Sweet Homestyle Chili

 

One of my cold-weather food favorites. It's cold outside but this chili will make you feel so warm inside. Not only is it delicious, chili is heaping with protein, fiber, and other nutrients making it an overall healthy dish! Who knew? It's ok. It can be our little secret.

 

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef (96% lean -4% fat)

1 packet if chili seasoning (I use low sodium)

1.5  teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 half bell pepper (diced)

1 medium yellow onion (diced)

1 tomato (diced) or 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz) drained

1 can dark kidney beans; drained (15.5 oz)

1 can chili beans (15.5 oz)

1 can tomato paste (16 oz)

2 tablespoons brown sugar (more if you like it sweeter)

Oil (enough to drizzle in pot)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1: Prep the ground beef

Unpackage the ground beef and place it into a bowl. Add the packet of chili seasoning, garlic powder, and ground pepper to it. Mix it all together, so the meat is well-seasoned. Cover the bowl with saran wrap and set aside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2: Prep the Veggies

If you haven't diced the bell pepper, onion, or tomato, do so now. Take out a deep pot (one big enough for all the chili) and drizzle enough oil in the pot to brown the vegetables. On high-medium heat, place all the diced veggies into the pot. Here, you can sprinkle a little salt and pepper. Get ready because your kitchen is about to smell amazing. Stir the vegetables until the onions become a golden brown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Add the meat

Once the vegetables are sauteed, add the seasoned ground beef to the pot. You can lower the heat to medium-high. Constantly stir the meat and vegetables until the meat is completely browned and cooked all the way through (no pink). Lower the heat to medium and add the tomato paste, kidney beans, chili beans, and brown sugar. Stir everything together well. Lower the heat to low, cover the pot, and let everything simmer for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, check your chili making sure to stir it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4: Special Tips

Here is where you taste test and make it your own. If it needs more flavor, sprinkle some salt, pepper, or seasoning salt to it (start with a little, taste it, then add more if needed); if it needs some kick, add some hot sauce OR a hot pepper (jalapeno, scotch bonnet) 10-15 minutes before you serve the chili (do NOT cut open the scotch bonnet or other super hot peppers!!! The seeds are what make the peppers spicy and if they marinate in the chili for long enough your mouth will explode with the first bite, but if that's what you're into, go for it); if the chili is too dry, add a little bit of water; if it's too watery, turn the heat to high-medium and let some evaporate or let it simmer with the top off for a bit(without burning the rest of it), just remember that chili will thicken over time. There isn't a set amount of time for letting the chili simmer, but the longer the better! You can even make it in a crockpot and let it simmer all day.

 

Step 5: Serve & Enjoy

Now that the wait is over, serve up your chili with some jasmine rice, sweet cornbread, tortilla chips, or by itself. Top it off with some shredded cheese and sour cream and enjoy!

 

-Stay true, Beautiful-

GS