With so many variations of chili the classic version often gets overlooked. Not this one! This is the best classic chili. It's thick, rich, loaded with tomato flavor, lots of beef, and plenty of beans. It's sweet, warm, spicy (in flavor not heat), and so perfect with some sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Ingredients
2lbsground beef
1large onionfinely diced
2teaspoonskosher salt
2cans (29 oz each)pinto beansdrained and rinsed
1bottle (46 oz)tomato juice
1can (8 oz)tomato sauce
1cupketchup
1/2cupwater
2bay leaves
1tablespoonbrown sugar
1tablespoonchili powder
2teaspoonsground cumin
¾teaspoongarlic salt
½teaspoonpepper
Instructions
In a large skillet pan over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the onion and salt until no longer pink and cooked through. Drain grease and set aside.
In a large pot combine the remaining ingredients, sir together. Add in the cooked meat, stir again.
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, while stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer, partially covered with a lid, for at least 2 hours (or up to 4). Stir every so often.
Serve with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.
To make in the crock pot: Brown ground beef according to instructions above. Combine the remaining ingredients in the crock pot, add in the cooked meat and stir together. Cook on low heat for 4-5 hours.
Notes
You don't want to use the kosher salt labeled 'coarse'. You just want the smaller, more finely ground kosher salt.Do not confuse tomato juice with vegetable juice (like V8). They look similar but you want the plain tomato juice (the brand I saw was Campbell's). You can find the tomato juice in the juice aisle.