allow the ingredients to meld, transforming into a deeply flavorful, tender chili.

Notes

• Ensure uniform ¼” cuts for even cooking and consistent texture throughout the chili.
• Keep a thin layer of fat on brisket for enhanced flavor and moisture, but remove excessive fatty sections.
• Cook meat in small batches to achieve proper caramelization and prevent steaming, which develops deeper flavor profiles.
• Briefly toast spices before adding liquid ingredients to release their essential oils and intensify their aromatic qualities.
• Monitor chili’s consistency during simmering, adding beef broth gradually to prevent over-thickening while maintaining rich texture.
• Can substitute brisket with chuck roast or short ribs for similar rich, tender results if brisket unavailable.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg