Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

calico chili

(1 rating)
Recipe by
Laura Lagasse
Virginia Beach, VA

In the winter months I try to cook a pot of something every week. I love making soups, stews and stick to your ribs meals that will last for more than one meal. This week it's my Calico Chili. You can easily change this up and use ground turkey or no meat at all, just add a few more beans.

(1 rating)

Ingredients For calico chili

  • 1 lb
    lean ground beef, or ground turkey (omit for vegan)
  • 4
    celery stalks diced
  • 1
    onions, yellow, medium diced
  • 1 can
    14.5 oz. diced tomatoes
  • 1 can
    46 oz tomato juice
  • 5 can
    15.5 oz beans - i use 2 dark red kidney, 1 black bean,1 great northern, 1 pinto. but you can use any combo you like
  • 1 Tbsp
    fresh cilantro - chopped finely
  • 2 Tbsp
    fresh parsley - choppen finely
  • 1 tsp
    salt -or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp
    pepper - or to taste
  • 1 Tbsp
    chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp
    ground cumin
  • 1 pinch
    ground cinnamon - don't over do on this - you only need a hint of the cinnamon flavor
  • 1 Tbsp
    sugar
  • shredded cheese & sour cream for garnish

How To Make calico chili

  • 1
    In a large dutch oven, brown meat with celery & onion, cilantro & parsley on high heat. Add salt, pepper, and about half of the other spices (excluding sugar). Stir and chop up meat while browning.
  • 2
    While meat is browning, open beans and rinse and drain in a colander. When meat is brown, add all of the beans, the diced tomatoes and most of the tomato juice. Stir in the remainder of the spices and the sugar. Add the remaining tomato juice if there is enough room in the pan. Stir, bring to a boil, turn heat down to low and simmer for at least 1 hour.
  • 3
    If making the vegan version add 2 more cans of beans. The more variety the better.
  • 4
    Like anything made with tomatoes, the longer this cooks, the better! Consider making it a day ahead. Serve with a sprinkle of shredded cheese (cheddar is best) and a dollop of sour cream. Corn bread is a great side dish.

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