Never-Entered-In-A-Contest-But-Still-Super-Good Chili

Greeny4444's Note:

This recipe is adapted from Paula Deen's son Jaime's chili recipe. It is from their "Family cook-off" episode on Food Network, but I changed a few things... partly for our tastes, and partly in the interest of not copying a celebrity. I have used ground beef, ground turkey, and ground bison (not all at the same time) - and we like when it's made with bison or turkey the most. I usually make cornbread or Cheddar Beer Bread to enjoy with this. Hope you like it!

• Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 8-10

Yield: 5.0 quarts

• nonstick cooking spray
• 2 lbs ground meat
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 bell peppers, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 cups celery, chopped
• 2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained (plain is ok, but with herbs or spices added are good too)
• 1 (28 ounce) can rotel, undrained (diced tomatoes with green chilis added)
• ground cumin
• chili powder
• italian seasoning (optional, if diced tomatoes aren't seasoned with herbs)
• dried basil (optional, if diced tomatoes aren't seasoned with herbs)
• dried oregano (optional, if diced tomatoes aren't seasoned with herbs)
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can pinto beans, drained
• 1 dash crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) packet chili seasoning mix (I use low-sodium Chili seasoning from McCormick)
• shredded cheese, if desired

Directions:

1. In a skillet, brown meat. Drain and set aside.
2. Spray a large (6- or 7-qt.) pot with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the onion, bell peppers, garlic, and celery, and saute briefly.
3. Stir in the diced tomatoes and the Rotel.
4. Add several shakes of cumin and chili powder (I do it until I can smell them -- you can always add more later), and also the italian seasoning, basil and oregano, if using.
5. Cook for about 8 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
6. Add the beans, browned meat, red pepper flakes, and chili seasoning.
7. Partially cover, and simmer for at least 4 hours.
8. Serve with shredded cheese and cornbread, if desired.

Reviews

[Lavender Lynn]

Super Tasty and good. This made a great supper for a cold wet fall day. Made for PAC Fall 2012.

[TeresaS]

What a yummy chili recipe. I made as posted except cutting it in half. My meat of choice was ground turkey. The ingredients all worked great together. I did top it with shredded cheese, some sour cream and chopped scallions. (after photo was taken). I served it with corn bread for a most delicious dinner. Made for Spring PAC 2010. Thanks for posting. :)

[ihvhope]

This makes a really nice chili. I only added a can of tomato sauce because it needed a bit more color, but that's just my thing. I'll be making this one again. Thanks!