Chili for a Chilly Evening

The siren call of chili was in the air, so I had to make it. It was also the perfect meal for our firepit night with our lovely niece and her family.

I am known for making my meatless chili with layers of flavor coming from the vegetables and beans. This time around I wanted to add protein so while my onions and peppers were sautéing in hot sauce, I cooked up the ground sirloin separately so I could be sure to drain off any fats. Once I had both pots ready, I added the meat to the Dutch oven with the onions and peppers. It was quickly followed by chili tomatoes, chili sauce, beans, corn, and brown sugar to add some sweet to the heat of the hot sauce. I placed the lid on the pot and placed it in the oven “low and slow” so the flavors could meld together.

The best part is I made the chili ahead of time so on the night of our gathering, I could put the chili into the crock pot so I could enjoy my time with my family. Perfect!