Halftime Chili

I love chili. It’s warm, comforting, and you get to top it with things like grated cheese and sour cream. What’s not to like?

This particular chili is precisely what is in order on a cold day when you’ve got the game on and lots of people to feed. The prep is super easy and then it just has to sit and simmer which means that you get to sit and simmer, until halftime. Then it’s time to eat!

You may be asking…

Why is this particular chili so right for game day?

Well, my friends, this big pot of delicious-ness is chock full of beef, beans, and beer.

Did you say beer, Valerie?

Why, yes I did.

Beer in chili? Do you really think this is wise? I mean, what has the world come to?

Boy, you’re just full of questions today, aren’t you?  Let’s stop this nonsense immediately and get cooking.

Sorry..beer makes me giddy.

As always, you’ll find the printable recipe all the way down at the bottom of this post.

Grab a great big pot or Dutch oven, place it over medium high heat and pour in a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Saute the chopped onion and garlic for several minutes until softened. You don’t want the onions or garlic to brown so watch it closely, stirring occasionally as it cooks.

Time to add the ground beef. Cook and stir, breaking it up with the spoon as it cooks.

When no pink remains, drain off as much of the grease as you can, return the pot to the stove and add all the wonderful seasonings. Chili powder, cumin, basil, oregano, thyme, crushed red pepper (for heat), salt, and pepper. Cook and stir the seasonings into the ground beef for a couple of minutes.

Add all the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, all the beans…and the beer. It’s party time! I like to use a nice dark beer like this Gordon Biersch WinterBock. Brown ales work well too, but it’s fine to use whatever you’ve got on hand.

The ground beef is happy now. And, so am I.

Combine it well and then bring it to a low boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for an hour. Pull yourself up off the couch just long enough to remove the lid and then let it continue to simmer, uncovered, for another 30 minutes.

Set out some grated cheese, maybe a little sour cream, and let ’em at it.

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Halftime Chili

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Servings 6 to 8 servings

Change the number in the box above to adjust serving size. Please note that size of cookware and cook time may vary.

Print

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
• Fresh ground pepper to taste (I add lots!)
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes with added puree
• 1 14 1/2-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 16 ounce can Bush's Chili Beans in Chili Sauce (or similar brand), undrained
• 1 15 ounce can black beans, drained
• 1 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained
• 1 12 ounce bottle beer

Instructions

1. Heat oil in heavy large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic. Saute for about 5 minutes or until onions have softened. Add ground beef. Cook and stir, breaking up ground beef, until no pink remains. Drain off as much grease as you can from the pan. Return pan to heat and add chili powder, cumin, basil, oregano, thyme, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. Stir 2 minutes. Mix in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, and beer. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 1 hour.
2. Remove lid and continue to simmer, uncovered, for an additional 30 minutes.
3. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Recipe Notes

Serve with grated cheese, sour cream, and any other toppings desired.

Inspired by Bon Appetit and From Valerie's Kitchen