This delicious bean free Easy Paleo Chili Recipe has become our family's go-to one pot dinner. It's full of healthy veggies and so simple to make. It's also 100% Whole30 compliant. You're going to LOVE it!
I love sitting down and digging into a big bowl of hot chili on a cool evening. No matter how cold it is outside, I always end up feeling warmer with chili in my belly.
Until recently, I had never tried a bean-free chili. The first time I heard of such a wild and crazy thing was a couple years ago from my friend, Paul. He told me he liked to indulge in a making a giant pot of meat only chili when his vegan wife Rosemary (hey, girlfriend!) was out of town. I thought he was crazy and that a beanless chili sounded weird. ← Truth!
Fast forward to spring last year, and everything changed. I was halfway through my first round of The Whole30 Program (Have you ever done that? I love it!) and came down with a big chili craving. I figured that a bean-free chili would be better than no chili at all.
What I wasn't expecting is how much I loved it. It's like I had been eating chili wrong all my life. I mean, who needs those silly beans anyway?
This easy paleo chili recipe is the only chili recipe I make now.
And I wasn't kidding at all about the easy part. This really is an easy paleo chili recipe. Even though I have listed all the neatly measured ingredients for you, feel free to eyeball and make substitutions. You really can't mess this one up.
Back in my vegetarian days, I would make this easy vegetarian chili recipe. It was chock full of veggies (and beans!) and I loved it that way. Even though I now that I find myself leaning heavily towards the paleo diet, I still love a hearty chili full of veggies. This easy paleo chili recipe fits the bill.
I loaded it with veggies so it really is a healthy one pot paleo recipe. No need to serve a salad on the side, my friends. This chili is all you need.
One of the things that makes this paleo chili so delicious is the chili spices I use. Last year, I found out about a spice company called, RawSpiceBar. Have you heard of them? You might have remembered me talking about them in the post called Awesome Christmas Gifts for Foodies. They do monthly and quarterly spice subscriptions and (hint hint) I would be stoked to get one as a gift. 🙂
They grind all their spices fresh and the difference is really incredible. Their spices have so much flavor compared to regular store-bought spices. I've used the two spices in the picture up there, and they work really well in this recipe.
The one has taco in the name, which might sound a bit strange. But it has all of my favorite chilis like New Mexican, Ancho, Guajillo, and Arbol. It also has other chili spice must-haves like cumin, coriander, oregano, and smoked paprika. It's delicious.
If you love this Easy Paleo Chili Recipe as much as I do, don't forget to give it a 5-star rating in the comments below!
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Easy Paleo Chili Recipe
Prep Time: 5 mins- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
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This delicious bean free Easy Paleo Chili Recipe has become our family's go-to one pot dinner. It's full of healthy veggies and so simple to make. It's also 100% Whole30 compliant. You're going to LOVE it!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1–3 tablespoons chili powder (I love RawSpiceBar Taco Seasoning)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon ancho chilis (I love both RawSpiceBar Ancho Chilis and their Chili Powder)
- 2 lbs. ground meat (see notes)
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 medium sweet potato, about 1 lb., diced
- 2 – 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
- Optional: 2 tablespoons fish sauce (see notes)
- Sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until it begins to brown, about 5 mins. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the ground meat to the pan and let it cook until it is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Add the bell peppers, carrots, celery, sweet potato, crushed tomatoes, and (if using) the fish sauce. Bring the pot to a boil then reduce the heat to medium. Simmer the chili with the lid off for 20, or until all the veggies are tender. Season to taste with sea salt.
Notes
You can use any ground meat in this recipe. Ground chicken is a tasty lower calorie option – it's what I used for the nutritional information. I often use a combination of half beef and half pork.
The fish sauce adds a ton of depth to the chili. If you have it on hand, I highly recommend you use it. If you're on The Whole30 Program, make sure to read the label as not all fish sauce is compliant.
Kristen Stevens
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Hi, I’m Kristen! 
Liza Beckerman says
March 30, 2019 at 7:27 pmJust cooked this, and it is DELICIOUS!!!! Thank you for posting!
★★★★★
Kristen Stevens says
May 2, 2019 at 5:22 pmThat makes me so happy to hear! Hooray!
Kate says
January 27, 2019 at 4:42 pmI’ve made this several times and it’s on my favorites list! I’m so glad I found this recipe! It’s delicious!!!
★★★★★
Kristen Stevens says
February 4, 2019 at 7:23 amI’m so happy to hear you like the recipe!
Jamie says
October 22, 2018 at 5:21 pmI’m trying this in my InstantPot tonight. I’ll let you know how it goes! Looks amazing!
Kristen Stevens says
October 23, 2018 at 8:17 amI’d love to hear back!
UKShaun says
October 4, 2018 at 2:00 amSending thanks from the UK!! I’ve done many paleo chili’s, but this one is now my favourite!! I left out the carrot and added kidney beans. Amazing! I made 4 large portions for myself. Ate one last night and have frozen 3. And you’re right about the fish sauce….. tons of depth!
Thank you 🙂
Shaun.
★★★★★
Kristen Stevens says
October 7, 2018 at 8:22 amI’m so happy to hear you tried adding the fish sauce. It’s my favorite trick for adding depth to dishes like this one!
Shantel says
June 6, 2018 at 5:11 pmThis chili is amazing!! I never thought I would like a bean less chili but I’m a total convert. Not going back lol.
★★★★★
Kristen Stevens says
June 7, 2018 at 6:37 amA new bean-free convert! Hooray!!
Nicole @What She Ate says
December 20, 2017 at 12:36 pmThis is not what I want to see when I’m hungry and haven’t started making lunch yet! Holy moly this looks amazing! Can you hear my stomach growling from there? 🙂
Kristen Stevens says
December 20, 2017 at 2:09 pmHahaha I love it! I’m sorry for making you more hungry lol. 🙂
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
December 14, 2017 at 11:13 pmSpice subscriptions?! lol, that sounds like my kind of foodie gift. This chili is incredible!
Kristen Stevens says
December 15, 2017 at 6:49 amRight? Totally made for me!
Kim says
December 2, 2017 at 1:41 pmI just made this and it was really good. Don’t miss the beans at all. Thank you!
★★★★★
Kristen Stevens says
December 2, 2017 at 1:44 pmThat’s so great to hear! I feel exactly the same about the beans. Who needs them!
Jamie | Sugar and Wine says
November 30, 2017 at 11:47 amI’m actually going to make this chili for my dad who wants chili but no beans!! Also, I’ve been wanting to try Raw Spice Bar since you posted about it last year. I’m finally doing it!!
Kristen Stevens says
November 30, 2017 at 1:17 pmThat’s fantastic! You will love Raw Spice Bar. Their spices are amazing!!
vivian says
November 27, 2017 at 5:29 amThis was a great option for my son, who no longer eats beans but still likes chili. I love that it has so many vegetables in it. Thanks for a great recipe!
★★★★
Kristen Stevens says
November 27, 2017 at 8:16 amYou are so welcome!!
Caitlin says
November 16, 2017 at 7:25 pmI love the color of your le creuset (or whatever pot that is)! And the chili, with ancho chili in it, sounds delicious — just the thing to get through winter with!
Kristen Stevens says
November 16, 2017 at 11:02 pmThat’s my tropical blue Le Creuset! The color makes me happy, especially as the days turn shorter and colder. And yes, the chili is so delicious!