While this chili is absolutely delicious, I’ve since posted my all-time favorite chili recipe. It’s the one I make all fall and winter long, so I invite you to check it out!

chili-main

Although it’s been rather spring-like here lately (oddly enough, it doesn’t quite feel fall-like), the bare trees and leaves littering the grass had me in the mood for a warm bowl of chili. I have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with chili. I love, love, love to eat it. But I hate trying to find recipes that I like. I never seem to find anything that knocks my socks off, and after doing another round of searching I finally decided to go with my gut and created my own recipe based on what I know I like and don’t like. I suppose that technically this would be considered Chili con Carne with beans (although chili powder is used in place of actual chili peppers). I love beans in my chili, so that’s a staple, and I really like the texture to be thick and hearty. If a spoonful can sit on top of a piece of bread without running off, then it’s a winner. I think I finally put together a  recipe that incorporates all of my favorite aspects of chili; it has earned a permanent place in my recipe book, and I will certainly be making it again and again.

Like most soups and stews, chili tastes the best when it is cooked low and slow for a few hours, so the flavors really have an opportunity to meld together and intensify. One of the things that I have always had a problem with regarding chili was getting it to thicken up nicely, and I have finally found the solution. I remembered reading that cornmeal can be used as a thickening agent (after all, it does make a mean polenta!), so I added it to this chili and it made all the difference!

Thick and Hearty Chili

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 2 hrs 15 mins
Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
There's nothing more comforting than a bowl of chili!
4.45 (9 ratings)
Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs. (1.36 kg) ground beef
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 15 ounce (425.24 g) can tomato sauce
  • 2 cups (480 ml) beef stock
  • 15 ounce (425.24 g) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 30 ounces (850.49 g) canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 3 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) cumin
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup (39.75 g) cornmeal

Instructions 

  • 1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic over medium heat. Once browned, remove any extra liquid in the pot and return the beef to the pot.
  • 2. Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, beans, seasonings and cornmeal, stirring well. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 2 hours.
Calories: 421kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 47g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 105mg, Sodium: 1562mg, Potassium: 1409mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1120IU, Vitamin C: 6.5mg, Calcium: 113mg, Iron: 7.9mg

Did you make this recipe?

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Author: Michelle
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican