Elevating your food game is only as hard as throwing a few spices into a jar, keeping it on hand, and using it when you want to make your favorite dish. That’s how my chili seasoning was born, and you can use it in your taco fillings, too.
I grew up in the Midwest, where warm spices have traditionally been looked upon with a bit of suspicion, so I never really loved a bowl of chili. It was just…meh. I know there are dozens of ways to make it, but this is my favorite, it’s delicious, and it makes your house smell like Texas (which is where I moved when I was young and in search of adventure – and flavor).
You will need:
1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey, if you prefer)
1 yellow or sweet onion
A couple of cloves of garlic
2 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
1-2 cans red kidney beans (If you don’t want beans in your chili, it won’t hurt my feelings if you skip them!)
A couple of heaping Tbsp of chili seasoning
Brown the meat, and drain, if necessary. Sautee the onion and garlic, and add to the pan (if I’m feeling lazy, I’ll sautee them in with the meat). Add the tomatoes with their liquid, and maybe a little extra water for simmering. Drain and rinse the beans, and add them, too. Spoon in the seasoning, and simmer until everything cooks down to your desired consistency (~30 minutes), or toss it in the crockpot and leave it a few hours.
For the seasoning:
4 T chili powder
4 T cumin (the best ingredient often overlooked in chili!)
2 t paprika
2 t ground chipotle chili powder
2 t onion powder
2 t garlic powder
Dash of both black and cayenne pepper
Keep in an airtight jar, in close reach – you’ll be grabbing it all the time. It also makes a really great hostess gift, if you tie a cute bow on the jar.
Make it this weekend, and tell me how you liked it!
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