Description
Hearty chili from scratch brings comfort to dinner tables with robust flavors and simple preparation. Warm spices and tender meat create a satisfying meal you’ll crave on cool evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 pounds ground beef or turkey
Vegetables and Tomato Base:
- 2 small green peppers (about 2 cups, diced)
- 1 small yellow onion (about 1.5 cups, diced)
- 2 (15 ounces) cans Hunts Diced Tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounces) can Hunts Tomato Sauce
- 1 (6 ounces) can Hunts Tomato Paste
- 15 ounces water
- 2 (15 ounces) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Spices and Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 3 tablespoons cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 0.5 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Heat a large Dutch oven over medium temperature and gently caramelize diced green peppers and onions until they become translucent and develop a golden edge.
- Introduce aromatic seasonings to the softened vegetables, stirring continuously for 1-2 minutes to prevent scorching and maximize flavor development.
- Incorporate ground meat into the vegetable mixture, browning it while maintaining a slight pink interior to ensure tenderness and prevent overcooking.
- Pour tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, water, and tomato paste into the pot, mixing thoroughly to create a uniform sauce consistency.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to gently simmer, developing deep flavors for approximately 15 minutes.
- Drain kidney beans and fold them into the simmering chili, distributing them evenly throughout the sauce.
- Sprinkle baking soda into the chili, which will cause a brief bubbling reaction. Continue stirring until the foam subsides and the sauce stabilizes.
- Remove the Dutch oven from heat and ladle the piping hot chili into serving bowls, ready to be enjoyed immediately.
Notes
- Elevate flavor by caramelizing onions and peppers slowly, allowing natural sugars to develop a rich, deep taste profile.
- Use high-quality ground meat with moderate fat content for maximum juiciness and depth of flavor in the chili.
- Add baking soda carefully to neutralize acidity and create a smoother, more balanced sauce texture without compromising taste.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting spice quantities or adding fresh jalapeños for those who enjoy extra kick in their chili.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg