Carroll Shelby's Texas Chili — Masa-Thickened Texas Red Recipe

Name: Carroll Shelby's Texas Chili — Masa-Thickened Texas Red Recipe
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lb ground beef (chili grind) or 1 lb ground beef + 1 lb cubed chuck; 1 medium onion, chopped; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 8 oz tomato sauce; 2 cups water; 3 tbsp chili powder; 2 tsp cumin; 2 tsp paprika; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp cayenne (held to the end, to taste); 3 tbsp masa harina (thickener)

Texas-style red in the Shelby tradition — ground beef (or half chuck), tomato sauce, masa-thickened body, and cayenne held to the end so you fix it hot or mild. No beans.

Carroll Shelby — the Cobra and Ford GT40 racing legend — helped turn Terlingua into chili country and put his name on one of the most recognizable Texas chili kits (now from Reily Foods). This bowl recreates that style from scratch: no beans, masa-thickened body, and cayenne held to the end so everyone at the table can fix it hot or mild.

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Inspired by Carroll Shelby

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Cook Time

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Ground Beef

Protein

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Texas

Region

Heat Level

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Medium Burn

Community Photos

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Ingredients

2 lb ground beef (chili grind) or 1 lb ground beef + 1 lb cubed chuck

1 medium onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

8 oz tomato sauce

2 cups water

3 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp paprika

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

½ tsp cayenne (held to the end, to taste)

3 tbsp masa harina (thickener)

Steps

Brown the beef in a large pot over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat.

Add onion and garlic; cook until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.

Stir in tomato sauce, water, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and salt — but hold the cayenne for now.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld and the pot thickens slightly.

Stir in cayenne to taste — Shelby's kits let you fix it hot or mild; start with half the ½ tsp and build.

Whisk masa harina into ⅓ cup cold water until smooth. Stir into the chili and simmer 5–10 minutes until glossy and spoon-coating.

Taste for salt and heat, then serve Texas-style.

Related on ChiliStation

Prefer the shortcut?

Separate spice, masa, and cayenne packets — the fast lane to Shelby-style Texas red when you do not want to measure cumin and paprika from jars. Brown your meat, add the kit, simmer.

Carroll Shelby's Original Texas Chili Kit on Amazon →

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