Hearty and chunky, this Guinness Chili is loaded with ground beef, beans, mushrooms, and bell peppers. The rich, deep flavor from the stout adds a unique bold complexity to this chili.

Chili fans will also love my Ground Beef Chili and Halftime Chili.

A pot of beef chili with bell peppers and mushrooms next to a bottle of Guinness.

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Guinness and a bold blend of spices bring rich, deep flavor to the ground beef in this Guinness Chili recipe. Just like my Guinness Beef Stew and Guinness Corned Beef, beer adds a complexity and savory depth that you won’t get from broth or water.

This unique chili recipe comes courtesy of my friend, the very talented and incredibly sweet Amy of The Blond Cook. Her recipes, including this one, are easy to make and dependably good. I was lucky enough to have her share this one with me. Thanks, friend!

Chili made with Guinness beer a fun alternative to corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day, a perfect game day crowd-pleaser, or just the ultimate comfort food for a chilly winter night!

A bowl of Guinness chili with cheese and sour cream on a plate with crackers.

Ingredient Notes

Ground beef, beans, spices, Guinness beer and other chili ingredients with text overlay.
  • Ground beef: A couple of pounds of lean ground beef. I usually 90%.
  • Beans: A can of both dark red kidney beans and black beans, rinsed and drained well.
  • Produce: chopped yellow onion, chopped green bell pepper, chopped mushrooms, and minced fresh garlic.
  • Seasoning: Here comes the flavor! Chili powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. You can control the spiciness by reducing the amount of red pepper flakes and cayenne.
  • Canned tomatoes: A large can of diced tomatoes and a can of tomato sauce.
  • Beer: A bottle of Guinness Draught Stout Beer.
  • Brown sugar: A touch of brown sugar helps balance the acidity of the canned tomatoes and richens the flavors even more.
  • Optional toppings: This chili is delicious topped with shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream, and a little fresh chopped cilantro. Use your favorite chili toppings – anything goes!

How to Make Guinness Chili

This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. You’ll find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Four images of ground beef in a Dutch oven with peppers, mushrooms, spices, and Guinness beer.
  1. In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, sauté the onions, green peppers, mushrooms and minced garlic in olive oil until tender. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, crumbling with your spoon or spatula as it cooks. Drain the beef mixture in a colander and return it to the pot.
  2. Add all of the seasonings and stir well to combine.
  3. Add the canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, beer and brown sugar.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. Remove the cover and continue to simmer for 15 minutes or until it has thickened slightly.
Guinness chili in a Dutch oven next to sprigs of cilantro.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Having leftovers is one of the very best things about making a pot of chili! As it rests, the flavors continue to develop, making leftovers even better the next day!

  • Refrigerate: Transfer the cooled chili to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze: Guinness Chili freezes well! Store it in a freezer-safe container or zippered plastic freezer bags for up to 3 months. I always use bags so that I can lay them flat for easier storage.
  • Reheating: Warm on the stove over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of broth or water if it thickens too much. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each, until hot.
  • Reheating from Frozen: Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating, or reheat directly from frozen over low heat on the stovetop.

More Beer Recipes You’ll Love

Beer is a fabulous ingredient for a huge variety of recipes. It does wonderful things to everything from chili, to stew, to bread!

A spoon resting in a small white bowl of chili with ground beef, beans, and Guinness beer.

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Guinness Chili

5 from 3 votes
Servings: 8
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Hearty and chunky, this Guinness Chili is loaded with ground beef, beans, mushrooms, and bell peppers. The rich, deep flavor from the stout adds a unique bold complexity to this chili.
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Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, coarsley chopped
  • 1 teaspoon (heaping) fresh minced garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef, I use 90%
  • 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 15.5 ounce can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 15.25 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 14.5 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 11.2 ounce bottle Guinness Draught Stout Beer
  • 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar

Optional Toppings

  • Avocado, sour cream, chopped fresh cilantro and shredded cheese

Instructions 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. Add the onions, green peppers, mushrooms and minced garlic. Sauté about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
  • Add the ground beef and cook until browned, crumbling with your spoon or spatula as it cooks. Drain the beef mixture in a colander and return it to the pot.
  • Add the cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, oregano and chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, beer and brown sugar. Bring the mixture just to boiling, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. Remove the cover and continue to simmer for 15 minutes or until the desired consistency has been reached.

Notes

Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate: Transfer the cooled chili to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Guinness Chili freezes well! Store it in a freezer-safe container or zippered plastic freezer bags for up to 3 months. I always use bags so that I can lay them flat for easier storage.
Reheating: Warm on the stove over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of broth or water if it thickens too much. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each, until hot.
Reheating from Frozen: Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating, or reheat directly from frozen over low heat on the stovetop.

Nutrition

Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 839mg | Potassium: 1272mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 815IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.

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This recipe was originally published on October 3, 2014. It has been updated with new text and images.

Inspired by Tablespoon.com

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About Valerie Brunmeier

Hello and welcome to my online kitchen! My focus here is to provide simple, seasonal meal solutions for busy households. I hope you find some inspiration while you’re here and visit again soon!

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Questions & Reviews

  1. Jim Hiemer says:

    Can this be made in a slow cooker?? (I would love to try it that way)

  2. Donna L says:

    5 stars
    Made this chili many times. It’s easy and delicious. My family loves it. I use small red beans and pinto beans.

    1. Valerie Brunmeier says:

      So glad you’re loving the recipe! Thanks, Donna. 🙂

  3. Marion@Life Tastes Good says:

    I’ve used Guinness in lots of things, but never thought to add it to chili!! What a great idea. I love everything in this chili, Amy, and your pictures are gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing!

  4. Sandra Shaffer says:

    Beautiful dish, Amy and what a great guest post to have on your blog Valerie. LOVE the addition of avocados, and sour cream, and beer!

    1. Valerie says:

      Thanks, Sandra. It is one fabulous list of ingredients..for sure!

  5. Julie @ Tastes of Lizzy T says:

    Pefect pick for a first guest post! This bowl of chili looks amazing!

  6. Mary Ellen says:

    This chili with the Guinness in it sounds wonderful. The photos are amazing!

  7. Julie Fiato says:

    OH-MY-GUINESS!!!! My hubby would FLIP for this. He loves chili & Guiness. You are very talented, Amy. Not only with your recipe, but your photography. Thank you for this awesome recipe, girls!!

    1. Valerie says:

      You crack me up, Miss Julie 🙂 I know my husband is going to love this one too. Can’t wait to make it!

  8. Nibbles By Nic says:

    I once went to the Guiness Factory and never ever thought to use it in my Chili! Fantastic idea! I bet it rounds out the meal with a delicious richness. Great shots and fantastic presentation too 🙂 xo Nic

    1. Valerie says:

      I agree completely Nic! Gorgeous photos!