Making chili in a crock pot... need some advice

[Very_Boring_Name]

Do I just brown the beef, and then put all the ingredients in the crock pot and cook? Or should I wait and add the kidney/pinto beans at the end?

[freshwest]

1. Are the kidney or pinto beans pre-cooked? Usually use the crockpot to cook the beans, then add

Your browned beef, onion, garlic, chili powder, tomato paste or whatever. I make that part with olive oil on the stove, add some masa harina to thicken it, and then add that to the beans. Just me, though, I suppose someone else has better ideas. The amount of time required for beans vs. the meat and sauce are different, but to get that flavor through the beans they have to mingle for a while.

[Riftaxe]

2. Soak the beans for 12 hours before

putting them in, if they are dry.

[hobbit709]

3. Beans in chili? That's sacrilege.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I knew I would see a Texas icon on your post.

I LOVE beans in my chili, and I think that your Texans are missing out. I use pinto, kidney, and black beans because I love the beans---but only when they are in chili. When I lived in Texas, I was villified, but I just didn't invite anyone over for chili!

I bet you are disgusted with the hamburger in the chili too, right? If it ain't chunks of rattlesnake meat, it ain't chili.

You really are missing a good meal.

[hobbit709]

9. Rattlesnake is better roasted on a stick.

But no hamburger.

[MicaelS]

11. I'm a Texan, and I LOVE beans in my chili

Any other Texans don't like that too bad.

[Curmudgeoness]

19. I am sure you get lots of grief. Traditions! nt

[Xipe Totec]

14. It's called chili for a reason

The two main ingredients are beef, and chili.

Chile con carne means beef with chile, not beef with beans.

And, yes, the meat has to be in chunks, not ground.

:hi:

[Curmudgeoness]

20. Don't I know it. Evangelical chili purists have preached to me

for years. Or at least that is how it feels. No one will convince me that it is better without all kinds of beans. And don't think they haven't tried. I lived in Texas for 14 years. I know it.

:hi:

[Xipe Totec]

25. I've tasted a lot of delicious dishes that are not called chili

Just because something tastes good, doesn't mean you have to call it chili.


:hide:

[Curmudgeoness]

27. Texas is the only place I have seen chili without beans, but

I will throw you a few bones....Y'all make the best use of brisket and skirt steak I have ever eaten. Mmmmmm, brisket. Back here in PA, I can't even attempt to barbecue a brisket, since all the brisket sold is trimmed----very trimmed. You cannot get a whole brisket to save your ass. Well hell, I am going to have to plan a trip back down there just for barbecue, and I will eat it every day I am there!

[freshwest]

21. As a native Texan, I don't care, really. One thing seldom mentioned is comino, that's a must for me.

What do you think of white chili? It's chicken, navy beans, onions, garlic and green chilis. With shredded monterey cheese on top.

Now I make meatless chili, all beans and no meat. Yes, I'm definitely off the reservation now.

[Xipe Totec]

24. That sounds like tasty food

It's just not chili. :evilgrin:

Then again it's not the only mislabeled food. Take Manhattan clam chowder, for example. It's a great soup, but it isn't chowder.

[freshwest]

30. They do make some stuff called 'chili' up here I won't eat. No meat (no problem there) but with 7...

Different kinds of beans. The flavoring is no better than a can of 'Ranch Style Beans' with bits of celery and jalapenos in it. I just can't eat it and don't know where the idea developed.

Now as to the term 'chili con carne,' I was brought up with the definition that the reason the word 'chili' was first, was the tiny amount of 'carne' that could be afforded.

Weirdly enough, I loved some odd thing called 'Coney Island brick chili' back in Houston. Goodness knows what that was. I do miss being able to pick up tamales any old where as I did back in the day.

[freshwest]

6. Oh, I know, but I've gotten cheap in my old age.

[mcar]

4. If they're uncooked beans best to cook without tomatoes

Tomatoes (canned or fresh) impede bean cooking. I learned this the hard way.

When I make chili in the crockpot, I put everything but the beans, I use drained canned beans and put them in at the end. Yum!

[Kali]

7. its chili - honestly you can do whatever is easier

but yeah, if you are using precooked or canned beans you can add them later - still let them simmer in there with all the goodies for a while to blend the flavors. if you do it all at once they may get a little mushy, but it's chili right? still yummy:9

and kidney beans are gross! stick with pintos }( :popcorn:

[Brigid]

8. Only one word of advice:

Send me some of that chili. :evilgrin:

[Curmudgeoness]

10. Interesting, I made chili today too. I don't have a crock pot

so I don't know if there are differences between that and a big old pot on the stove, but I brown the beef and then add everything and let it simmer.

[MicaelS]

12. Well with a crock pot,

You can brown the meat in a skillet, and then put everything in the crock pot, and then go do something else for several hours without worrying about it burning. I've started chili at 8pm, and went to bed, and let it cook all night on low. Mmmm.....

[Curmudgeoness]

17. I have had people tell me I should have one, cook all day

while I am at work. I have only had one meal made in a crock pot at a friend's house. It was so overcooked that I thought it was horrible. Now, it would be nice to not have to keep stirring or have it burn. But I don't think that I could eat something cooked for 10 hours while I am at work.

[hobbit709]

13. Needs jalopeno cornbread on the side.

[freshwest]

22. Most definitely!

[Darth_Kitten]

15. Brown the beef with chopped onions.

:)

[Curmudgeoness]

18. Yep. And chopped green peppers. Yum.

[applegrove]

16. Don't forget the shredded cheddar and sour cream. Sounds delish.

[grasswire]

23. my favorite chili

2 ground beef, browned and degreased (I like to leave it chunky)
1 large chopped onion
small amount chopped bell pepper
2 cans tomatoes
Better Than Bouillon beef base -- about 2 T
2 cans water
1 can black beans
1 can pinto or kidney beans
1 can butter beans
1 can black-eyed peas
2 or 3 T cumin
1/2 cup worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup masa to thicken (or more if needed)
hot sauce to taste (or chili powder if desired)

simmer for a long time, and adjust seasonings to taste

[HopeHoops]

26. Use a plastic crock pot liner. It makes cleanup easier AND putting it away easier.

You can just tie off the bag, lift it out, and put it in a sauce pan until it is cool enough to put in the fridge. When it is completely cool, just pour it out into a plastic storage tub. Those liners are great!

[Silver Swan]

28. I only made crock pot chili once.

I just threw everything the recipe called for in the pot and let it cook for a few hours. I did not brown the meat. I used canned beans and canned tomatoes.

It turned out fine.

[jme0318]

29. Put chili powder on the beef when you brown it

It gives the meet really good flavor - also Worcestershire sauce is good to use.