Homemade Chili WITH Beans

Just in time for the cold weather change! We are down in the south and the weather is doing its own thing, but it has gotten much cooler compared to the HOT summer we had this year. Anyways, I whipped up some DELICIOUS chili and I am here to share it with you! I served it with some cornbread, made from a box lol, but it was the perfect pairing. We had plenty of leftovers and made some frito pies for lunch. Plus, this is a One-Pot meal! My favorite kind of meal ESPECIALLY since I'm cooking for a bigger family now!

Ingredients

for the beans

• 16 oz pkg. dry pinto beans, soaked

• 2 tbsp. minced garlic

• 1 1/2 tbsp. salt

• 1 tbsp. black pepper

• 1 lb thick-cut bacon, cut into small pieces

for the chili

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced

• 2 lbs ground beef

• salt and pepper

• 1 tbsp. minced garlic

• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced

• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced

• 3 tbsp. tomato paste

• 1 tbsp. brown sugar

• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

• 2 tsp. hot sauce, I used Cholula

• 1 c. chicken broth

• 1 cube beef bouillon

• 28 oz crushed tomatoes

• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, italian style

Instructions

1. To make the beans: Once beans have soaked for 2-3 hours, add garlic, salt, pepper and bacon. Bring to a boil and cook for about an hour, until they become soft.

2. To make the chili: Heat the oil in a large pot, over medium heat. Add onions and let them soften for about 8 minutes.

3. Increase heat to medium-high, and add your ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Cook and crumble for about 5-6 minutes.

4. Add garlic, bell pepper and jalapeño pepper. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.

5. Drain the grease and return pot to heat. Combine seasonings in a small bowl, add to pot and toss to coat.

6. Add tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Toss to coat.

7. Add chicken broth, beef bouillon, crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine, bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer.

8. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom.

9. Add your beans and only about a cup of the juice. Cook for 10-15 minutes more, until desired consistency is reached.

Tips & Tricks

• Feeling lazy during this cold weather? Instead of making the beans, just buy them in a can and add them instead.

• My mom mentioned to me that kidney beans AND pinto beans are a great combination to try. Both beans work, so whatever your preference is.

• Another trick by my mom, if by chance you over salt your beans, considering the bacon and garlic are salty and we are adding more salt, POTATOES! Cut them in halves and let them sit in the water until they kind of soften, but don'tlet them get too soft or you will have beans with mashed potatoes. Continue repeating until you've reached your flavor goals.