This Chorizo recipe is made with lean ground beef marinated in a perfect blend of chiles and spices. Making a flavorful & fragrant Mexican chorizo at home is easier than you think! It has less calories but the same authentic flavors.
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Beef Chorizo: the healthy version
You can’t go to a Mexican restaurant and not see Chorizo on the menu. Even grocery stores carry a version of Pork or Beef Chorizo, but you never know what kind of meat is used. Have you seen all those extra preservatives & processed ingredients on the label? Yikes!
I don’t know about you, but I like to know what I’m eating! Making homemade chorizo is the best way to use good quality meat that is low in fat without any extra chemicals.
Traditional chorizo is originally made with ground pork along with fat from the pork. A lot of people say that the flavor comes from the fat but I disagree! The real flavor comes from the spices and chiles used to marinate the meat.
This version is made with lean beef to keep it low fat and less greasy. It can be made with lean ground pork or turkey as well. But as mentioned before, the authentic flavors come from the marinade made with spices, vinegar, dried chile guajillo & pasilla.
🩷 xoxo, Ana
**This post was originally published on Sept 2013. It has been updated to be more helpful.
If you’re looking for a meat alternative recipe, check out my Soy Chorizo recipe. The flavor is not compromised!
Ingredients
How to make Beef Chorizo
Step 1) In a medium bowl, soak guajillo & pasilla chiles in hot water for about 10 minutes or until they become soft.
Step 2) In a blender, add the chiles, spices, garlic, 1/2 cup of the cooked water & vinegar. Blend well until it forms a paste consistency.
Step 3) Add the chile paste to the ground beef and mix everything well with a spatula or knead with your hands as if making dough for bread. Make sure all the beef is completely covered with the chile paste.
Step 4) Place the beef chorizo over a strainer, then place the strainer over a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator. Note: placing the beef over a strainer, allows for the extra juices to be released. Discard juices.
Allow the mixture to stand refrigerated for at least 6 hours or up to 2 days so the chorizo can ripen. Time allows the spices to infuse their flavors into the ground beef and for the chorizos overall flavor to develop.
Do you like it spicy?
The chorizo marinade is not spicy (as in hot) since it’s made with mild chiles: guajillo and pasilla. However, if you like it spicy, you can add a few dried chile de arbol to add some heat! However, I recommend to keep it way then add the spicy you crave to the final dish with serrano peppers or a spicy salsa like this Chiltepin Salsa.
Tips and Notes
- Mix Well but Don’t Overwork – Stir everything together until well combined, but don’t mash it too much, or the texture will get tough.
- Let it Rest – For the best flavor, refrigerate the chorizo mixture for a few hours (or overnight) before cooking. This lets the spices soak into the meat.
How to Store
When I make chorizo I like to double the recipe in order to have some handy when needed. Luckily storing and freezing it is very easy!
- Fridge: The acidity of the vinegar helps to conserve the meat in the refrigerator longer than if it didn’t contain any. Just place in an airtight container and it’ll last between 10 to 15 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezer: Place in quart sized freezer bags and remove excess air before closing the bag. Keeps up to 6 months.
What can I make with Chorizo?
What’s for dinner tonight? How about these delicious and easy Mexican recipes that use chorizo. You’ll want to bookmark these recipes for simple (yet tasty) meals.
- Use it to make these delicious Chicken Tinga
- Pambazos
- Chorizo con papas tacos or Huevos Con Chorizo
- Top Nachos with chorizo
- Frijoles Puercos
- Taquitos
More Mexican Recipes
Print Recipe:
Easy Chorizo Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 large Guajillo (california) dried peppers - seeds and veins removed
- 2 dried pasilla peppers - seeds and veins removed (see note)
- 2 cups very hot water
- 2 Tablespoon ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground clove - optional
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon - optional
- 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt - if using table salt, use about 1/2 tablespoon
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 large garlic cloves
- ¼ cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 lb 96% ground beef - Optional to use a ground turkey, pork, or even a beef with higher fat percentage.
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, soak guajillo & pasilla chiles in hot water for about 10 minutes or until they become soft. Reserve ½ cup of this water.
- In a blender, add the chiles and the ½ cup of chile water, spices, garlic & vinegar.
- Blend well until it forms a paste consistency.
- Add the chile paste to the ground beef and mix everything well with a spatula or knead with your hands as if making dough for bread.
- Place the beef chorizo over a strainer, then place the strainer over a bowl. Cover with plastic and place in refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours preferably overnight. Note: placing the beef over a strainer, allows for the extra liquid to be released and avoids soggy chorizo. Discard juices.
- Allow the mixture to stand refrigerated for at least 6 hours or up to 2 days so the chorizo can ripen. Time allows the spices to infuse their flavors into the ground beef and for the chorizo's overall flavor to develop.
- Once the chorizo has cured you can freeze it in smaller portions and use as needed.
Notes
Your Private Notes
Nutrition
Speaking of “Mexican” food… I want to announce that I’m so excited for this Friday. I’m about to become a U.S. Citizen!! I passed the test/interview about a month ago and now it’s time for the official swearing in. I can’t wait! I’ll give you more details later but I wanted to give you a heads up on what’s coming my way.
My Mexican roots will never be erased but I’ll be very proud to say “I’m a United States Citizen” 😀
What is “96%” beef, 96% fat free?
Really hard to obtain.
Yep! It’s super lean! You can use the percentage of fat that you like it! I like it lean and get 96% beef from the butcher or any grocery store will carry it.
Enjoy.
I don’t have a lot of experience with mexican dishes, but thought this recipe would be simple to make. It was great; served with corn tacos and sides, loved the flavour. I found it just right; however, my wife found it a little too hot. If you have any advise on how to make it again to reduce the heat, it would be appreciated.
Very good recipe and fun to make. I highly endorse the combination of chiles and spices. However, I question the recommendation of using lean beef or pork as it is the fat that gives meat its flavor. Usually sausage is made with extra fat for more flavor and to keep the sausage from becoming too dry when fried.
My husband is Mexican, and loves chorizo bean and egg burritos.
We stopped eating pork 10 years ago and chorizo is something he missed eating.
I came across this recipe and used ground beef. My husband was instantly transported back to his childhood!
Its safe to say, this recipe is a KEEPER! Thank you
Hi, Love this, just wondering how to do the 1/2 cup of cooked water and vinegar? Can you share how you do this?
Thank you so much.
Loved the recipe and thanks for becoming a united states citizen.
I made a large batch of this but my husband was driving me crazy. He said waiting for the flavors to work their magic was torture. I waited 3 days because I made a lot of it. It was amazing, the aroma it produced made our mouths water. I love this recipe and so did everyone who ate some. Thank you for sharing.
I made the chorizo and I was so happy to say it’s delicious and wonderful. Thank you.
I can’t wait to try this recipe, thank you.
I doubled the recipe, using 1 lb. of pork sausage and 1 lb. of ground beef. After the ripened stage, I cooked a little for taste. The results were amazing. However, I didn’t think to add a little heat (e.g., cayenne) and wondered if I could still do it after it has ripened, or is it too late? I have made a note to add a couple of chile arbol or cayenne the next time. Thank you.
Hi, curious if you doubled the rest of the ingredients or just the meat?
Hi Yola, you will need to double all ingredients. Let me know if you have any other questions about making chorizo! Enjoy
Hi Vida! I’m so happy you liked it! You can always add more heat even after it’s cured. If I need to make things more spicy, I add a little chile de arbol in powder form and it does not change the consistency. Thanks for the review!
Thank you so much for sharing! And congratulations on your citizenship! I teach Citizenship classes and advanced ESL to many students and they always amaze me. My favorite days at work are potluck days though, because of recipes like this! 💖
Hi! The chile paste is still hot from softening the peppers. Should the paste be cooled completely before mixing into the beef? I didn’t want to accidentally cook the beef with the paste if that’s the case!
Great question Michelle! You’re correct, the paste should be cooled before adding to the raw beef. Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy!
In the homemade chorizo recipe should I assume that the ground beef is to be cooked before mixing with Chile paste (and then placed over a strainer)?
It’s actually raw! Don’t cook the ground beef firs. You’ll cook it once it’s marinated. Let me know if you have any other questions.
I’ve been wanting to make beef chorizo for a while now since the stores don’t sell it any more in my area. I doubled the recipe and followed it to the tee. The paste alone was delish added it to the beef mixed it all together and now it is straining and ripening in the fridge for the next 4 days. My family said that the taste and smell of the paste reminds them of the authentic Mexican chorizo we used to buy. Can’t wait to try it. As a note… If you are having difficulty softening the papers boil them in the water for about 3 minutes and then let them sit in that water another 15 to 20 minutes. This will ensure that when you blend them it will make a paste without bits of pepper. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe.
I have to admit, that I am adverse to ground anything…unless I am the grinder. Therefore, I have never had chorizo. However, since I have found Heaven, this site…I went and ground some beef. A lot…in anticipation of making other recipes.
I was very surprised how the texture of the ground beef changed. 😳
Following the recipe for Chicken Tinga….well worth the pre-thought! I mean, wow!
Hi Paula! I’m thrilled that you liked the liked the homemade chorizo! I’m like you and don’t buy anything pre-grounded. I do ask the butcher to do it infront of me though since I don’t have a grinder. Can’t wait for you to try the Tinga! It’s one of my faves!
Does the ground beef need to cure in the fridge raw with the paste? Or do we cook the ground beef and then add the paste?
Easy recipe but your kosher to tablesalt conversion is wrong if doing 2x or 3x recipe
Personally, sausage meat should have kosher salt versus table salt
Congratulations on becoming a U.S. citizen! Awesome news.
I made a small batch of your recipe, but my blender was a larger capacity and when I blended the chiles, spices, and chile water, it did not completely break down some of the skins. Any suggestions on what I can do in the future–I have a tiny food processor and thought about using this next time. Overall, I loved the flavor and shared it with my sister! Thank you so much for sharing your recipes and life with us.
I was taught to use a Molcajete which is the Mexican grinding bowl made from volcanic stone, which is now very expensive, almost impossible to get and very difficult to cure properly.
If you are not going to use a Molcajete on a regular basis save your money and get an immersion blender of at least 600watts. Be sure not to use the immersion blender in any nonstick pans. Some of the better ones actually come with a blending cup and bowl and for sauces are ideal.
Thank you for your response, S. I have a molcajete and will try it.
Could you use Hatch dried red Chilies instead of the ones you mentioned? I have a huge bag of those and 10 pounds of hamburger 🙂
Hi Shawna! That should work too! The flavor profile is similar so I have no doubt it’ll be delicious! That’s a lot of meat so it’ll be nice to freeze some. Enjoy and let me know how it turns out.
I have always loved store-bought chorizo, but this is a whole other level! The dried chiles give it such a deep, complex flavor — we absolutely loved it.
We cook with chorizo a lot in my house, and I never thought of making my own until this recipe. It’s so much easier than I thought – and so delicious!
I have never tried to make my own chorizo before! I totally want to try this recipe soon. 🙂
I’ve never thought to make my own chorizo until I came across this recipe. It sounds so flavorful and delicious. Can’t wait to make it.
Oh my you’re right all the flavor is coming from those spices! Made with ground turkey…and it was so delish!!
Outstanding recipe!
I’m thrilled to hear you liked this chorizo Murray! Thanks so much for the feedback 🙂
This is definitely not the same as the original recipe posted with this title. Why did you change it? And why did you write that you hadn’t changed it? I spent hours trying to match a recipe online to my memory of what I’d used before and couldn’t find it, although your website looked very familiar. Eventually I located a screenshot in my photos of your website and the original recipe, which proves to me you did change it. Unfortunately the screenshot is only a partial, so I’m still left guessing to fill in the details of the exact recipe I used before.
Hi Sarah, I have not changed the recipe so I’m a little confused about your comment. Could you please email me the screenshot you have? Thank you and sorry you’re having trouble finding the original website!
Warmly, Ana
I’ve made beef chorizo multiple times now based off this recipe. First time I added 1 Tbsp Paprika plus 1 Tbsp Cayenne instead of 2 Tbsp Paprika. It was pretty spicy and I liked it but my wife and friend, not so much. Second time I lowered these two spices but screwed up and used Tbsp instead of tsp for the ground clove! But it was still very good.
Chicken Tinga next!
En Sonora no fermenta la carne en vinaagre antes de echarle el chile molino? Nunca habia escuchado de chorizo mexicano y que no se fermenter la carne primero en vinagre. Wow!!
Hola Juanita! La fermentación se hace ya despues de mezclar todo y se deja reposar por horas en el refrigerador. Asi lo hacia mi mama y toda la familia en Sonora! Gracias por su visita!
Healthy chorizo? I didn’t know such a thing existed. Now I’m going to eat a lot more of it especially this recipe!
es delicioso este chorizo !!!
Phenomenal recipe!
Hi, I was poking around on google and came across your blog, specifically the entry about healthy chorizo. Although this particular blog is a few years old, I’m wondering if I could send you some of our Miners Mix Gourmet Chorizo mix that is designed to be used with ground beef? This particular mix is what started my business, Miners Mix. I love chorizo as well, but all the garbage and the fat in the commercial stuff is pretty disgusting. I’m pretty sure you’ll like ours a lot! It’s based on a rare and difficult to source heritage chile.
There is a link on our web site pointing to my blog as well. It’s more of a BBQ blog with a little oddball stuff tossed in.
Congrats on becoming a citizen the right way! I like to read these kinds of stories! A belated welcome!
Hope to hear back from you.
Dave
Oh yum! I like to make up big batches of ground beef at once, for different meals, for the freezer. This is definitely being added to that list!! Pinning so I don’t forget! Also, congratulations and hope you’re enjoying being a citizen of our fabulous country! 🙂
Hi Theresa! Thanks so much for the congrats! It feels no different than before I became a citizen but and the only time is when I travel out of the country and show my shinny and beautiful US Passport! LOL! Yes chorizo is a great meal to freeze. It’s all about saving time right? Have a wonderful day!
I was just browsing through this site (I found it through a link to a breakfast recipe from Huffington Post), but upon reading this post, I just found I had to comment and say, happy to have you as a fellow citizen! 😀 Congratulations!
I love many of the recipes here, so I may drop by the comments again since I will probably subscribe. 😛 But just wanted to not lurk for a moment to say congrats.
Hi Amy!! Thanks so much for your comment! It means the world! I appreciate you taking the time to look around. Stay in touch and I hope you have a great day!!!
I love this homemade version! Can’t wait to try it for myself – the boyfriend will love it!
Awesome Chung-Ah! It’s so much better! Enjoy 😀