Few meals can ease the chill of a cold fall or winter day quite like a steaming bowl of chili. But the prospect of slaving over a hot stove for hours can drive even the most ardent chili lovers out of the kitchen and to the canned soup aisle at the local grocery store. Whipping up a batch of chili to feed a crowd of hungry folks doesn't have to be an all-day ordeal. The Texas chili recipe below is so easy that cooks will only sweat from eating this spicy dish, not from making it.
What is Texas Chili?
Texas chili is, traditionally, a variety of chili con carne (or, “chili with meat”). Purists claim that Texas chili contains only meat and chili peppers—no beans or tomatoes allowed! While chili peppers are considered the only acceptable vegetables in Texas chili, they are often omitted in favor of chili powder.
Easy Spicy Texas Chili Recipe
Any cook who can brown ground beef, use a can opener, and open a spice jar can whip up a pot of this Easy Spicy Texas Chili that’s sure to please a crowd. The recipe below does deviate slightly from traditional Texas chili in that it contains tomato soup (cooks may want to keep this a secret from any chili purists in their crowd--but doesn't every cook need a secret?).
The ingredient listing below is sized to feed eight—perfect for large family dinners, pot lucks, or football parties.
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds ground beef
- 3 26 ounce cans of tomato soup
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup dry red wine
- ½ cup chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground red pepper
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon basil
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper sauce
- Sour cream and/or shredded cheese for garnish
Method:
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef and drain fat
- In a large stock pot, combine ground beef and tomato soup
- Add water and wine; stir
- Add next nine ingredients; stir. The chili should have a dark red color to it at this point.
- Bring chili to a slow boil over high heat
- Lower heat and simmer for a half hour
- Serve plain or with sour cream and/or shredded cheese for garnish
Lowering the Heat
Obviously not all cooks and their guests will enjoy such a high level of heat in their chili. Splitting the meat/soup/water/wine mixture in half and making one pot of chili with less spice is certainly an alternative. Adding sour cream and/or a mild cheese garnish (such as a mild cheddar) will help to temper the heat as well.
Links:
 |
