This No Bean Chili Recipe is as delicious as the classic, without the beans! Packed with savory ground beef, veggies, and spices, this beanless chili is the best healthy comfort food! Whole30, Paleo, and Keto-friendly!

no bean chili in 3 bowls topped with cheese, sour cream, and avocado with cornbread on the side

What Makes This Recipe Great

I love to eat chili all year long! Even though it’s officially summer, I’ve been craving all of the cozy comfort foods and this beanless chili hits the spot! With tons of topping options and easy cooking instructions (Instant Pot & Slow Cooker!), you will love this chili regardless of the season!

This no bean chili recipe is packed with protein, veggies, and spices, and a not-so-secret addition: cacao powder. I LOVE adding it to my chili recipes because it provides so much depth and bold flavors. Just trust me – you gotta try it!

Recipe Highlights

  • Multiple cooking methods.
  • Minimal prep.
  • Keto, Whole30, Paleo, & Gluten-Free!
  • Only 30 minutes in the Instant Pot!
  • Healthy comfort food at its finest!
  • Endless topping options!

Ingredient Notes

ingredients for no bean chili

Ground Beef: I like to get mine from Butcher Box. You could also do 1/2 ground pork!

Veggies: Carrots, Celery, Red Pepper, Onion, Garlic

Coconut Aminos: These add a ton of flavor while still keeping this beanless chili Whole30! You can find them at Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, and other local grocery stores.

Frank’s Red Hot: Use whatever hot sauce you have on hand! I like Franks!

Spices: Chili Powder, Cumin, Paprika, Salt.

Raw Cacao Powder: This adds amazing depth and boldness to this recipe. Note: Cacao and unsweetened cocoa powder are different! Make sure to look for brands like Nativa that sell excellent cacao powder. You can find this at most local grocery stores.

Recipe Step by Step

steps for making no bean chili

Instant Pot Beanless Chili

  1. Turn the Instant Pot to “saute” mode. Add in the olive oil and let it heat up. Then, add in the ground beef and the onion and cook for 5-7 minutes, using a spoon to break up the meat. 
  2. Add in the remaining ingredients and give everything a good stir. Cook on manual high pressure for 12 minutes. Let it naturally release for 10 minutes. Release the steam, then stir. Serve with desired toppings and enjoy!

Slow Cooker No Bean Chili

  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onions and saute for 5-7 minutes until the beef is mostly browned.
  2. Transfer the beef and onions to the slow cooker and add in the remaining ingredients. Stir well. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Serve and enjoy!
3 bowls of chili with toppings and cornbread on the side

The Best Toppings!

You can top your beanless chili with a variety of things! Take a look at this list and choose what you love!

Jalapeños

Sour cream (or my Whole30 sour cream)

Cornbread

Diced Green Onions

Sliced Red Onions

Avocado

Crumbled Tortilla Chips (I like Siete!)

Bacon

Cheese (or dairy-free shredded cheese)

Mary’s Tips & Tricks

Storage: Store leftovers of this beanless chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat over the stove or in the microwave.

Adding Beans: If you want to add beans to this chili recipe, you can! I recommend canned kidney, navy, and/or pinto beans! Rinse before adding.

Thickness: If you prefer a thicker chili, you can turn it to sauté mode once you release the steam and let it cook for an additional 10 minutes uncovered. This will help to cook off some of the extra liquid. 

a side view of beanless chili in a bowl with toppings

Recipe FAQS

Can I use ground turkey?

Yes! If you’d prefer to use ground turkey instead of beef in this beanless chili, feel free to swap out the meat in the same quantity.

Is this beanless chili keto-friendly?

Yes! This recipe has 9 net carbs per serving. Make sure the toppings you choose are also keto-friendly.

Can I freeze this no bean chili recipe?

Yes! Freeze your beanless chili in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or stove. You can also dump the frozen contents directly into your slow cooker and cook on low for several hours until it heats all the way through.

Can I use beans if I want?

Yes! See tips & tricks above if you want to add beans! The nutrition facts below are for beanless chili, so be sure to adjust if you add beans.

More Chili Recipes

Whole30 Sweet Potato Chili

Slow Cooker Tortilla Chicken Chili

Classic Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section. Or, follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram today!

3 bowls of chili with toppings and cornbread on the side
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No Bean Chili Recipe

Yield: 4 people
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
This No Bean Chili Recipe is as delicious as the classic, without the beans! Packed with savory ground beef, veggies, and spices, this beanless chili is the best healthy comfort food! Whole30, Paleo, and Keto-friendly!
5 from 14 votes
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Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ onion, diced
  • ¼ cup diced celery
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • ½ red bell pepper, diced
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 4.5 oz can diced green chilies
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, with juices
  • 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1.5 cups beef (or chicken) broth
  • 2 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 1 tbsp Frank's Red Hot
  • 1.5 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • black pepper, to taste

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Turn the Instant Pot to "saute" mode. Add in the olive oil and let it heat up. Add in the ground beef and the onion and cook for 5-7 minutes, using a spoon to break up the meat.
  • Add in the remaining ingredients and give everything a good stir. Cook on manual high pressure for 12 minutes. Let it naturally release for 10 minutes. Release the steam, then stir. Serve with desired toppings and enjoy!

Slow Cooker Instructions:

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onions and saute for 5-7 minuted until the beef is mostly browned. Transfer the beef and onions to the slow cooker and add in the remaining ingredients. Stir well. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Storage: Store leftovers of this beanless chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat over the stove or in the microwave.
Adding Beans: If you want to add beans you can! I recommend adding 2 cups of canned kidney, navy, and/or pinto beans! Rinse before adding. 
Thickness: If you prefer a thicker chili, you can turn it to sauté mode once you release the steam and let it cook for an additional 10 minutes uncovered. This will help to cook off some of the extra liquid. 

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 1378mg, Potassium: 703mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 6602IU, Vitamin C: 32mg, Calcium: 76mg, Iron: 4mg
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Author: Mary Smith

This post was originally published on April 6, 2020 and updated with new photos and copy on July 21, 2022.