Game Day Chili!

This is my "Game Day Chili"!  It's a chili that has beef and beans in it and a bit of a kick also!  This chili is for those who like it spicy!  I know the whole debate over chili with or without beans.  Some areas don't think it's chili if it has beans in it.  Other areas wouldn't think it was right without the beans.   This is Kentucky so if you can add a bean to something, 9 out of 10 times, we will.  We just really like our beans here.

 A big pot of this chili will feed a crowd and it's perfect to have when people are coming over to watch the big game.   This chili also just gets better the next day!

Here is what you will need:

2 lbs. ground chuck

1 medium onion, diced

1 medium green bell pepper, diced

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced

2 (14.5 oz.) cans chili ready tomatoes (I used the Red Gold brand)

1 (10.5 oz.) can Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chillies

1 (15 oz.) can of tomato sauce

2 (15 oz.) cans of chili beans

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. Creole seasoning ( I use Tony Chachere)

1 Tbs. chili powder

2 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. hot sauce ( I used Tabasco)

1/4 cup brown sugar

4 cups water

In a large Dutch oven, brown the ground chuck with the onions, bell peppers and jalapeno peppers to just soften them.  Drain any excess grease.  

Add all of the rest of the ingredients and stir to mix.  The Red Gold chili ready tomatoes have some chili seasoning in them, so they add to the flavor of this chili. If you use regular diced tomatoes, you might need a touch more chili powder and cumin.   Season it to your taste.

 If you wonder about the brown sugar in this recipe, I always add sugar to tomato based recipes to cut the acidity.  Just a tad, makes the flavor so much better.

Bring up to a boil and boil for a minute or two. Reduce the heat to medium low and cover.   Cook for at least an hour.  Stir during this time to prevent sticking.  It's best if you turn to low and cook for another hour.   The longer it has to just simmer on very low heat on the stove, the better it gets.  

Serve with whatever toppings you like on the side.  I like a little shredded cheese.  Sour cream, additional jalapenos, or some diced onion are also good!