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Keto no-bean beef chili

June 26, 2026 · 1 min read

Keto no-bean beef chili in a rustic bowl, thick ground beef and tomato chili topped with shredded cheddar, a dollop of sour cream, diced avocado, and sliced scallions
Serving suggestion — your result will vary

Chili doesn't need beans to be chili — the beef, tomato, and a real hit of spice carry it. Dropping the beans is what brings a bowl from the low-20s in net carbs down to single digits, and the texture barely changes once it thickens.

Let it simmer uncovered until a spoon leaves a trail; that's when the flavor concentrates.

6 servingsPrep 10 minCook 35 min~8 g net carbs / serving

Ingredients

  • 2 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1.5 teaspoons salt
  • Shredded cheddar, sour cream, avocado, and scallions, to serve

Steps

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat, breaking it up. Drain off most of the fat and set the beef aside.
  2. Add the olive oil, onion, and bell pepper to the pot and cook 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, paprika, and oregano and toast 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Return the beef, then add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, and salt. Stir well.
  5. Simmer uncovered 25–30 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick.
  6. Ladle into bowls and top with cheddar, sour cream, avocado, and scallions.
Per serving (approx): 8 g net carbs · 30 g protein · 28 g fat · ~404 cal

Notes and swaps

With the beans gone, the carbs come from the tomatoes, onion, and pepper, landing near 8g net carbs a bowl before toppings. Diced tomatoes carry more sugar than they seem to, so a single can across six servings keeps it in check; cut the onion further if you want to drop a gram. The toppings add up too — a heavy hand with avocado and cheese is fine, just count it.

For more body without beans, stir in a cup of diced mushrooms or a little extra ground beef. A square of dark chocolate or a pinch of cinnamon deepens it the way old-school chili recipes do.

A big bowl plus toppings adds up — Copper Keto Companion keeps your running total, so you'll know whether a second helping still fits.

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