Scott's Simple Homemade Chili Recipe

During the cold winter months there's nothing like a huge bowl of chili to warm you up! So I thought I'd share my boyfriend, Scott's, homemade chili recipe. It's easy to make and tastes delicious even leftover the next day!

Scott's Homemade Chili - Simmering in the Pot

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 2-3 16oz. cans stewed or diced tomatoes
• 1 16oz. can tomato paste
• 4-5 16oz. cans of dark red kidney beans (Alternately you can mix light red and dark red kidney beans or use black beans as a healthier alternative.)
• 1-2 medium to large onions (white or yellow), diced
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeds removed and diced finely
• 1 or 2 sweet bell peppers - yellow, orange, or red, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 package regular chili seasoning - Scott uses Kroger or McCormick brand but says you can use almost any brand as long as you choose one with the fewest ingredients which means less fillers and preservatives
• 1/2 bottle of good beer - Scott chose to Star Hill Brewery's Northern Lights Indian Pale Ale for this batch (optional, but always recommended)

Directions:

1. Cook the ground beef until brown and cooked through. Drain.
2. Combine cooked beef in a large pot with other ingredients, only draining two of the three cans of stewed/diced tomatoes.
3. Cook over med-high heat uncovered until the chili reaches a semi-boil.
4. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer, stirring frequently for 2-3 hours
5. For extra heat, add more jalapenos, habanero chili peppers or ground cayenne pepper to suit.
6. To serve, top with your choice of garnish such as chives, salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, or whatever you like best on your chili! 

Bowl of Chili Ready to Eat and Topped with Shredded Cheese

Like this recipe? Then be sure to try Scott's recipe for Seared Sashami Tuna and Sauteed Shrimp in an Orange-Soy-Ginger Reduction Sauce with a side of Asparagus. It also includes the addition of tasty beer and a bit of wine in the recipe - though optional, of course.

My son and Scott with Pepper Stickers on their noses.

Using your own produce from your vegetable garden for your homemade chili? Then save the seeds for next year's planting! Simply keep the seeds you remove from your peppers and dry on a paper towel. Then store them in my Printable Seed Packets! You'll find printable seeds packets for cucumber/squash, tomato, parsley/herbs, red pepper, and a radish. But you can put anything you like inside as there's a spot on each packet to write what's inside! Plus there are five different sticker designs - including the fun pepper stickers on Cody and Scott's noses - and red pepper gift wrap for gardening related gifts!

What are your favorite toppings or ingredients you like to include in your homemade chili?