Guinness Spiked Irish Chili
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Nothing says comfort like a hearty bowl of Guinness chili. My recipe is rich and flavorful Irish-style chili is perfect for a casual dinner or a game-day snack. It’s simple to make in one pot, and it’s ready in under an hour.
This Guinness-spiked Irish chili is rich, hearty, and exactly the kind of meal I crave on a cold day. A bottle of Guinness adds a subtle depth that makes this chili feel a little different from the classic version, bringing roasted, malty notes that pair beautifully with the beef, tomatoes, beans, and spices.
The Guinness doesn’t overpower the chili or make it taste strongly of beer. Instead, it quietly adds complexity, enhancing the savory flavors while contributing hints of coffee, chocolate, and caramelized richness in the background. It’s one of those ingredients that makes people ask why the chili tastes so good without being able to put their finger on exactly why.
I also love how easy this recipe is to make. A handful of vegetables, ground beef, spices, tomatoes, beans, and Guinness simmer together into a thick, flavorful chili that tastes like it cooked all day. It’s perfect for cozy dinners, game days, or stocking the freezer with future meals you’ll be grateful to have on hand.
More ways to cook with Guinness
If you love the flavor of Guinness too, try one of our other delicious recipes:
- Sticky Guinness Chicken
- Guinness Beef Stew
- Guinness Chocolate Cake with Irish Cream Frosting
What to serve with Guinness chili?
A bowl of chili with Guinness tastes great with cornbread (we love our zucchini cornbread muffins), corn chips, or tortilla chips. We also love serving it with a crusty loaf of bread, garlic bread, or a buttered slice of our whole wheat Irish soda bread. For a hearty meal, scoop it over rice with a side salad like our kale apple salad.
Make-ahead and store
Can I make it ahead of time? Absolutely! This is a great make-ahead recipe, and some might say it tastes better the next day.
How do I store leftover chili? Store any leftover chili in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just be sure it’s cool before refrigerating it.
Can I freeze leftover chili? Definitely! If you don’t plan to eat it right away, store any leftover chili in an airtight container in the freezer for 4-6 months.
Guinness Irish Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 large yellow onion (chopped)
- 4 stalks celery (chopped)
- 2 bell peppers (chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (grated on a Microplane or very finely minced)
- 1 ½ lb lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons EACH: chili powder and paprika
- 2 teaspoons EACH: ground cumin and coriander
- 1 teaspoon EACH: oregano, sea salt, and pepper
- 1 cinnamon stick (or ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- 14 ounce can of Guinness – see notes (440ml)
- 19 ounce can of red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
- Optional toppings: sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, green onions
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, peppers, and garlic and cook for 5 more minutes.1 tablespoon avocado oil, 1 large yellow onion, 4 stalks celery, 2 bell peppers, 4 cloves garlic
- Add the ground beef to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir the chili powder, paprika, cumin, coriander, oregano, salt, pepper, and cinnamon stick into the pot. Add the tomatoes and Guinness and stir together well. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the chili is nice and thick.1 ½ lb lean ground beef, 2 tablespoons EACH: chili powder and paprika, 2 teaspoons EACH: ground cumin and coriander, 1 teaspoon EACH: oregano, sea salt, and pepper, 1 cinnamon stick, 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, 14 ounce can of Guinness – see notes
- Add the beans to the pot then season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Serve the chili with any or all of the toppings.19 ounce can of red kidney beans, Optional toppings: sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, green onions
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
I have made this several times. It turns out excellent every time. I adjust some of the seasonings. I also adjust beans and different peppers that I might put in it. I’ve made it with beef, short rib meat recently, and it was fantastic.
Several times and excellent every time is such a good sign, and I love that you tweak the seasonings, beans, and peppers to make it your own. Short rib meat in chili sounds incredibly rich and tender, what a treat. Thanks for sharing how you make it. 🌶️