Beans are a must IMO. My recipe for deer or elk camp chili:
-1 lb of ground elk meat
- two cans of dark red kidney beans
- 1 can of ro-tel
- 1 can of chili ready diced tomatoes
- 1 can of mexican style stewed tomatoes
Canned tomatoes are high in antioxidants and flavor and beans add protein and fiber.
I prefer great northern beans when I make chili and pintos are my second choice. Just finished a bowl of black bear chili with great northerns and loaded up with sautéed onions and peppers.
Was just telling my kids last night , it’s about time for a batch of chili. It isn’t chili if there isn’t beans in it! I do a can of brooks hot chili beans and a can of brooks mild chili beans in each batch. I make a pretty big batch when I do it. Brooks is the only way to go.
I like a bean based chili the for must occasions. A great hearty winter meal.
no bean chili is a whole other thing.
i think the first time I had it was driving across country at a gas station / diner in a cross Road Town in New Mexico. I still remember that meal. me and my crock pot have been chasing that taste for 30 years.