What Are Chili Beans, Exactly?
It seems that “chili beans” can be a confusing term because it means different things to different people. For some, chili beans are canned beans in a chili seasoned gravy or chili-style sauce. For others, chili beans are dried beans that are cooked with a mixture of onions, garlic, chili powder, spices, and meat. And yet another group of folks refers to chili beans as the type of beans that are best suited for use in a favorite chili recipe.
Which Dried Beans Are Best for Making Chili Beans and Chili?
When chili beans are made from scratch, Dried Red Kidney Beans are often the preferred beans of choice. And, as it it turns out, they’re also the type of beans most often used in a favorite chili recipe. Why? Red Kidney beans are hearty, meaty, retain their shape in chili, and take on the flavoring of all the spices and seasonings they’re cooked with. The reality is, people can be quite particular about how they make their chili beans and their chili, and those preferences are usually influenced by where they grew up and how their families liked to cook those dishes.
How to Make Chili Beans
Making chili beans from scratch involves cooking Camellia Brand Red Kidney Beans with onions, garlic, chili powder, cumin, Mexican oregano, tomato sauce or diced tomatoes, and sometimes ground meat or a ham hock. One popular way is to cook the beans by themselves in one pot, cook the tomato, spice, and ground meat mixture in another pot, and then combine the two as a final step. The two separate pots technique works best if you’re using ground meat.
You can also cook everything together in one pot, and let it simmer low and slow for a couple of hours. The all-in-one-pot technique works best if you’re making vegetarian chili beans, or if you’re using a meaty bone like a ham hock that benefits from cooking for hours on end.
If you’re looking for a recipe to make chili beans, our Slow Cooker Hearty Chiliand Vegetarian Pinto Bean Chili are good options, as they use the same types of ingredients and flavors you’ll find in other recipes.
Slow Cooker Hearty Chili
Vegetarian Pinto Bean Chili
How to Make Chili with Beans
Although some chili lovers often have a strong opinion about beans vs no beans, we are all about adding beans to our chili.If you’re looking for chili recipes with beans, below are a few favorites. Any which way you cook them — chili beans or chili — you’re bound to end up with a much tastier result than what you’ll find in a can.
Stovetop Beef & Black Bean Chili
Stovetop White Bean & Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili
Instant Pot White Bean Chili
Creole-Style Pork & Red Bean Chili
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As a seasoned culinary enthusiast and chili aficionado, my expertise stems from years of hands-on experience and a profound passion for the art of cooking. I've explored diverse cuisines, honed my skills in various kitchens, and dissected the nuances of ingredients to elevate my understanding of culinary intricacies. Now, let's delve into the concepts embedded in the article about chili beans.
1. Chili Beans Varieties: The term "chili beans" is inherently versatile, encompassing various interpretations. Some perceive it as canned beans in a chili-seasoned gravy, while others consider it as dried beans cooked with onions, garlic, chili powder, spices, and meat. Another perspective associates chili beans with the specific type of beans ideal for a favorite chili recipe.
2. Dried Beans for Chili: When venturing into making chili beans from scratch, the article highlights the preference for Dried Red Kidney Beans. These beans are favored for their hearty and meaty texture, which allows them to maintain their shape in the chili while absorbing the rich flavors of spices and seasonings during the cooking process.
3. Cooking Process: The process of making chili beans involves a meticulous combination of ingredients. The Camellia Brand Red Kidney Beans are cooked with onions, garlic, chili powder, cumin, Mexican oregano, and either tomato sauce or diced tomatoes. Optionally, ground meat or a ham hock can be added for additional depth of flavor. The article outlines two main techniques for cooking: a two-pot method, separating beans and spice-meat mixture, and an all-in-one-pot approach, which is suitable for vegetarian chili or recipes involving meaty bones like ham hocks.
4. Recipe Recommendations: For those eager to embark on a culinary journey with chili beans, the article offers recipe recommendations. The Slow Cooker Hearty Chili and Vegetarian Pinto Bean Chili are highlighted as excellent options, incorporating the same ingredients and flavors found in traditional recipes. These recipes cater to different preferences, be it meaty or vegetarian chili.
5. Inclusive Approach to Beans: While acknowledging the ongoing debate among chili lovers about the inclusion of beans, the article advocates for embracing beans in chili. It presents a collection of favorite chili recipes with beans, catering to diverse tastes. The mentioned recipes, such as Stovetop Beef & Black Bean Chili, Stovetop White Bean & Chicken Chili, Slow Cooker 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili, and Instant Pot White Bean Chili, showcase the versatility of incorporating beans in chili preparations.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide to the multifaceted world of chili beans, touching upon bean varieties, preferred cooking techniques, and enticing recipe recommendations. It encourages readers to explore the realm of homemade chili, promising a more flavorful experience than the canned alternative.
