Home Made Chili

I make my chili in the crockpot, and never the same way twice. LOL

I toss in beef – either chuck or ground – and a couple handfuls of dried pinto beans to get it started. You can use dry kidney beans or even red beans, but hubby prefers pinto beans, so that’s what I use unless he’s not going to be home – and then it’s Darlene’s Way!

Then I add onions, salt, garlic powder and enough water to cover everything and still have about 1/2 inch after the beans soak up the water they need to double in size. That’s the only tricky part – because if you aren’t home to check on it, sometimes the beans soak up all the water and then you have a burnt problem. But if you learn what’s enough water, it beats having to soak the dry beans overnight!

After I get home, I add an envelope of chili mix, which is mostly chili powder with some cumin, stir and get busy fixing at the very least, a pan of cornbread. If I’m energetic, I might make a pot of macaroni noodles and have Chili Mac, or nuke 4 big russet potatoes, split them down the middle and spoon the chili over them.

Then I put out a few bowls of different toppings, so each person can choose their own fixin’s. Usually I have chopped sweet onion, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and sliced jalapenos. Good stuff!

If you have a favorite chili recipe that you make in a crockpot, how about sharing that with me? Would love to try something good if you recommend it!