# Two-Bean Chili

Soaked dried beans, tinned tomatoes, onion and chili powder cook 7 to 8 hours on LOW, with optional browned mince.

 

 

 ![Two-Bean Chili](https://irenpins.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/ire-12-two-bean-chili-in-bowl-28d56d51.webp)  

 [Print](#wpzoom-recipe-card-two-bean-chili) 

  

 

 

 

## Two-Bean Chili

Recipe by Iren Pavlenko

 

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0.0 from 0 votes ** 

Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

7

hours 

30

minutes

Soaked dried beans, tinned tomatoes, onion and chili powder cook 7 to 8 hours on LOW, with optional browned mince.

### Ingredients

- 1 cup dried kidney beans, soaked overnight
- 1 cup dried pinto beans, soaked overnight
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 lb ground beef, browned (optional)
- 3 cups water or stock

### Directions

- Drain and rinse the soaked beans.
- Put the beans, tomatoes, onion and garlic in a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Add the chili powder, cumin and salt.
- Pour in the water or stock.
- Stir in the browned mince if using.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours.
- Taste a bean. It should be creamy all the way through.
- Mash a cup of beans against the side of the pot to thicken the chili.
- Cook 20 minutes more uncovered if it is thin.
- Serve with rice, cheese or cornbread.

 

### Notes

 

Dried kidney beans must be boiled or cooked fully, never undercooked. Keeps 4 days and freezes for 3 months.

 

  

## Why this chili is safe and creamy

 

Dried kidney beans contain a natural toxin that is only destroyed by thorough cooking, so they must be fully tender before you eat them. Pre-soaking helps, and the long LOW cook finishes the job. Using two kinds of beans gives you creamy pintos beside firmer kidneys.

 

## Swaps and a firm no

 

Leave out the ground beef for a fully vegetarian pot. Black beans can replace the pintos. Do not replace the dried beans with canned ones in the same timing, because they will turn to paste after hours. Do not cook dried kidney beans for a short time or on a warm setting that never gets hot.

 

## Serving and storing Two-Bean Chili

 

Serve with cornbread, a spoonful of sour cream, and shredded cheese. Leftovers keep 4 days and freeze for 3 months.

 

The mistake is cooking the beans with the tomatoes from the start without soaking. Acid can slow how fast beans soften, so taste one before you call it done.