NEEDED - Fast Chili Recipe
 

Chili Cookoff time again, but I'm not going to have my usual prep time pf 3+ hours. I'm going to have to find a recipe that is quick to prepare (like an hour or less...), but still really good. I'll be searching the 'net, but thought I'd ask here first.

Don't let me down, TFP Kitchens!

The best I have found is only a couple of steps and little to no prep work.

Drive to Wendy's
Order cup of Chili
Pay
Eat

Or you can always try

Drive to grocery store
Find Hormel
Drive home
Eat

..sorry.. I couldn't resist.

awww damn montana, I was going to suggest Hormel

The only chili I cook any more is vegetarian, so I'm afraid I can't be much help.

Off the top of my head, my quick simple chili:

Ground beef, kidney beans, onions, chili powder and whatever seasonings you like, to taste.

Use 1/2 and 1/2 meat/beans or more of whatever you want to dominate.

I sautee the onion, throw the beef in the skillet, brown. Throw in large dutch oven with beans on medium heat. I use lots of chili powder, salt, lots of multicolored ground pepper, mustard, hot sauce, about a teaspoon of sugar or molasses ... I feel like something's missing ... but you'll know when you taste it. :p

Prep time is quick, but please let it cook at LEAST an hour.

This is what I use as a base to start chili, then add from there based on taste.


Wendy's Chili Recipe
2 lbs. fresh ground beef
1 qt. tomato juice
1 (29 oz.) can tomato puree
1 (15 oz.) can red beans, drained
1 medium onion (1 1/2 c.), chopped
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup green pepper, diced
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tsp. cumin (if you like real flavor, add more)
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

In a frying pan, brown the ground beef; drain. Put the drained beef and the remaining ingredients into a 6-quart pot. Cover the pot; let it simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.

Gee, thanks Montana...

wraithhibn, thanks for that base. I have a great idea using it. I'll post results.

i might try wraith's recipe, thanks!

It's not bad, but I tweaked it a bit...

used a coarse ground chuck roast instead of plain old ground beef
used a spicy veggie juice (similar to spicy V-8) instead of plain tomato juice
used black beans instead of red
used red onions (assuming yellow was standard)
added a can of whole kernal corn
added fire roasted green chilis
I also went a bit heavy on the spices, using heaping spoonfulls rather than level.

With these additions, I called it a "Southwest Red Chili." There were 10 entries, and I just missed placing in the top 3, I came in 4th. If I were to do it again, I would double the amount of beans and corn, as the single can of each didn't really give a good presence of texture or flavor. Other than that I was happy with it, I think the winners were better at playing to the crowd when handing out samples.

If you're not a vegan .... you gotta lean towards a surprise meat: nitrate-free bacon. Take 8 oz. Cook it - chop it - throw it in. If you're older than 50 this is what bacon used to taste like when we were kids. As part of the chili the taste is a huge surprise. Enjoy!!! HannaH13