Cooler evenings, football Fridays, and pumpkin everything – Fall is definitely upon us! What better time to pull out the soup and chili recipes, right? Well, if you are looking for a great meal for the crisper evening temps, here it is! AND I don’t know about you all but I am all about easy, cheap and QUICK meals that can feed a crowd or my crew in a few minutes notice.
Last night, we had a fun chili cookoff at our church and since I am also all about a little friendly competition, I came home from work and threw together my old faithful chili recipe. My recipe makes a large pot so I knew there would be plenty to share. Here is my list of ingredients:
- Family Pack of Hamburger (2 -2 1/2 lbs.)
- Minced Onion
- Water
- Chili Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- 2 Packs Chili Seasoning
- 2 Cans Light Red Kidney Beans
- 2 Cans Dark Red Kidney Beans
- 1 Can Pinto Beans
- 12 oz. Can Diced Tomatoes
- Salt and Pepper
- Optional – Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese, Corn Chip Scoops or Crackers, Sour Cream
To begin, I place my hamburger meat in my pot and add 5 tbsp. of minced onion (I use the dried most of the time because it’s quicker and easier). I pour a cup of water in so that the meat will fry up nicely. I feel like this keeps it from frying up in larger clumps. I do not drain the fat because it gives chili a great flavor (if you prefer a lower fat version, you can drain and it’s still yummy).
Once my hamburger is browned, I add my dry seasonings – 5 tbsp Chili Powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (you can use more if you like a chili with more of a bite), 2 tbsp garlic powder, 2 packs Chili Seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste.
My next step is to pour in all the beans and add the diced tomatoes. I do not drain the liquid off them and add an additional two cups of water.
I bring all the ingredients to a boil and let it simmer for a few minutes. After it simmers a bit to let the flavors combine, I taste test to see if I need to add more salt and pepper. When I’m content with the flavor, I serve it up with some shredded cheddar cheese, a large dollop of sour cream and a handful of corn chips or crackers.
Whether you’re in need of a great crowd pleaser or a simple but tasty meal for the family, this recipe puts dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. Oh, and to finish my story, I arrived late to the church competition (story of my life but football practice ran over), so I didn’t get to compete but I think the chili was still enjoyed and it was a great time of fellowship! Next time, I’m gonna give the Apple Pie competition a try! Stay tuned ;-)!
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