Low Carb No Bean Chili Recipe

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Keto Chili is made without beans for the ultimate low carb comfort food. And this easy and tasty recipe can be made right in your Instant Pot, or let it simmer all day in your slow cooker. If you’ve never tried no-bean chili, this hearty meal is sure to satisfy you!

I’ve been making what I consider to be the best chili recipe for years. So when I was looking through the Naturally Keto cookbook by my friend Brenda Bennet from Sugar Free Mom and saw this chili recipe without beans, I knew I had to try it.

Why?

Though we do enjoy a slice of Bacon Cheeseburger Crustless Quiche sometimes, we aren’t exactly low carb in our house. However, I am gluten free and do try to keep my family from going carb-crazy. So I like to mix in some low carb dishes some times.

And with family and friends and readers increasingly following the keto diet, I wanted to have a go-to keto chili recipe for times when my classic version wouldn’t fit the bill.

So when Brenda introduced this recipe by saying that her husband, who had always been a meat and potatoes kinda guy until he recently started the keto diet and seemed to prefer more traditional meals, thought it was delicious and didn’t miss the beans, I knew this was the one!

No-Bean Keto Chili Recipe

In order to keep it low carb to be friendly for the keto diet, this is a chili recipe without beans. While beans are packed with fiber and protein, they are fairly high in carbs. With about 12 grams of net carbs per 1/2-cup serving, beans are typically excluded from more ketogenic diets.

What do you call chili without beans?

Some people will argue that no-bean chili isn’t actually chili. It’s more of a meat sauce or spicy stew. However, in some parts of the country, you wouldn’t dare put beans in chili. But this Texas-style chili con carne (aka “with meat”) also typically does not include tomatoes.

So the no-bean chili recipe you have here is more like your traditional beef chili with beans, only the beans are left out. However, with all of the ground beef, vegetables, and spices, you still get the heart and satisfying comfort food you crave, with enough of a kick to warm you from the inside.

How to make Low Carb Chili

With just about ten minutes of prep time, you can cook it fast or cook it slow and have a cozy and comforting bowl of low carb chili ready for you right when you want it. Yes, you can make this no-bean chili recipe in your pressure cooker in just minutes, or let it simmer all day in your slow cooker. Either way, you are in for a flavor-packed and satisfying meal that might have you ditching all of your other chili recipes to make it extra meaty and without beans!

While this does appear to be a long list of ingredients, many of the ingredients are herbs and spices you probably have on hand, as well as other basic pantry ingredients. So don’t let that deter you. They all come together to make this a full-flavored and hearty dish.

INGREDIENTS:

• Oil – avocado oil is recommended, but any neutral oil will work.
• Onions
• Jalapeno peppers – feel free to adjust based on how hot you like your chili.
• Bell peppers – I prefer red bell peppers, but you can use any type you prefer.
• Garlic
• Cumin
• Chili powder – NOT chili seasoning which may contain fillers that are not low carb/gluten free.
• Dried oregano
• Salt and pepper
• Marinara sauce – storebought or homemade, but be sure to use a brand or recipe that does not add any sugar, such as Rao’s.
• Beef broth
• Canned diced tomatoes with green chilies
• Tomato paste
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – this may seem unusual, but it enhances the flavors and is reminiscent of Mexican mole

Directions

Here is a brief overview of the two methods to make this no-bean chili. You’ll find the full amounts and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. Feel free to scroll right down, or keep reading for more tips, tricks, and suggestions.

How do you make low carb chili in an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker?

By using an Instant Pot, you can cook the entire dish in one pot in practically no-time, but you still get the flavor and texture of simmering it all day.

1. Saute onions, peppers, and jalapenos in oil in your pressure cooker.
2. Add the ground beef, garlic, and dry seasonings and cook until meat is browned, crumbling it as it cooks.
3. Stir in the remaining ingredients, close and seal the pressure cooker, and set on Manual Mode on High pressure for 20 minutes.
4. After the cooking time is done, do a Quick Release.
5. Serve hot with toppings, if desired.

How do you make low carb chili in a Crockpot or Slow Cooker?

If you only have a few minutes of prep time in the morning, but no time in the evening, then simmering your chili all day in a Slow Cooker is the way to go.

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet and saute onions, peppers, and jalapenos.
2. Add the ground beef and cook until meat is browned, crumbling it as it cooks.
3. Stir in the garlic and dry seasonings.
4. Transfer to your slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients
5. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours.
6. Serve hot with toppings, if desired.

Make it a Meal

Toppings for keto chili:

• Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
• Shredded cheddar cheese or your favorite cheese
• Cheddar Cheese Whisps instead of tortilla chips
• Sliced avocado or guacamole
• Chopped fresh cilantro

Low carb sides to serve with no-bean chili:

• Spoon it over cauliflower rice or cheesy cauliflower mashed potatoes.
• Toss a salad with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing.
• If you are having a game day party, you can’t go wrong with a platter of Healthy Deviled Eggs Without Mayo.
• Low Carb Cornbread doesn’t actually have any corn or cornmeal, but it has the flavor and texture that pairs perfectly with chili.

If you have family or friends that aren’t low carb and they just can’t comprehend the thought of chili without beans, then you can always heat up some that they can stir into their chili. 

Or just get another slow cooker fired up and make Crockpot Turkey Chili with Black Beans and Pineapple! 

Can you freeze chili?

While you can store this keto chili in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, it is also freezer-friendly. Once cooled, transfer to an airtight container, then wrap the container tightly with plastic wrap or place it in a zipper freezer storage bag. 

Once sealed, you can freeze it for up to 4 months. This makes it perfect for meal prep since you can even freeze in containers that are individual portion size!

More about Naturally Keto by Brenda Bennett:

The only real reason you need to buy Naturally Keto is that you love good food. This book is filled with over 125 recipes for every meal of the day. You can have Cinnamon Crumb Muffins or Sausage and Bacon Quiche for breakfast, There is Kale Caesar Salad or Chicken Crust Pizza for lunch. Taco Casserole and Skillet Chicken Parmesan for dinner. And even Boston Cream Cupcakes and Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert.

These are dishes that appeal to anyone, whether they are total carb-lovers, just getting started on a low carb lifestyle, or total keto diet experts. So that means you can cook one meal for the entire family and they are sure to devour it. Plus she provides lots of allergy-friendly swaps and substitutions.

But the best part is that Brenda focuses on real food and minimal “special” ingredients. Sure, you might have to buy some low carb sweetener to make the desserts or swap out the usual potatoes or rice for their cauliflower counterparts. But really these are dishes that anyone can make and everyone will love.

More of my favorite low carb dinner recipes

• Ground Beef Low Carb Egg Roll Bowl
• Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Low Carb Skillet Chicken Enchiladas
• Greek Beef Kabobs
• Keto Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower Mash
• Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup

Enjoy!