How to Cook Chilies

Chili is a hearty dish that's easy to prepare.

Chili is a popular meal on many kitchen tables, especially in the cooler seasons. Hearty and full of meat and beans swimming in a thick, spicy sauce, just the aroma of chili cooking takes you back to crisp fall days. It's hard to resist the rich flavor of homemade chili, and with all the variations you can use, you can make it often and not feel as if you're making the same meal over and over. This basic recipe will teach you how to cook several different kinds of chili; just change the type of meat and beans you're using. Does this Spark an idea?

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2 Tbsp. cooking oil (eliminate if using ground beef)
Large skillet
2 Pounds of meat: cubed or ground beef, chicken or turkey
Large dutch oven or stew pot
1 Onion, chopped
1 or 2 Cloves of garlic, chopped or minced
Salt and pepper
Water
2 or 3 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. cumin
1 8 oz. Can of tomato sauce
1 15 oz. Can of black, kidney or chili beans, drained
2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 Cup of cold water
Small bowl

Instructions

- 1
  
  Pour the cooking oil into a skillet and heat it over medium heat. Eliminate this step if you're using ground beef, and just place the pan on the stove.
- 2
  
  Add the meat to the pan and cook it over medium heat, stirring it often, until it begins to brown.
- 3
  
  Turn off the heat and put the meat in a large dutch oven or stew pot. Discard the grease and juices left behind.
- 4
  
  Stir the onion and garlic into the hot meat in the dutch oven. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pot and let it sit for half an hour.
- 5
  
  Add just enough water to cover the meat and add the chili powder and cumin.
- 6
  
  Turn the heat to medium and bring the pan to a simmer. Let the meat cook until it's tender, adding more water as you cook it if the meat starts to get dry.
- 7
  
  Add the tomato sauce and beans and simmer for another 20 minutes.
- 8
  
  Stir together the flour and a 1/2 cup of cold water in a small bowl.
- 9
  
  Turn the heat under the chili to high and bring it to a full boil.
- 10
  
  Stir in the flour mixture. Continue cooking and stirring until the chili thickens.
- 11
  
  Turn the heat down to medium-low and let the chili simmer for 15 more minutes. Remove it from the heat and serve.

Tips & Warnings

Top your chili with shredded cheese and sour cream, if desired.
Chili is a great way to use up leftovers. Use leftover cooked meat and simply omit the steps above in which you cook the meat.
Think beyond the beans: add vegetables such as corn or carrots to the chili when you add the beans.
Try different seasonings in your chili to make the recipe truly yours.