Description
Blue Ribbon Chili is a hearty and flavorful chili recipe featuring ground beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, and a perfect blend of spices. Simmered slowly on the stovetop to develop rich flavors, this classic comfort food is ideal for family meals and gatherings, serving up warmth and satisfaction in every bite.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
Seasonings and Sauces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup salsa
- 4 ounces canned chopped green chiles
- 5 tablespoons chili powder
Beans
- 15 ounce can light red kidney beans
- 15 ounce can dark red kidney beans
Instructions
- Sauté Ground Beef and Onion: In a large pot over medium to medium-high heat, combine the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and the onion is tender. Drain any excess grease if desired to reduce fat content.
- Prepare Tomato Mixture: While the meat cooks, in a medium mixing bowl, combine the tomato sauce, salsa, canned chopped green chiles, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder. Stir well to blend all the flavors.
- Combine Ingredients in Pot: Once the meat is thoroughly cooked, pour the tomato mixture into the pot. Add both the light and dark red kidney beans (including their liquid) and stir everything together evenly.
- Simmer the Chili: Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid, leaving a small crack to allow steam to escape. Let the chili simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and allow flavors to meld.
- Thicken the Chili: After one hour, remove the lid completely and simmer for an additional 15 minutes until the chili thickens to your preferred consistency.
- Serve: Once thickened, serve the chili hot with your favorite toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, or fresh cilantro.
Notes
- For a leaner chili, use ground turkey or lean ground beef instead of regular ground beef.
- Feel free to adjust chili powder and green chiles for more or less spice according to your taste.
- Letting the chili simmer slowly helps deepen the flavors.
- Leftover chili can be refrigerated up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Be sure to stir occasionally during simmering to avoid burning on the bottom of the pot.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
