Black Bean Chili

Every time I serve black bean chili I get asked for the recipe. I'm posting two versions here. One with dry black beans and the other with canned beans cooked in a slow cooker.

"Both make great chili with black beans."

Black Bean Chili Recipe

This recipe makes a ton of chili but it's really easy to make.

3 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium head garlic, peeled and chopped
3 cups dry black beans
2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained
3 cups tomato paste
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder, or to taste
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot over medium heat, cook the ground beef, onion and garlic until the meat is brown and then stir in the black beans, tomatoes, tomato paste and tomato sauce. Season with the chili powder, salt, pepper and pepper sauce. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 2 to 3 hours, or until the black beans are tender.

Crock-Pot Black Bean Chili Recipe

This is a spicy chili with a lot of onions plus beer. Adjust the spiciness with the amount of Tabasco sauce and jalapenos you use.

2 pounds ground beef chuck
2 large white onions, chopped
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (12 fluid ounce) can beer
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons hot pepper sauce, or to taste
1/3 cup chili powder
4 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons red pepper flakes, or to taste (optional)

Crumble the ground chuck into a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until evenly browned. Drain grease. Transfer the beef to a large soup pot. Add the onions, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beer and chili beans. Season the mixture with Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, chili powder, jalapenos, and red pepper flakes, if using.

Cover the pot, and simmer over low heat for 2 hours. Turn off the heat, and let cool, then refrigerate for two days. It gets much better with time. Heat and serve.

Using the slow cooker for black bean chili is something I like to do on cold wintry days. I eat bowlfulls all during the day.