Need your ladies help

[dmoney]

I know that we have a recipe thread all ready started but I someone how talked into taking part of the Chili Competition that work is having next week, (probably because I'm on the social committee).  DH usually makes chili but his is to labor intensive, and I'm looking for a killer recipes that can be done in the crock pot.  Grand Prize is $100!!  Do any of you fabulous Ladies have any great slow cooker chili recipes... it can be with or without beans. Thanks in advance!!



PS sorry for the randomness of this thread, thought it would be good to ask you ladies first before i went searching on Google. Simple because we all talk about food and I know some of you ladies are fantastic cooks!

[dmoney]

Thanks ladies!!

[finchfeeder]

I don't have a strict recipe I follow but my chili is:

A pound or so of ground turkey, cooked to brown on stovetop with 1 green pepper and 1/2-1 (depending on size) onion, both diced, and salt and pepper.

Add it to the crock pot with: 1 large can of Hanover brand kidney beans, 4 cans Hunt's diced tomatoes (I usually use 2 of the sweet onion and 2 rosemary basil).

Season with chili powder, salt and pepper, basil all to taste. Sometimes I throw in bay leaves, but they don't really make much of a difference and they're a pain in the ass to fish out. Sometimes I put a little bit of garlic, either powder or dice a fresh clove and cook it with the meat. If hubs is in a spicy mood I'll add some red pepper flakes or dried jalapenos.

This makes a pretty soupy chili, if you are looking for something thicker, you can substitute the diced tomatoes for tomato sauce and one of those little cans of tomato paste. I think I only used about half a can, you can start there and add more if you want.

I grew up on the thicker stuff, but hubs likes the soupier kind. It's the only thing I've ever made where the phrase, "it's not as good as my mom's" has ever been employed in our relationship.

[pickles]

There's a spinach and artichoke chicken chili that I adore. I think if you search it online it will come up. If not let me know if you are interested and I'll post it when I get home

[schnurette]

So...I don't know if it is award winning (ask me for my rib recipe...I have a trophy for making those lol) but usually what I do is:

Heat some oil in a big pot, add garlic and as much diced onion, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and zucchini as you like (I use a lot of veggies and have a mini food processor that I use to mulch them all up). Cook until the veggies are starting to soften then add 1.5 - 2lbs ground beef. Partially brown beef and add one packet (or about 2tbsp) chili powder to the mix and finish browning the meat.

Put all of that into a crock pot with two large tins of diced tomatoes (I use the kind with basil and garlic), two cans of beans in tomato sauce, and one can of red kidney beans (rinsed). Leave it in the crock pot to stew for a while and then add more chili powder to taste. I usually end up adding two packets of chili powder...I like the Old El Paso kind.

Even if it's not award winning it's pretty easy and sneaks a lot of veggies in - since they are diced and cooked with the meat it's hard to notice them. And you can use more or less of pretty much everything to make it how you like. DH likes it thick so I use two large cans of tomatoes but you could use more to make is more soupy.

[pickles]

Spinach and Artichoke White Bean Chili

serves: 5-6
difficulty: easy
prep time: ~5 minutes
cook time: 1 hour

3-15 oz. cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 bag frozen spinach (5 oz.)
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained
1/2 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. olive oil
1.5 cups vegetable broth
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. paprika
3/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
salt and pepper to taste
Directions: In a large pot, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil over medium high heat. Using a large knife, dice your half onion into small pieces and place in the pot. Next, mince your garlic into the pot as well. Stir frequently to avoid burning until onions and garlic are tender and fragrant. Add your vegetable broth and lower the heat while you drain and rinse 3 cans of cannellini beans. Add the beans to the pot and stir to distribute the vegetable broth. Add your spinach, and cut each artichoke heart into bit sized pieces before adding to the pot. Add all the spices, cover, and cook for at least one hour before serving.


Here is the recipe. I typically used fresh ingredients when possible. I also add some chicken because DH has to have meat, lol.

[nchauhan]

I don't have a good chili recipe, but wanted to wish you good luck!

[elbowpasta]

5 minute chili (it's boring, but it's gooooood):

3 lbs browned ground beef
3 cans pinto beans
3 cans diced tomatoes
3 packets "chili" seasoning of choice
Diced onion if desired

[wegrowsheep]

www.lentilfest.com/food-and-shopping/worlds-largest-bowl-of-lentil-chili/

So, this is my fave, obviously not original, but I add a couple lbs of Italian pork sausage to it. So yummy.

[Stormy61]

I don't have a recipe but just wanted to say sometimes simple can be really great. Also in Texas we don't do beans in Chili!

All I do is ground meat, tomato sauce, water, and chili seasoning (I also add a lot of garlic!)

Good luck!

[missjenniebean]

When we did our chili cook off I used ground meat (browned before putting it in there), green pepper and onion (diced), kidney beans, tomato paste, water (depending on how soupy you like it, we only used enough to get everything mixed), and a ton of chili powder (also depending on your tastes). I put it in before I went to bed and when I woke up the house smelled delicious. I received some good reviews but didn't win, my SO loved it and ate half of it before I went to work. -.- ha!

[gingerbabe]

www.skinnytaste.com/2008/11/crock-pot-chicken-taco-chili-4-pts.html

I make this chicken taco chili a lot and absolutely love it. It is not a typical chili, and you can play up or down the spices. My husband is not a spicy fan so I usually leave out the chili peppers and use less chili powder. It's always a winner when I make it for guests. It is sooo easy to make!!