Lighten Up Chili
This is a chili recipe that I go back to time and time again. Everyone loves it. It’s easy to make. I used to make this with 2 pounds of ground beef but because our family isn’t eating as much beef as we used to, I decided to lighten it up with half ground turkey, half ground beef. I liked it even better this way.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground white meat turkey
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
1 cup celery, diced, about 2-3 stalks
1 green or red pepper, seeded and diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1-2 pinch(es) red pepper flakes, depending on how spicy you like it
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained
Optional toppings: grated cheddar cheese, minced cilantro, chopped green onions, diced avocado, sliced black olives, hot sauce
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground white meat turkey
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
1 cup celery, diced, about 2-3 stalks
1 green or red pepper, seeded and diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1-2 pinch(es) red pepper flakes, depending on how spicy you like it
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained
Optional toppings: grated cheddar cheese, minced cilantro, chopped green onions, diced avocado, sliced black olives, hot sauce
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat your olive oil. Add in your ground beef and turkey. Season with a couple pinches of salt and a pinch of pepper. Brown over medium heat.
Add your onion, celery and red pepper to the pot with the meat and sauté 5 minutes of so. Add your garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and sauté another minute or two. Stir in your tomatoes and tomato sauce.
Bring to a boil, then reduce your heat and simmer, partially covered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Add your beans and simmer 30 more minutes.
Taste and add additional salt and pepper if necessary. Ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese and/or other toppings listed above. Enjoy.
Add your onion, celery and red pepper to the pot with the meat and sauté 5 minutes of so. Add your garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and sauté another minute or two. Stir in your tomatoes and tomato sauce.
Bring to a boil, then reduce your heat and simmer, partially covered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Add your beans and simmer 30 more minutes.
Taste and add additional salt and pepper if necessary. Ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese and/or other toppings listed above. Enjoy.
YIELD: One big pot-full
Dang it! Now I'm going to have this heart twisting story stuck in my psyche for the time my boys ask me to do something ridiculous. Beautiful. You and Hanna, Betty, Barbara, Missy and Cindy. Well done, girls!
What a great project! Very inspiring! And great job on the TV segment!
Now that's what I call writing. You have a very entertaining, conversational style.
Loved the soup…can't wait to try the chili. Thanks for sharing your story!!!
Ah isn't true we get all caught up in something relatively unimportant or should I say eternally unimportant, then WHAMMO God brings us right back to the thing that really matters. Great post. Beautiful pictures.
I'm sitting here sick and tired (literally)… and if I must admit, cranky. As my hubby and I are getting our kiddos ready for bed I feel myself focused on some really unimportant tasks. This post hit home to me tonight. What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing! PS ~ I just made a chili very similar to this lightened version for the same reason. I found that all turkey isn't a great taste choice. But the balance of the turkey and beef is wonderful and lighter. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!!!
Courtney – That's parenthood for ya. Just when you think you're doing it correctly, they change it up on ya.
Thank you, Maria and Cookin' Canuck!
So glad you like the soup, Mrs. Campbell.
Sheila, Isn't that the truth?
Kim, You are so welcome and good to know you discovered the same thing as I regarding the turkey in the chili. And yes, I agree…all turkey would be too much but the half and half definitely works.