Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 can of tomato sauce (about 15 oz.)
• 2-3 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 1 can of diced tomatoes (about 15 oz.)
• 1 can of kidney beans or black beans or pinto beans (about 15 oz.)
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves of chopped garlic or 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• Optional: cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or ground chipotle peppers / jalapenos for a spicier version of the recipe.

Directions

1. In a large pot, cook onions in olive oil on low heat to medium heat for about 5 minutes.
2. Add ground beef to pot with onion then salt, pepper, and garlic.
3. Brown for about 5-10 minutes.
4. Drain grease from meat before continuing to cook it, stirring occasionally.
5. Add all of the remaining ingredients, including chili seasoning, to the pot.
6. Bring to a boil, stirring often.
7. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.
8. Allow to cool then serve with your favorite toppings, like tortilla chips, corn chips, and / or green onion.
9. Enjoy!

• You can use a slow cooker or an instant pot to cook instead of using the stove top.
• Add brown sugar to the recipe for a secret ingredient that adds a little extra sweetness.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator.
• It's possible to make vegetarian chili by removing the beef and adding extra beans.
• There's a version of the recipe called white chicken chili that uses rotisserie chicken, chicken broth, and green chiles.
• Exclude the beans and use stew beef instead of ground meat to make a traditional Texas chili.
• Can add lime juice to give it a unique flavor.