Secret Ingredient Beef Veggie Chili Recipes

Steps:

• Break ground beef into small pieces into a large pot over medium heat; cook and stir until beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add onion, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and carrot to ground beef; cook and stir until the vegetables begin to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir zucchini and yellow squash into the beef mixture; continue cooking until the beef is completely browned, 3 to 5 minutes more. Drain excess liquid from the pot and return to medium heat.
• Stir crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, corn, and garlic into the beef mixture; bring to a boil. Season mixture with chili powder, brown sugar, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
• Reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and cook chili at a simmer for 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Brown ground beef in medium-hot skillet, adding some of the seasonings.
• While beef browns, sautee vegetables in separate pot on medium heat, adding 2 tsp of the beef drippings (or vegetable oil if desired).
• When beef is fully cooked, drain if desired.
• Stir crumbled cooked beef and remaining ingredients into the vegetables, reserving optional ingredients.
• Cook uncovered on low heat for a few hours (or in a crockpot with the lid"ajar"), stirring occasionally, until liquid reduces to desired consistency.
• Adjust taste frequently using secret ingredients.
• Enjoy with standard chili fare: cornbread, crusty bread, garlic bread, toast, baked potato, rice, etc.