1/30/13

Really Easy Crock Pot Chili

I know all the packets of chili seasoning have a recipe on the back but this is the way I always, always make mine and it turns out perfect every single time.

I don’t much care for those brown paper bag mixes because I like a lot of cumin and I've always found them to be more about the chili powder and less about the cumin. And I really don’t care for the mesa slurry that most of those include.

So, for this recipe, use the cheap-o pouch and don’t try to get fancy with the froufrou mixes.

And yes, I know you can season it yourself with your own cumin, garlic, chili powder, oregano, etc., but I’m so completely happy with the packets that I've never bothered to make it truly homemade.

And I like pinto beans. You can use kidney beans if you like, but I like the softer texture of the pintos.

Enjoy!


Really Easy Crock Pot Chili
2-2.5 pounds ground beef
1 onion, chopped
Salt & pepper
2 14-oz. cans petite diced tomatoes
2 8-oz. cans tomato sauce
2 16-oz. cans pinto beans, drained
2 1.75-oz. packages chili seasoning mix
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 can of beer*

Brown ground beef with onion, salt and pepper (to taste) over high heat. Drain fat then add ground beef to a crock pot.

Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, chili seasoning, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes and beer to ground beef and stir until well combined.

Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours.

* If you really, really don't want to use beer, substitute with vegetable stock or water but I highly suggest the beer because I think it "makes" the chili.


PRINTABLE RECIPE

This is a fun recipe to serve to a crowd (double or triple the recipe as needed). Create a “chili bar” by setting out bowls filled with an assortment of the following so that folks can top their chili to their liking. I be liking mine with sour cream and corn chips.

Pico de gallo
Salsa
Hot sauce
Guacamole
Sour cream
Shredded cheese
Sliced black olives
Chopped scallions
Corn chips
Cornbread
Saltine crackers
Oyster crackers

24 comments:

  1. Sounds pretty yummy to me, sure would like to have a bowl of this today!

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  2. Thanks for linking up at Weekend Potluck. I love easy dishes and this looks awesome...so does your photo!! *-*

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  3. im going to try this its sounds good even the pictures looks good lol

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  4. What beer do you recommend? I know this sometimes makes the dish ...

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    1. Whatever I have in the fridge. I like lager so that's usually what I have but I've used everything from Bud Light to New Castle.

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    2. So I'm guessing the BC ever cooks down not to affect the kids right???

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  5. Going to try this tomorrow for dinner. I love a good pot of chili... I LOVE my mom's chili, but I can never make it like her. Plus the Army has moved my husband and I all the way down to El Paso Texas.. That's a long drive back to N. Carolina. I am super excited to try this.

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  6. How many would this serve?

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    1. I made it this weekend and 8 of us cleaned the pot so I'd say 8 :)

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  7. I think Lucks Pinto Beans taste the best they are the only ones I found that taste like homemade beans.

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  8. I always add ground hot sausage along with ground beef to my chili! Try it!

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  9. Im a senior citizen, living alone, and I don't much like cooking, but I LOVE eating! anyway, this site has a bunch of stuff I think I might be motivated to try. First of all, would be this chili. I love chili. Now, I will use the beer if you say so, but I DO NOT like the taste or smell of beer, so am I going to taste it in the chili?

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    1. I'd love to know this also, the taste of beer just turn my nose, LOL.. I'm not a snob, I just don't like the smell or taste of it. Also my ex hubby was an alcoholic and that relationship was horrid, beer so brings back bad memories! I will cook with it, IF there is not after taste.

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    2. Maybe I'm not the best person to ask because I LOVE beer but I don't think you taste the beer. What you taste is a rich note that's a little unique and there's certainly no aftertaste that I can detect. But if you're worried about it, feel free to use the substitutions I mentioned above.

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  10. LOL..I do understand that, my best friends love beer, I just sit where I can't smell their drinks.. LOL I'll sneak a beer from someone and try this soon!!

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  11. What size crock pot do you use for this recipe? I have a 5 quart, just want to make sure it'll fit.

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  12. The people concerned about cooking with alcohol need not worry, the taste, smell and alcohol is dissipated from the heat (especially the alcohol) because it is so volatile, in the cooking process, there is a slight residual entrenched in the ingredients that makes a special touch to your recipe. Same goes with wine or whiskey. Bon Appetit!

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  13. I am going to make this for my husband, but I don't eat beans, Can I make the chili without it beans?

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    1. Chili is not chili without beans. Make it as usual then pick the beans out. Or make a small pot for yourself, omitting the beans for you. I don't think it would be called chili if there weren't any beans.

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    2. That's not what they would say in Texas. It's a matter of taste.

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  14. Tastes to much like spaghetti sauce. I omit the canned sauce and use another can of tomatoes. I also use chili powder and totally omit the chili seasoning in the package. I use a nice Guinness beer also. Scatter the choice of beans. Black, pinto, kidney or great northern. I also throw a bottle of Heinz Chili sauce in mine, adds a nice tang.

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  15. how many does one recipe feed?

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  16. This is how I used to do mine, but I've tweaked it a little bit. Now, I do ~1-1.5lbs of ground beef and a roll of hot sausage (like Jimmy Dean) -- it adds a ton of flavor! I also do one can of Ro-Tel and one regular can of diced tomatoes, and I add a chopped green pepper or two. Otherwise, our recipes are pretty much identical!

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Hi there! While I’m not able to respond to every comment, I try hard to answer any questions that haven’t been addressed in the post, recipe or in other comments.

I can tell you now 1) I have no idea if you can substitute Minute Rice or brown rice in my recipes because I’ve never used them and 2) If I know how to convert a recipe to a Crock Pot version, I will make a note about it (otherwise, I don’t know).

And though I may not respond to them all, I do read each and every comment and I LOVE to hear from you guys! Thanks, y’all! - Mandy