How To Cook Beef and Bean Chili

There's nothing cozier than a warm bowl of chili. Learn how easy it is to make your own Hearty Homemade Beef and Bean Chili. Good for the big eater and for those watching their weight!

The Ultimate Comfort Food Without the Guilt

Nothing beats a hearty bowl of chili on a cold winter day. Packed with tons of protein and flavor; chili can satisfy the biggest eater in your home as well as the one who is watching their figure. With so much fiber and protein, you will have the satisfying feeling of fullness while elevating your energy level.
If you want to meet your weight loss goals quicker, skip the meat altogether and add more tomatoes, peppers, and beans. These are all low in calories, and low calories mean more pounds lost.

 

The Many Ways To Eat Chili

There are so many delicious and creative ways to enjoy homemade chili. I typically serve our chili in a bowl with a sprinkle of shredded cheese, topped with saltine crackers. But here are a few more ideas to get you thinking!

• In bowl, topped with shredded cheese and crumbled saltine crackers
• Put it on a hamburger with cheese, and now you have a chili-cheese burger
• Put it on a hotdog with cheese to make a chili-cheese dog
• You can use the left-overs to make a casserole
• Use it as a burrito, taco, enchilada, or Mexican pizza mix
• Over pasta
• Over rice
• Spread over a couple of slices of toast
• Put a handful of corn chips in a bowl and then pour some chili on top
• Use it to make a tortilla chip dip
• Mix some with scrambled eggs
• Use it as filling for an omelet to make a southwestern style breakfast

Don't forget, chili is even better the next day or you can freeze it for a later date.

 If you want to meet your weight loss goals quicker, skip the meat altogether and add more tomatoes, peppers, and beans.

Packed with tons of protein and flavor; chili can satisfy the biggest eater in your home as well as the one who is watching their figure.

Weight Loss Tip

Be sure to avoid adding items such as crackers and cheese. You'll be better off eating a bowl of chili just the way it is. You can also pair it with a large glass of water (preferably, before and after your meal), this will help you reach comfortable fullness more quickly, without feeling deprived.
If you can tolerate them, consider adding hot peppers to your chili. Hot peppers contain a component known as capsaicin. Capsaicin has been linked to weight loss. It is said that ingesting capsaicin regularly in your diet can assist in boosting the metabolism which in turn helps your body burn fat more quickly.

Cincinnati chili (or Cincinnati-style chili) is a Mediterranean-spiced meat sauce used as a topping for spaghetti (a "two-way") or hot dogs ("coneys"), both dishes developed by Greek-Macedonian immigrant restaurateurs in the 1920s.

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_chili

What Makes A Great Chili?

That's easy! Fresh Ingredients, of course!
What Makes A Great Chili?

That's easy! Fresh Ingredients, of course!
You'll find thousands of recipes for chili on the internet. The one thing that most of them have in common is that they all use canned ingredients and pre-packaged mixes. Where's the nutrition? I only use fresh ingredients, from scratch. Paired with the process of slow cooking, and you've got yourself a super delicious, nutritious meal on your hands! There is a definite difference in flavor when you cook fresh. It is more bold, vibrant, and healthier!

What Makes A Great Chili?
That's easy! Fresh Ingredients, of course!

Cook Time

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 6 hours

Ready in: 6 hours 20 min

Yields: 8 servings

Quick Note

In this recipe, I use chili powder. You may opt for fresh chile's if you'd like. I live with a bunch of wimps, so I'm forced to cook everything mild in our home.

What You'll Need

• 1 LB Lean Ground Beef
• 1 Large Tomato, (Diced)
• 1 Large Red Onion, (Chopped-Any kind will do)
• 6 Medium Sized Garlic Cloves, (Chopped)
• 1 Cup Ketchup
• 1 1/2 Cups Dry Kidney Beans
• 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder, (Or Fresh Chopped Chili's -For extra HEAT)
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• 1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt

Additional Options

This recipe is a Mild chili. For added heat, feel free to add in fresh chili peppers, jalapeno's, habanero peppers, etc.!
You can also add a splash of color and flavor by adding some of these not-so-hot options.

• Corn
• Black Beans
• Sausage
• Pinch of Sugar
• Bacon
• Paprika
• Sundried Tomatoes
• Beer (yes, some people actually put beer in their chili)

As you can see, there are so many ways you can create a signature chili! Just use your taste buds and imagination!

Directions

1. First, you want to take a large pot and fill it 3/4 the way full with water. Add the 1 1/2 cup of dry kidney beans and set the burner on High. Once you bring it to a rolling boil, turn the burner down to medium-low. You will be cooking your beans for 2 hours (keeping an eye on them, as the water diminishes to almost nothing, add three to four more cups of water to the pot.)
2. Next, pull out your 4 - 5-quart slow cooker and set it to "Low.".
3. While the beans are cooking and the slow cooker is heating up, chop and dice your tomato, onion, and garlic cloves.
4. Put all of the chopped tomatoes into the slow cooker.
5. Next, add the 1 cup of ketchup to the slow cooker.
6. Now add your chili powder, cumin, pepper, and salt to the slow cooker.
7. Grab up the chopped onion and ground beef and cook them in a 12-inch pan over medium heat for approximately 9 minutes (until the beef is brown), then drain.
8. Add the cooked beef and onions to the slow cooker (stirring all ingredients well).
9. After 2 hours, the kidney beans should be plump and soft and the water should be a rich red-brown color.
10. Do not drain the beans, add the entire pot of beans and water to the slow cooker. Stir well and then let it cook on "Low" for 6 hours (stirring occasionally).

Chili mac (sometimes referred to as American chop suey, beefaroni, Cincinnati chili, goulash, Johnny Marzetti, macaroni and beef, and Midwest chili) is a dish prepared using chili and macaroni or spaghetti noodles as primary ingredients, which is often topped or intermingled with cheese. Some versions are made using prepared or homemade macaroni and cheese. It is a common dish in the Midwestern United States, and is also popular in other areas of the United States

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chili_mac

4 Slow Cooker Meals

 

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