Hearty & full of goodness!

This chili is super versatile & you can add whatever veggies you have on hand - that’s why I like it so much. However, we typically stick with the ingredients that are listed here, since that’s what’s most common for us to have stored here in the winter months when we’re cooking this up! You can add meat to it, too, if the beans aren’t enough for ya.

As I always say with these recipes, I hope you take them & make them your own version that you love. They’re meant to be a delicious starting point that we’ve catered to our own preferences over time!

Ingredients:

• Optional: Meat/Ground beef

• 1 quart or 2 pints or 2 cans of red kidney beans

• 1 white or yellow onion

• 5 garlic cloves, minced/finely chopped

• 1 quart or 2 pints (or 2 14oz cans) diced tomatoes, fire roasted are great

• 3 large carrots chopped small

• 2 potatoes diced small, around the size of the beans

• 2 cracked open dried chili peppers (or red pepper flakes…I don’t love spicy, so add more if you like spice!)

• Lots of: salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic & onion powders, chili powder

• A handful of chopped cilantro or 1-2tsp dried coriander powder

• Pinch of cinnamon

• 1-2 quart jars of water 

• Starch or Flour if you want to thicken your chili

Instructions:

Step 01:

Dump all of this into a Dutch oven or big pot on the stove. If you’re going to include meat, brown that first in the pot, drain grease if you desire, and then add everything else to the pot & continue with the recipe.

Step 02:

Bring it to a boil (I leave it covered for a bit), reduce heat & let it simmer til potatoes & carrots are cooked through & the liquid has decreased to your preferred amount, usually around 30 minutes. You can do this with the lid on or off depending on how much liquid you want in it.

Step 03:

Taste & add more seasonings if needed. I usually have to add more spices and salt at this point to make it super flavorful.

Step 04:

If you want to thicken your chili, this is the time. Take some of the hot liquid, about 1/4c or so, and put in a separate cup or bowl. Whisk in either flour or starch. I usually start with 1Tbsp and add more as needed. Pour this into your chili and mix it in well. It may take a few minutes to begin to thicken.

Step 05:

You’re done! Serve it up with rice or some cornbread. Our favorite thing to pair with this is some delicious sweet honey cornbread. Enjoy!

Do you have any questions?

As always, I encourage you to send me a message on my Instagram account (@calicocowacres) or email me if you have any recipe questions or need advice while making it. I want my recipes to be something you can adapt and make your own - and I’m happy to help you do it!