This is so easy to make… I don’t know why I haven’t posted the recipe sooner, but here it is!

You could just add the meat, beans, and tomatoes for a basic chili, but the seasoning really does make it so much better! Using fresh onion and garlic, add a little something special, as well as using the bacon to add flavor. You could even add a can of corn for a little extra crunch.

This goes especially well with Hoe Cakes, Cornbread, or even Garlic Bread and a side of rice. It would also make a great topping on baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes… the possibilities are endless! You can even leave the beans out and make this for hot dogs or add it to your leftover macaroni and cheese to make chili mac-n-cheese!

When my older kids were younger, we would often turn this into ‘Cowboy Chili’ to use up any leftovers we had in the fridge! We would add bologna, ham, or even hot dogs to the meat or in place of the meat, and then throw in any leftover veggies to cook down with the beans… it always turned out delicious!

Eema’s Easy Chili

Ingredients:

• ¼ pound bacon (optional)
• ½ onion, diced or 1-2 t. onion powder
• 2 T. garlic minced or 1-2 t. garlic powder
• 1-2 peppers, diced (hot or mild – completely optional)
• 1 pound ground beef or turkey
• 2-15 oz cans of beans (pintos, kidneys or a mix)
• 14-15 oz. diced tomatoes (can use tomatoes with chilis)
• 14-15 oz. tomato sauce
• 1-2 T. chili powder (you may also choose to use a chili seasoning packet to replace the chili powder, cumin, onion, and/or garlic)
• 1-2 t. cumin, optional
• 1 t. sugar (brown or white)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional Toppings:

• Sour Cream
• Cheese
• Crackers
• Diced avocado, onion, tomato, chili peppers
• Hot sauce
• Fried bacon

Directions:

Fry the bacon and remove the bacon from the pan. Use the hot grease to sauté the onion and garlic, and then add the meat to the pan. Cook until no longer pink, and add the other ingredients to the pan.

Add 1 can of water or beef broth if the chili is too thick or if you plan to cook it in the crockpot. Cook for 20-30 minutes or until heated through.

Or you could cook this on low for 4-6 hours in a crockpot. Brown the meat first and then add all of the ingredients plus a can of water or broth.

Season to taste. Add toppings as desired.

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