Classic Homemade Chili Recipe

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This classic homemade chili recipe has some distinct features. The celery and mushrooms add a very subtle but delicious taste. The celery was an ingredient in our favorite restaurant chili. With the V8 juice as a base, this chili doesn't have as strong a tomato flavor as some. Somehow, this blend of ingredients always tastes delectable! I also use the pork n beans with molasses which has just a hint of sweetness. The added sugar cuts the acid of the tomatoes and creates a more balanced savor.

This classic homemade chili recipe is truly flavorful with the different vegetables added. Our family doesn't like chili to be too spicy so this recipe has a medium spice amount. One of the many things I love about chili is its diversity. You can eat it right away with fresh Buttermilk Graham Cornbread, or tortilla chips. Or, you can eat chili on Light and Fluffy Honey buns, or as Chili Stackers with rice and toppings. You could eat chili as chili cheese nachos or with fries. There are endless possibilities for this yummy meal. I love making a huge batch to have some in my freezer.

Classic Homemade Chili Recipe, A True Comfort Food!

Chili is truly a comfort food. There is something about eating a piping hot bowl of chili on a cold, dreary day. It truly warms you up literally and figuratively. Most chili has a tomato base, meat, beans, onions and spices. It is definitely an easy one-pot meal. You can just cook everything in one big pot. Chili ingredients are also very versatile, with so many different varieties. You can have vegetables, no vegetables, lots of spice, little spice, meat, no meat, etc. You may also add any toppings that you prefer on your chili. Some favorite toppings are cheese, sour cream, green onions and tortilla chips.

History

Chili Con Carne meaning "chili with meat" originated in Northern Mexico or Southern Texas. Chili is thought to have originated in the Canary Islands. Immigrants from there brought a recipe for chili to San Antonio when they settled there in the early 1700s. In 1893, at the Chicago exposition, many Americans had their first taste of chili. It became increasingly popular after this. Many small, family run "chili parlors" were operated in Texas in the early 1900s. They all claimed to have some sort of "secret" recipe. Many different varieties of chili sprang up, with each ethnicity having their own unique formula. Now, there are so many varieties of chili, from vegetarian, to no bean, to white chili and many more.

Ingredients for Classic Homemade Chili Recipe

• Extra Lean Ground Beef: I use extra lean so that I don't have to drain the fat.
• Onions, Garlic, Celery, Green Pepper, Mushrooms: Chopped veggies to add flavor
• V8 Juice: This is the base.
• Canned: Diced tomatoes, Kidney Beans and Pork n Beans with Molasses.
• Seasonings: Cumin, Chili Powder, Seasoning Salt and Sugar

Method

1. First, cook the ground beef with the chopped onion and garlic.
2. Then, add the chopped celery, pepper, and mushrooms.
3. Cook this until there is no longer any pink in the meat and the vegetables are cooked.
4. Next, add the V8 juice, diced tomatoes, both beans and all of the seasonings.
5. Simmer for an hour or longer.
6. Finally, serve with your choice of toppings.

To Freeze Homemade Classic Chili

This recipe freezes great. Just put the cooled chili into airtight containers and freeze.

To warm up, let thaw before warming in a pan. Heat it up slowly, stirring often.

Or use a crockpot, throw the frozen chili into it on low in the morning, and it's ready by supper.

What to Eat With Chili!

Easy Sourdough Bread for Beginners

Chili Stackers aka Haystacks

Tasty Garlic Cheese Buns

Buttermilk Graham Cornbread