Pamela's Recipe

Easy Healthy Chili Beans

Category: Recipes

Serving size: 12 oz
Number of Servings: 15 (possibly more)
Preparation Time: about 2 hours total

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs Ground Turkey
(may substitute with Lean Ground Beef)
2 TSP Seasoning Blend
3 - 14 oz Cans Petite Diced Tomatoes
2 - 6 oz Cans Tomato Paste
4 TBLS Beef Bouillon Concentrate
3 Cups Chopped Yellow Onion
2 TSP Chopped Garlic
10 TBLS Chili Powder
1 TBLS Oregano
2 TBLS Ground Cumin
1 TBLS Chili Flakes (optional, more or less can be added depending on your heat preference)

2 - 14 oz Cans Kidney Beans, drained
2 - 14 oz Cans Pinto Beans, drained
1 - 14 oz Can White Beans, drained
1 - 14 oz Can Black Beans, drained

I prefer to use S&W Brand beans because they are not overcooked and retain their shape and individual flavors.
You can also substitute 2 pounds of your favorite dry beans - red, black, pink, pinto, etc. - be sure beans are fully cooked before adding to Chili.

PREPARING CHILI
In a 6 to 8 Quart Dutch Oven
Season and brown ground turkey - to brown and crumble ground Turkey, constant stirring and "chopping" is required.

Add Chopped Onion and cook until onions are tender and translucent.

Stir in remaining ingredients (except beans)

Cover and Simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally. Chili should be thick and richly flavored.

ADDING THE BEANS
Add drained Beans and continue simmering for at least a half hour so the beans absorb flavors. Stir occasionally to prevent beans from sticking to bottom of pan. Chili Beans can cook longer, but keep it on simmer to avoid burning the beans. If transporting to a party, consider putting Chili Beans in a large crock pot.

SERVING:
Garnish with chopped yellow onion and grated cheese. Serve with tortilla chips, corn bread, or crackers as desired.

NOTES:
This Chili freezes very well. I freeze individual servings in microwavable containers - microwave frozen serving for 5 minutes on high and you have hot chili that tastes as good as it did when first cooked.

When substituting ground beef, I prefer Costco's ground beef tubes found in the
freezer section - it is only 7% fat. I also reduce the Beef Bouilion to 2 TBLS.

I use B&K Seasoning to season the meat - it is a great low salt seasoning blend. You can substitute your favorite blend or simply season with salt, pepper, and garlic.

I use Costco's Beef Bouillon Concentrate - it has much better flavor than the cubes.