Is Chili really chili without beans?
Most Chili aficionados would probably tell you it’s not really chili if there are beans included. This could present a predicament because many others consider chili, not really chili, without beans!
Greg and I definitely have different impressions of what our perfect chili is. He likes it with beans, I’m more content without. So, I recently made some tasty chili both ways – and we each got our wish!
Now…keeping in mind that my crock pot has an insert that divides your food, it was a bit easier for me to do this. Even if you don’t have a divided crock pot you can still make your chile two ways by first cooking everything but the beans, and then adding the warmed beans to half the chile in another pot.
Problem solved…you too can have your chile your way!
Tips: For a quick and easy weeknight meal, brown your meat the night before, add all ingredients but the corn meal and place crock pot insert in the fridge. Then take it out the next morning and set your crock pot. You’ve got a delicious meal when you get home.
This meal freezes well so you can make it just for the two of you and freeze portions for future good eating!
CrockPot Chili 2 Ways
- Cut a 2 lb chuck roast in cubes and dry rub with salt, coriander and chili powder seasonings. Brown in bacon fat or vegetable oil. (I keep left over bacon fat in the freezer).
- Coarsely chop 1 bulb garlic
- 1 cup each
- Chopped onion – 1 large or 2 small yellow
- Chopped celery (leaves and all) – at least 4 stalks, more if you like more texture
- Add 2 cans diced tomatoes and juice
- 3-5 sliced jalapenos (or wait and add as needed at end)
- Add ¼ cup chili powder (1/2 of it pasilla – the dark chili powder gives depth and a good color)
- cook on low 6-7 hours
- In the last one to two hours, add ¼ cup corn meal to thicken
- Add cumin and red pepper to taste. Salt to taste
- Warm 2 cans beans (1 pinto, 1 black – rinsed and drained)
- Either add the warm beans to half the chili or serve them on the side.
Serve with your choice of grated cheddar, cilantro, fresh tomatoes, Fritos Chips, avocado and chopped onions
