A Taste of Fall: Super Easy Chili in the Crock Pot
Nothing says Fall like a big pot of chili, and nothing is easier than this chili con carne prepared in the crock pot, but don’t tell your friends how easy it is, they’ll think you slaved in the kitchen for hours! This recipe makes a LOT of chili, but never fear, it freezes easily and makes for a simple, quick, hearty meal one night when you forget to thaw the chicken or soccer practice runs later than expected or rush hour traffic slows you down even more than usual.
1 lb. lean ground beef or turkey (I use turkey; use up to 2lb. for a meatier chili)
1 medium onion or a handful of spring onions fresh from the farm, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1-2 tsp salt (I tend to the lower limits on salt; you can always add more later)
2-4 tsp chili powder (I use four – ask me about the time I tried chipolte chili powder – Yow!)
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 large can (29 oz.) tomato sauce
1 large can (29 oz). whole tomatoes or two large tomatoes, cut in large chunks, optional
2 large cans (40 oz) of kidney beans, drained (I use one light, one dark)
In a skillet, brown the beef or turkey. Pour off any excess fat. In a slow-cooker, combine meat with onion, pepper, salt, chili powder, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, whole tomatoes, and kidney beans. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours. Remove bay leaves. Makes a FULL pot of chili, 12-14 servings. Serve with cornbread, tortilla chips, over potatoes – whatever you enjoy. Top with cheese and sour cream if you don’t have to do CF, but don’t worry if you are, you won’t miss the toppings. This chili is that good!
*A note about chili powders*
All chili powders are NOT the same. You aren’t surprised by that statement, are you? The chili powder you buy in the grocery store will work fine for this recipe, but a gourmet powder will make it just that much better. My absolute FAVORITE chili powder was the Pampered Chef chili powder mix, but a quick glance at their website left me coming up blank – apparently, that product has been discontinued… too bad!
If your family LOVES spice, try a chipolte chili powder. I had one in my pantry. It smelled wonderful! But, even when I used far less than called for in a recipe, the results were FAR TOO SPICY for the delicate palates of my family. So, consider yourselves forewarned, if you find a good chipolte chili powder, your chili will be HOT!
Ready for a bowl?