#BreakThings: A Blue Ribbon Chili Recipe

03.29.21

Today, our office had its bi-annual Chili Cookoff. There were some delicious entries, but my Grandma Carol’s Chili prevailed by unanimous ballot.

I hang up my crockpot victorious. Here’s the recipe.

Carol’s All Day Chili

1 – 1 ½ pounds lean hamburger (90/10 works best)

1 yellow onion finely chopped **

1- #2 can of chili beans (I use S&W, but any will do)

½ cup ketchup (preferably Heinz)

½ can tomato soup (preferably Campbell’s)

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon chili powder

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon vinegar (preferably cider)

1 cup of water

Fry hamburger, but do not crisp.  Drain off fat.

Place hamburger and all the rest of the ingredients in a crock-pot on low.

Stir occasionally and add water during the day if it starts to get too thick.

**If you want the taste of the onion without having to eat the onion.  Peel the skin off of it and put it in the pot whole.

Some people find the chili a bit bland on its own, but it’s the perfect base for any additions. I recommend diced tomatoes, green chilis, jalapeños, tomato paste for a deeper flavor, or different kids of beans for color and texture.

I also add fritos, cheddar cheese, cilantro and sour cream (or greek yogurt) to mine as garnish.

And as they say in the movie Steel Magnolias, this chili “freezes beautifully.”

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