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Quick chilli con carne

Quick chilli con carne

When cooking a mince dish like this one it makes sense to double up and freeze a second meal for another day. If you buy mince that is specifically sold as a frozen product, you can cook it straight from frozen, otherwise defrost overnight in the fridge or if you are after a speedy supper, defrost in the microwave.

Delicious served with all the accompaniments; guacamole, sour cream, grated cheese, jalapeño chillies and tortilla chips.
By Caroline Marson
Serves 4
Prep/Cook time: 1 hour +
A plate of chilli con carne with green garnish

Ingredients

500g frozen beef mince
This recipe works perfectly with frozen meat. Check what you have in your freezer and defrost meat thoroughly before cooking.
1 onion, finely chopped
Use up what you have. Spring onions and shallots work well here.
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tbsp olive oil, for frying
1½ tbsp tomato puree
1 tsp mild chilli powder (or more if you like a hotter chilli)
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 x 400g canned chopped tomatoes
Add in any fresh tomatoes that need using up.
1 x 400g tins red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
400ml meat stock - beef, lamb or chicken are best
1 cinnamon stick

Perfect portions

Use our portion calculator for a quick and simple way to check how much food to serve with this meal.

Use portion calculator

Recipe

  1. Remember to defrost your meat! Defrost in the fridge and use within 24 hours, or in a microwave on ‘defrost’ directly before use.

    This recipe works perfectly with frozen meat. Check what you have in your freezer and defrost meat thoroughly before cooking.

  2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the onions with the garlic, chilli, spices and tomato puree for 5- 10 minutes.

  3. Add the mince and cook over a high heat, stirring until all the meat changes colour and there are no lumps, bubble until the meat begins to catch.

  4. Add the tinned tomatoes bring to the boil and leave to cook down for about 5 minutes.

  5. Pour in the meat stock and kidney beans, drop in the cinnamon stick and bring to the boil. Stir and turn heat down, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cinnamon stick, taste, season and serve.

  6. To freeze: Complete the recipe up to the end of step 4. Cool, put into an airtight container, label and freeze for up to 3 months. To use: Defrost overnight in the fridge. Simmer the chilli in a pan on the hob until piping hot.

Make the most of your leftovers
Store in
Airtight container
Time
Fridge for 2 days, freezer for 3 months
Where to store
Fridge or freezer
Reheat
Oven or microwave until piping hot. Reheat only once.

Perfect portions

Use our portion calculator for a quick and simple way to check how much food to serve with this meal.

Use portion calculator

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food stored in a fridge

Keep your fridge at 5°C or below

Did you know that adjusting the temperature of your fridge could help to preserve your food for three days longer than usual? A big win to help keep your food fresher for longer. Our fridge temperature tool can help you learn how to change the temperature on your specific fridge brand.