This is better than pre-packaged mixes. Omit the flour in the mix. If you'd like to thicken your chili, use refried beans instead--no one will notice-I promise! Use 1/4 cup at a time until it's as thick as you'd like it. Use the seasoning mix as follows: for a small batch of chili use 2T of mix with 1 lb meat of choice, any other veg additions and 1 can of drained/rinsed beans (or about 6-8 oz dry beans, cooked), 1 can diced tomatoes and 1 can reg sized can tomato sauce. For a bigger batch use about 4T of mix with 2 lbs meat, 1 pound of dry beans (cooked) or about 3 cans rinsed/drained beans, 2 cans reg sized tomato sauce, 1 (or 2) cans diced tomatoes, and some water if you'd like to thin it. This is only to give others an idea of how much mix for the beans/meat/tomato ratio. It's very forgiving. This makes a very very good plain ole fashioned no frills chili. Also, if you want this just warm...decrease pepper flakes to 1 tsp--it's still plenty warm for those who don't like it hot (like me!). I did jump up the chili powder amount to 2 level TB instead of 4 tsp. This is a well-rounded mix--I was not left with that..'there's just something missing' feeling. It was ALL there! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
I will never buy a package mix again. I did make a couple wee changes though. I added a tsp seasoned salt and increased the sugar to a TBS. I also left out the minced onion since I used a whole chopped onion sauteed with the meat. I used this with my beer chili recipe and the results were amazing. My husband couldn't stop raving about it even the next day. Thank you, thank you!
This seasoning is right on! I was making a recipe that called for chili seasoning mix since I was out, I used this and it worked perfect! From now on I will use this instead of the store bought kind!
I give this two stars because the flour overpowers the mix. I'm sure it is great leaving out the flour - but then I wouldn't be reviewing this recipe as posted. I was going to toss it - but saved it by adding (ironically) a packet of taco seasoning - which diluted the flour. Thanks anyway - will actually make this again - but without the flour!
The only drawback to this recipe is that it doesn't have directions of what to add with the meat. I pretty much followed the directions for the seasoning...I doubled it, and added it to 3 lbs. ground beef/turkey mixture with two cans diced tomatoes, a small can of tomato paste and a can of Ro-tel tomatoes. It was delicious! I will definitely use this recipe again.
Delicious start for chili. I only used 2T of flour, and I added 2t extra of chili powder.
Used this when making Debdoozie's Blue Ribbon Chili from this site. It was great! I will definitely have this on hand for all my chili making! Thank you, Sara, for the recipe!
So good! I love to make homemade instead of the prepackaged mixes (that I have no clue what is in them). I used a little bit less red pepper (I only had the flakes). The rest I followed the recipe. Used this with Debdoozie's Blue Ribbon Chili from this site. Big hit tonight! I really appreciate these homemade mixes!
I never buy mix anymore. I don't add flour and I up the chili powder and cumin a little and decrease the pepper flakes a tad. I've been using this recipe for a couple years now. These changes were made after making the recipe as stated and tweaking over time to suit my family. I used the tweaked version of this in a chili cook off and won second place. First place was a white chili. :) This is good stuff! (i'm cookinmama a previous reviewer but had to sign up under a new name) I still use the amounts I reviewed in that review. This is the bomb!
