What Are Chili Beans in Sauce?

Chili beans in sauce refers to beans stewed in a chili-flavored tomato sauce. This bean dish is a staple ingredient in Tex-Mex cuisine and is commonly used as a tasty protein-packed topping for dishes like nachos tacos, and chili. But what exactly are chili beans, and how are they made?

The Beans

The most common beans used to make chili beans are:

Pinto beans – Speckled pinkish-brown beans that become soft and absorb flavors well. Pintos are the most traditional choice.
Kidney beans – Big red kidney-shaped beans that hold their shape nicely.
Black beans – Small, oval black beans that have an earthy, almost mushroom-like flavor.

While those are the classics, you could also use:

White beans
Garbanzo beans
Cannellini beans
Cranberry beans
Navy beans

Canned or dried beans can both be used. Canned beans are quicker and just need to be drained and rinsed. Dried beans require overnight soaking and then cooking until tender before using.

The Sauce

The sauce is what gives the beans their distinctive chili flavor. It’s made from:

Diced tomatoes – Use canned diced tomatoes for convenience.
Tomato sauce/paste – Thickens the sauce and boosts tomato flavor.
Chopped onions – Onions sautéed until translucent provide aromatics.
Garlic – Minced garlic adds a punch of flavor.
Chili powder – Adds both heat and chili seasoning like cumin and oregano.
Cumin – Extra cumin enhances the Tex-Mex vibe.
Beef or chicken broth – Provides moisture and savoriness.
Salt and pepper – Essential for seasoning.

The sauce ingredients are cooked briefly to meld the flavors before the beans are added.

Putting It Together

To make chili beans in sauce:

Cook onions and garlic in oil until soft.
Add tomato sauce/paste, broth, seasonings and spices. Simmer.
Add drained beans and cook until heated through.
Adjust seasoning to taste.

The finished chili beans are flavorful and saucy, but not dry. The sauce clings nicely to the beans.

Serving Suggestions

There are so many ways to enjoy chili beans:

As a topping for nachos, tacos, burritos, tostadas, etc. The beans add heartiness.
On a baked potato or over rice for an easy meal.
Stirred into scrambled eggs or an omelet.
On a salad for added protein.
As the base of a chili by adding ground beef.
Wrapped in a tortilla or pita for a quick bean burrito.
Heaped onto a hot dog for a chili dog.
As a dip with tortilla chips for scooping.
In burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and more Tex-Mex dishes.

With so many uses, it’s handy to make a big batch and keep some chilled to use all week long.

Variations

There are all kinds of ways to customize your chili beans:

Use a mix of bean varieties.
Add different spices like cayenne, cumin, paprika, oregano.
Stir in corn, peppers, or other veggies.
Mix in cooked ground beef or turkey.
Top with grated cheddar, Monterey Jack, cotija or queso fresco.
Garnish with sliced scallions, cilantro or avocado.
Drizzle with sour cream or crema.
Serve corn chips on the side for scooping.

Feel free to tweak the ingredients to suit your tastes – make it mild or extra spicy! The saucy bean foundation remains the same.

Tips for the Best Chili Beans

Follow these tips for chili bean success:

Use flavorful broth for the most savory sauce.
Cook onions and garlic thoroughly so they’re very soft.
Simmer the sauce so the flavors develop fully.
Season judiciously with salt, pepper, and extra spices.
Don’t overcook the beans to a mushy texture.
Gently reheat leftover chili beans to avoid drying out.
Store chilled leftover beans in an airtight container up to 4 days.

With their protein and fiber, chili beans make for a nourishing meal component. Their zesty tomato-based sauce packs a tasty punch. A batch of chili beans is one of the handiest ingredients to keep on hand for building quick Tex-Mex inspired meals and snacks.

what is chili beans in sauce

Want Spicier Chili Beans?

As is, this recipe makes a fairly mild batch of chili beans. If youd like more heat, just add more chili powder to taste, or a little cayenne pepper. You can also add Tabasco or Crystal hot sauce, either to the pot or to each individual bowl.

How To Make Chili Beans

Start with cooking the beans. If you’re in a hurry, you can use canned beans, but if you have time, it’s worth it to make your own because they taste and feel better. Here are two great methods for making beans:

While the beans are cooking, cook the rice. Once the beans are cooked, the chili beans are easily finished on the stovetop. Cook the onions, then brown the meat. Add tomatoes, jalapeños, the beans, and seasonings, and let everything simmer for about 10 minutes. Simmering will help bring all the flavors of the dish together. Serve over the rice.

The SHOCKING SECRET to great chili

FAQ

What is a substitute for chili beans in sauce?

I believe they are usually pinto beans in a mild chili-spiked sauce. If you can’t find chili beans, you can likely just substitute pinto beans.

What is in chilli bean sauce?

Salted chili peppers (chili peppers, salt), water, fermented soybean paste (water, salt, soybean, wheat flour), fermented broad bean paste (broad beans, water, salt, wheat flour), sugar, modified corn starch, chili pepper powder, dehydrated garlic, soybean oil, lactic acid, disodium 5′-inosinate and disodium 5′- …

What kind of beans are chilli beans?

Kidney beans come in both light and dark varieties, and they get their name because of the shape of the bean. They are the most popular bean for chili and, in some circles, are often called ‘chili beans. ‘ They add a hearty, rich texture to your chili.

What’s the difference between chili and chili beans?

Chili beans are just beans coated in a meaty chili sauce, reminiscent of the stew that’s also called chili. Unlike the original dish, however, chili beans are mostly just beans with a smaller amount of sauce acting as gravy and flavoring. They are very much a side, not a soup.

What is doubanjiang chili sauce?

Doubanjiang is also known as Chinese chili bean paste, chili bean sauce, or Toban Djan. A frequent feature in many dishes across Chinese cuisine, Doubanjiang is made from fermented broad beans, soybeans and hot chilies that give it its spiciness. You may also see it be called spicy bean paste or broad bean chili sauce.

What is spicy chili bean sauce used for?

Spicy chili bean sauce is used to flavor an array of dishes. Commonly, it is added to hot oil before meat, veggies, or noodles are pan-fried. This cooking method creates something similar to chili oil. Many use this paste for twice cooked pork, a Chinese food dish from Sichuan.

What is Sichuan chili bean paste?

Sichuan chili bean paste is a thick, dark red, salty paste made mainly of fermented broad beans and hot red chili peppers. It also contains wheat flour, salt, and sometimes a small percentage of soybeans. The long fermentation process gives the paste a pronounced savoury, earthy, umami flavour, and a mellow, aromatic spicy taste.

What is spicy bean sauce?

Spicy bean sauce is seriously tasty, and it’s the foundation of many great Chinese dishes (Mapo Tofu, anyone?). It is the king of Chinese sauces in Sichuan cooking and can be eaten as a condiment, or used as a seasoning or sauce base in cooking. Often, that deep red color you see in Sichuan dishes comes from frying doubanjiang in oil.