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Cooler weather calls for hearty and comforting meals like this Three Bean Chili. With limited prep required, it’s a perfect meal for a busy weeknight! Instructions included for making on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker!
A couple weeks ago, my sisters-in-law and I got together for a day of batch cooking and meal prep. We made 16 freezer meals (plus lunch breakfast goodies) and this Easy Three Bean Chili was one of them.
The recipe came from a friend of Jamie’s and is perfect for eating in a sourdough bowl or spooning over hot dogs. Add cheese, sour cream, green onions, Fritos or anything else your family likes to serve with chili! Don’t forget to make some Corn Muffins to go with your chili!
Generally, I am a “real chili doesn’t have beans” kind of person. This other chili recipe won a few awards over the years, and it’s still my favorite. But realistically, we just can’t afford to have several pounds of meat in a meal. My boys have started eating like teenagers already and I have to get creative when it comes to stretching things a bit. Beans are a great way to add nutritional value to a meal while stretching it at the same time.
Easy Three Bean Chili
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb. Ground beef
- 1 sm. Onion chopped
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 16 oz can red kidney beans
- 1 16 oz can black beans
- 1 16 oz can great northern beans
- 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes (or chili tomatoes)
- 1 10 oz can Rotel
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 Tbs ketchup or chili sauce
- 2 Tbs oregano
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp cumin optional
Instructions
Stovetop directions
- In a large pan, brown the ground beef with the onions and garlic. Drain fat.
- Add in all the other ingredients and simmer for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors develop.
Crockpot Express directions
- Press Brown/Saute and allow to heat up for a couple minutes. Brown the ground beef with the onions and garlic. Drain fat.
- Add in all the other ingredients, stir and press Beans/Chili. Adjust time down to 5 minutes. Press Start/Stop. When time is up, allow 5 minutes for natural pressure release and then open the steam release valve to release any addition pressure.
Nutrition
A great way to prepare this meal is to brown the ground beef with the onions and garlic, and then put everything into the slow cooker for a few hours. The flavors develop so well with a low/slow cooking process! This also freezes well. Place the chili in a bag (meat already cooked) and freeze. When ready to eat, just dump the whole chili-sicle into the slow cooker and let it warm up all day. Serve with corn bread and all the fixings for an easy meal.
For other comfort food like this Three Bean Chili, check out these recipes!
- Bacon Onion Dip - September 13, 2024
- Mexican Corn Salad - August 21, 2024
- Lemon Zucchini Bread - July 23, 2024
Brian Jones says
how much water do I add to the CE? What am I missing?
Nicole Burkholder says
No extra water is needed! There’s enough thin liquid in the recipe already. Just follow the recipe as listed and you’re good to go.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Chili-sicle! You are cracking me up!
Nicole Burkholder says
It definitely tastes better than that makes it sound 😉