Keto Chili

A simple, filling keto chili recipe that's full of spices, healthy protein, and is ready in less than thirty minutes. This low carb chili is a staple in our house and it will soon be a staple in yours.

For more ideas, check out our list of easy keto recipes with ground beef.

Serve this keto chili with a side of keto cornbread for a complete meal. And don't forget the Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert!

Jump to:

• KETO CHILI RECIPE
• HOW TO MAKE KETO CHILI
• KETO CHILI TOPPINGS
• HOW TO BEST STORE YOUR LOW CARB CHILI
• OTHER KETO CHILI COOKING METHODS
• 📖 Recipe

KETO CHILI RECIPE

We love making a big batch of keto chili and you will too once you see how easy it is. Sometimes we've even made this twice in one week!

This recipe for low carb chili is in its simplest form and it doesn't require a lot of ingredients.

I have some step by step photos below showing you how to make keto chili. It's really very easy.

For this keto chili recipe I use half beef and half turkey, but you can use all beef, all turkey, or mix it up with other protein sources like ground chicken, ground bison, or even ground venison.

This is a chili recipe without beans. I know that in some places, chili absolutely doesn't have beans in it, but my usual chili recipe did include them. If you're used to chili with beans, you won't miss them in this flavorful keto recipe.

If you are including higher carb days in your meal plans you can add some black beans or cubed sweet potatoes for a slow carb chili recipe. If you don't need to eat keto, you might like this Gluten Free Chili.

INGREDIENTS IN KETO CHILI

Ground Beef and Ground Turkey - I use both meats in my chili both for interest and for a bit of a calorie reduction. You can use any type of ground meat that you like in this recipe.

Olive Oil - This basic ingredient helps the process of sauteing the vegetables.

Onion, Bell Pepper - One of each, diced roughly, add tons of homey, warm flavor. Use whatever color bell pepper you have on hand, here I used half of a red pepper and half of an orange one.

Cumin - Cumin is a warm, smoky herb that is in most mexican and tex-mex dishes. Chili isn't quite the same without it.

Chili Powder - One level of heat comes from this spice. You can add more or less depending on how spicy you like things.

Cayenne Pepper - Cayenne is the second level of spice, and complements the other spices nicely.

Paprika - This spice is not so spicy, but it's warm and delicious.

Salt - Season your Keto Chili with salt while it's cooking.

Canned Tomatoes - One 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes gives this chili the perfect amount of acidity and color.

Broth - Beef broth or stock is my go-to when making chili, but chicken or vegetable broth works well too.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you.

For another recipe that uses ground beef, try our big mac salad.

HOW TO MAKE KETO CHILI

1. Add oil, onions and bell peppers to a large pot or dutch oven. Cook until the onions are tender.
2. Add ground beef and ground turkey, using a spatula to break up the meat as it cooks.
3. Continue to cook until both the beef and turkey are cooked and no pink is showing.
4. Add the spices, tomatoes, and broth.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Serve hot with your favorite keto chili toppings.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the full list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe card below.

KETO CHILI TOPPINGS

What's a bowl of no bean low carb chili without all the yummy chili toppings, right? All of the below are keto-friendly, low carb additions that will make your chili perfect.

• 4 Ingredient Guacamole
• Shredded Cheese
• Sour Cream
• Keto Tortilla Chips
• Dairy-Free Cheese
• Dairy-Free Sour Cream
• Keto Salsa
• Keto Queso
• Hot Sauce
• Sliced Green Onions
• Chopped Yellow or Red Onion
• Jalapenos
• Green Chilies
• Olives

Feel free to top this low carb chili with your favorite toppings. Just note that adding toppings will change the net carbs in this chili recipe.

IS CHILI KETO?

Chili comes in many forms and recipe combinations. Some chili recipes may be already keto, but most are not.

This is because many traditional chili recipes include beans. This low carb chili recipe doesn't include beans, but instead includes fresh spices creating bold flavors, and lots of high protein meat.

ARE BEANS KETO?

Beans are not usually included in a keto diet because of their high carbohydrate content. This is why this keto chili doesn't include any beans.

The keto diet is based on staying within a certain net carb range and focusing on consuming a high amount of healthy fats.

If you are doing a targeted keto diet, or you are including higher carb days, you can include beans.

WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE FOR BEANS IN KETO CHILI?

If you are feeling like your keto chili needs a bean replacement, you could try some of the following. I haven't tried them personally, so leave a comment if you do!

Green beans, and black soybeans are the beans with the lowest amount of carbs. A typical ½ cup serving size of each contains 5 grams of net carbs.

So adding a ½ cup of either bean to your delicious chili will not add a substantial amount of carbs as there are 8 servings in this recipe.

If you want to try other beans while still maintaining your keto lifestyle, here are the macros for some of the lower net carb beans.

Bean Variety	Grams of net carbs (½ cup serving size)	Calories	Grams of fiber	Grams of protein	Grams of fat
Black soybeans	5	120	7	11	6
French Green Beans	5	22	2	1.5	0
Lupin Beans	6	100	5	9	4
Great Northern Beans	6	104	6	7	0.4
Mung Beans	8	105	8	8	0.4
Dark Red Kidney Beans	11	109	8	8	0.2
Black Beans	12	114	8	8	0.5
Light Red Kidney Beans	13	122	7	8	0.4
Navy Beans	14	127	10	8	0.6
Pinto Beans	14	122	8	8	0.6
White Kidney Beans	16	124	8	9	0.3

CAN I ADD ANYTHING ELSE TO LOW CARB CHILI?

Aside from the low carb toppings mentioned above, you can also add additional vegetables to keto chili if you'd like. More veggies means more fiber, which will make this chili more filling.

Things like zucchini, mushrooms, and cauliflower can be sauteed with the onion and pepper.

ARE TOMATOS KETO?

Tomatoes are consumed on a keto diet and are often included in recipes for flavor, color, and for their added nutrients. Most recipes call for small quantities of tomatoes, including this keto chili recipe. Just be sure to purchase canned tomatoes that don't have any added sugars.

HOW TO BEST STORE YOUR LOW CARB CHILI

Place any leftover chili in an airtight container and store in the fridge for 5 to 6 days.

CAN I FREEZE KETO CHILI

Yes, you can freeze keto chili. Keto chili holds up well in the freezer. I like to portion out the chili into serving sizes before freezing.

To reheat, allow the chili to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. From there you can reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

If you love chili you're going to want to make this Keto Taco Pie next. You might also like this keto gumbo.

HOW TO THICKEN KETO CHILI?

If you like your homemade chili a little thicker, you can do any of the following:

• Simmer for longer than 10 minutes with the cover off to allow liquid to evaporate.
• Make a slurry of ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum with a little water. Then pour this mixture into your chili while its simmering.
• Adding sour cream or cheese while serving will also do the trick.
• You can add in small can of tomato paste along with the can of tomatoes.

SHOULD I EAT CHILI ON KETO?

No, as a traditional chili recipe includes beans which are very high in carbs. That's why we made this Keto Friendly recipe.

Soups, stews, and keto chili are a big part of the keto diet. They can be made in larger batches and frozen for future consumption.

Keto chili is full of healthy protein and fats and will keep you full, preventing between meal snacking.

OTHER KETO CHILI COOKING METHODS

There are so many other great keto-friendly chili recipes out there that use a different method than we do. Here are some of our favorites:

Instant Pot Keto Chili - This hearty, healthy Instant Pot Keto Chili is made with wholesome ingredients and just the right amount of spice. You will fall in love with the 15 minute prep time and big batch of leftovers that taste even better the next day.

Keto White Chicken Chili - This keto white chicken chili is the ultimate keto comfort food! Quick, easy, and packed full of flavor, it’s perfect on cold days or when you just need a filling, low carb meal.

Crock pot / Slow Cooker Keto Chili - This Slow Cooker Kickin' Keto Chili is so good that you won't even miss the beans. Top it with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and green onions for the ultimate in low carb comfort food

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📖 Recipe