Texas Chili Recipes!

These chili recipes are just a handful of the many different ways that chili can be used to spice up your life. Growing up in Texas, I learned to make chili at an early age. We used it as an addition to many popular dishes, such as hot dogs, frito pies, and I even have a recipe for Skyline Chili, or Cincinnati Chili, which is served with spaghetti noodles. My fondness for chile peppers began as I looked for different ways to make our chili recipes hotter.

Whoa there pardner, chili, chile? What's the difference? Well a chile is one of the peppers we use for cooking, such as bell peppers, jalapeños, or any of the other thousands of varieties. They vary in heat from mild to extremely hot.

Chili, on the other hand, is a concoction made out of meat, seasonings, chile peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic, beans and just about whatever else the cook decides to toss in the pot.

The Texas chili you'll see below contains just about everything listed above. But, you won't find any tomatoes or beans in there. Most traditional Texans will tell you that Texas chili recipes don't have beans or tomatoes in them.

Well, I just don't quite follow that logic, so I'll show you one of my favorite chili recipes, that has a little twist to it. It contains both beans and tomatoes, but you can leave them out if you like. And I'll tell you how to use this chili in a delicious hot dog chili recipe, along with a few others. You still with me? Here we go!

Chef Jay's Chili

Ingredients:
3 jalapeños (finely chopped)
1 1/2 lb. ground meat (beef is preferred, but you can use turkey, pork, etc.)
1 onion (finely chopped)
1 bell pepper (finely chopped)
5 cloves garlic (minced)
3 Tbsp chili powder (storebought or see recipe below)
1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz.) black beans (or whatever beans you prefer)
4 oz. chipotle puree (recipe found here) The Twist!
2 tsp vegetable oil

Chili Powder:
- 3 Tbsp ancho chile powder
- 2 Tbsp cayenne powder
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp ground oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder

Directions:
- Heat 1 tsp of vegetable oil in a large heavy pan on medium heat. When oil is warm, brown meat all through. After done, drain any excess fat and set aside.
- Replace the pan to medium heat, allow 1 tsp vegetable oil to heat for one minute. Add onions, peppers, garlic, and simmer about 5 minutes.
- Return meat to the pan, add chili powder, tomatoes, beans, and chipotle puree. After it begins to boil, reduce heat to low, cover and allow to simmer for one hour.

There you have one of Chef Jay's favorite chili recipes. Now, you can eat it in a bowl just like that, add grated cheese, onions, or whatever suits your fancy. But, there are also many other ways to enjoy this Texas treat.

One of the most common accompaniments for chili recipes is cornbread. Of course my favorite recipe for cornbread is made the Texas way, with some chile peppers and onion added for good measure.

I use my chili as a beginning for all of the following chili recipes! But, there are a million ways to use it, just use your imagination!

Hot Dog Chili Recipe

Take your favorite hot dog and bun and put them on a big plate (this will get messy!). Add a generous dollop of mustard, I like the spicy dijon kind, but use what you like. Chop up some more onion and jalapeño and add them next. Now, you're ready for the chili, put as much as you like, then add some shredded cheese and dig in. Don't be embarrassed to use a knife and fork, I do. Now, that is how we eat a hot dog in Texas.

Skyline Chili

Also known as Cincinnati Chili, can be made without the beans if you prefer, but I like the beans. This chili recipe is served Italian style. The chili is poured over a bed of cooked pasta, usually spaghetti, then you add shredded cheese, chopped onions and olives. And of course, I like to add some chopped jalapeños . This Skyline Chili recipe sounds kind of different, but trust me, once you've tried it you'll be hooked.

Texas Chili

In 1977, the Texas Legislature declared chili the state dish of Texas. You will find as many different Texas chili recipes as there are counties in the state, too many to count! This is one of my favorite beer chili recipes, using Shiner Bock, a favorite dark beer of many Texans, as a main ingredient. The beer adds an extra depth to the taste. And, whatever you don't use in this chili recipe, go ahead and drink while you're waiting for it to cook.

Ingredients:
5 jalapenos, chopped
3 lbs. lean chuck beef, cut into bite size pieces
3 Tablespoons Chili powder
2 oz. vegetable oil
2 Shiner Bock beers, or your favorite dark brew
1 large onion, chopped
1/3 cup garlic, minced
1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped for garnish

Directions:
- Add 1/2 of oil to a heavy stock pot, heat to medium high. Add meat, braise on all sides until brown. Drain meat.
- Heat remaining oil in pot to medium high, add chiles, onion, garlic, meat, and chili powder, simmer for a few minutes and add beer.
- Allow to simmer at least one hour, adding more beer if necessary.
- Serve in large bowls sprinkled with cilantro.

Any self respecting Chilehead will tell ya', it just ain't chili 'til you add some heat to it. So buy one of our favorite hot sauces and pour it on!

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