Recipe: Crockpot Chuck Wagon Chili

Chuck Wagon Chili is so delicious and packed with vegetables... even the pickiest eaters will love it.

Crockpot meals make life so much easier... not to mention healthier too... by slow cooking, the meat becomes tender without any pre-browning in a skillet... so what's not to love?

Tips

Vegetable and meat quantities are approximate... you definitely have leeway here... use up what you have... or change something you don't care for.

For the stew meat I buy the leanest meat.. you can buy the chuck instead but it will have a higher fat content... that quite honestly I don't think is necessary.

The canned tomatoes I list are a suggestion.. there are many varieties and brands to choose from.  If you can't find exactly what I list.. pick something similar... if you must substitute planned canned tomatoes .. just remember you will need to alter the spices a bit to compensate.

If you can't find the canned tomatoes with the chilies, you can also substitute it with plain tomatoes and add a can of mild chilies that are easily found in the Mexican food section of the grocery store.

If you do use frozen corn instead of canned, add it frozen, it will be fine.

The spices listed produce a chili with a slight kick... no flame thrower here... just a little zip.. if you want it hotter... add to your taste.. just be careful... you can always add... taking away too much heat is more difficult... adding more ingredients to lower the heat... well... you could end up with enough chili for an army.

Serve with shredded cheese, chopped green onions, sour cream and even tortilla chips... they make great toppings... add some cornbread and you have a terrific hearty meal!

Recipe:  Crockpot Chuck Wagon Chili

All you need:

About 1 1/2 - 2 pounds beef stew meat

1 can (14.5 oz.) Del Monte Diced Tomatoes with Zesty Mild Green Chilies

1 can (14.5 oz.) Del Monte Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes with Zesty Jalapenos

1 can (about 15 oz.) light red or dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (about 15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

1can (about 15 oz) corn or equivalent amount frozen corn

3 medium onions, diced

1 green pepper, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 yellow pepper, diced

4 cloves of garlic, chopped

½ teaspoon corn starch

1/3 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon cayenne, or to taste

2 tablespoons sweet paprika

1 teaspoon salt

Grated Cheddar Cheese, for garnish

Sour Cream, for garnish

Finely chopped green onion, for garnish

Tortilla chips, for garnish

All you have to do:

In a crock pot combine all ingredients, including beef, except for garnishes.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours or until done, stirring occasionally.

Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onion and tortilla chips.

Chop some peppers...  and throw them into the pot...

Now add some chopped onions... 

Add some black beans.... 

Now throw in some kidney beans...

And some corn...

Now add the garlic...

Then the spices... 

Dump the tomatoes in....

Now give it a good stir... 

Hmmmm... doesn't that meat look good?? 

In it goes.......

Lookin' good.....

Another quick stir.... flip the heat on to low.. and 7-8 hours later... Dinner!

Now how easy was that?