Ingeredients:
4 large or 6 medium ancho chiles
2 dried guajillo chiles
2 dried pasilla chiles
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
5 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 1/2-inch slices
2 large yellow onions, chopped
6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 (12-ounce) bottle lager
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
“Toppings as desired (sour cream
grated cheddar
chopped red onion
lime wedges
cilantro
sliced avocado
pickled jalapeños
corn nuts
and dont forget Fritos)”
Instructions:
Remove seeds from ancho, guajillo, and pasilla chiles and place in a medium bowl. Pour in 3 cups boiling water and cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap; let sit until chiles are softened, 20–25 minutes. Transfer chiles and soaking liquid to a blender and blend on high until smooth, about 1 minute; set aside.
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Season beef all over with salt and pepper. Working in 2–3 batches, cook, turning pieces once, until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
Reduce heat to medium; add onions and garlic to pot. Cook, stirring often to loosen browned bits from bottom of pot, until onions are translucent and very soft, 6–8 minutes. Add cumin and oregano and cook, stirring, until spices start to stick to pot, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and brown sugar and scrape bottom of pot to loosen spices, then add lager. Bring to a lively simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until beer is almost completely evaporated, 10–15 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut beef into 1/2″ pieces, discarding any large bits of fat or gristle.
Add beef, reserved chile purée, and 2 cups water to pot; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently, uncovered, until liquid is thickened and meat is very tender, 1 1/2–2 hours. Taste chili and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar. Divide chili among bowls and top as desired.
Chili can be made 4 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat gently over low, stirring occasionally, and adding a splash of water to loosen if needed.
Recipe Card

Beef Chili
Ingredients
- 4 large or 6 medium ancho chiles
- 2 dried guajillo chiles
- 2 dried pasilla chiles
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 pounds boneless beef chuck cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 2 large yellow onions chopped
- 6 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 14.5-ounce can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 12-ounce bottle lager
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- Kosher salt freshly ground pepper
- “Toppings as desired (sour cream
- grated cheddar
- chopped red onion
- lime wedges
- cilantro
- sliced avocado
- pickled jalapeños
- corn nuts
- and dont forget Fritos)”
Instructions
- Remove seeds from ancho, guajillo, and pasilla chiles and place in a medium bowl. Pour in 3 cups boiling water and cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap; let sit until chiles are softened, 20–25 minutes. Transfer chiles and soaking liquid to a blender and blend on high until smooth, about 1 minute; set aside.
- Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Season beef all over with salt and pepper. Working in 2–3 batches, cook, turning pieces once, until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium; add onions and garlic to pot. Cook, stirring often to loosen browned bits from bottom of pot, until onions are translucent and very soft, 6–8 minutes. Add cumin and oregano and cook, stirring, until spices start to stick to pot, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and brown sugar and scrape bottom of pot to loosen spices, then add lager. Bring to a lively simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until beer is almost completely evaporated, 10–15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cut beef into 1/2″ pieces, discarding any large bits of fat or gristle.
- Add beef, reserved chile purée, and 2 cups water to pot; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently, uncovered, until liquid is thickened and meat is very tender, 1 1/2–2 hours. Taste chili and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar. Divide chili among bowls and top as desired.
- Chili can be made 4 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat gently over low, stirring occasionally, and adding a splash of water to loosen if needed
-
Chocolate Pecan Turtle Clusters

Is there any candy more perfectly satisfying than a turtle? That iconic combination of buttery caramel, toasted pecans, and rich chocolate is a true masterpiece of texture and flavor. But what if you could skip the fuss of a candy thermometer and create that same magical treat in mere minutes? Welcome to the world of…
-
Exploring Black Pepper Oil: Traditional Uses and Current Evidence

Important Note: This article discusses traditional uses and preliminary research on black pepper essential oil. It is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before using essential oils for health purposes, especially if you have medical conditions or take medications. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) has been a cornerstone of traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda…
-
High Protein Crunch Bars

In the quest for the perfect snack—one that truly satisfies hunger, fuels your body, and actually tastes good—store-bought protein bars often fall short. They can be expensive, loaded with sugar alcohols and unrecognizable ingredients, and their texture often leans toward chalky or overly dense. What if you could create a better bar at home? One…