Beef & Pinto Bean Chili

with Cheddar Cornbread Topping

55 MIN

4 Servings

Wellness at Blue Apron

Find recipes that suit your lifestyle with our new nutritionist-approved dietary tags.

Vegetarian

These recipes don’t contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.* They’re made with fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. *Select artisanal cheeses may contain animal-derived rennet.

Carb Conscious

This applies to meal kit recipes with 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. Carb Conscious Add-ons contain 20g or less net carbs.

Mediterranean Diet

Our Mediterranean recipes are inspired by the Mediterranean Diet, a healthy eating plan recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans published jointly every five years by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). This eating plan highlights the flavors and cooking styles from countries along the Mediterranean Sea, including those in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. These recipes showcase a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as well as lean proteins and moderate portions of dairy.

600 Calories or Less

These meals contain 600 calories or less per serving. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.

Wellness Grain

These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.

Pescatarian

These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.

30g Of Protein

These meals contain 30g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Keto Friendly

These meals have approximately 10% of calories from carbohydrates, 20% from protein, and 70% from dietary fats (per serving).

45g Of Protein

These meal kit recipes contain 45g or more of protein per serving, and are ideal for those looking to focus their meals around protein intake.

Nutritionist's Pick

These meals are selected by Blue Apron’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. They are centered around nutritious and wholesome ingredients, featuring whole grains and fresh produce which provide fiber. They also contain moderate portions of dairy and lean protein while being mindful of saturated fat.

Wheat Free

These meals are prepared with ingredients that do not contain wheat. They feature grains such as barley and rice as well as proteins and vegetables.

Reduced Sodium

These Prepared and Ready dishes contain at least 25% less sodium per 100 grams (or 3.5 oz) than our average Prepared and Ready Meal as of October 1, 2024. Sodium content has been reduced from 330 mg per 100 grams to 250 mg per 100 grams. These dishes focus on ingredients with strong flavor and moderate salt.

Vegan

To view a recipe's full nutrition information, head to your Upcoming page at blueapron.com, click on a specific recipe, then head to the Nutrition tab and select 'View Full Nutrition.' Nutrition Facts Panels are available up to 1.5 weeks in advance

From the Test Kitchen

We’re kicking off autumn with one of our favorite cool-weather staples: savory, smoky chili. Creamy pinto beans and spiced beef, simmered together in a tangy tomato sauce, deliver all the comforting flavors of the dish. For a classic touch, we’re also baking a cornbread-inspired topping on top. Tangy fromage blanc (a creamy fresh cheese) adds cooling contrast when drizzled over it all.

See Plans

Nutrition

PER SERVING
Calories

830 Cals (est.)

View Full Nutrition

fresh

ingredients

1⅛ lbs Ground Beef
1 Cage-Free Farm Egg
⅔ cup Yellow Grits
1½ cups Pinto Beans
1 15-Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes
4 oz Cheddar Cheese
2 cloves Garlic
2 Scallions
1 Tbsp Honey
¼ cup Fromage Blanc
2 tsps Mexican Spice Blend (Ancho Chile Powder, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Ground Cumin & Dried Mexican Oregano)
½ cup Biscuit Baking Blend (All-Purpose Flour & Baking Powder)

time-saving

tips & techniques

step-by-step

instructions

Cook Along

1 Prepare the ingredients:

Remove the honey from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel and roughly chop the garlic. Cut off and discard the root ends of the scallions. Cut the white bottoms into ½-inch pieces and thinly slice the green tops, keeping them separate. Grate the cheese on the large side of a box grater. Drain and rinse the beans.

2 Start the chili:

In a large pan (oven-safe, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the ground beef; season with salt and pepper. Cook, frequently breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 4 to 5 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Add the garlic, spice blend, and white bottoms of the scallions; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened and fragrant.

3 Make the batter:

While the beef cooks, in a medium bowl, combine the grits, baking blend, egg, honey (kneading the packet before opening), 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and ¼ cup of water. Season with salt and pepper. Stir to thoroughly combine. Gently fold in the cheese.

4 Finish the chili:

Add the beans, tomatoes, and 1 cup of water to the pan; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, 8 to 9 minutes, or until slightly thickened and thoroughly combined. Turn off the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (If your pan isn’t oven-safe, transfer the chili to a baking dish.)

5 Top & bake the chili:

Using a spoon, top the finished chili with equal-sized scoops of the batter, leaving some space between the scoops. Season with salt and pepper. Bake 17 to 19 minutes, or until the batter is set and cooked through. Remove from the oven. Let cool for at least 2 minutes before serving.