Pete's Chili for a Party

Ingredients

• (28 oz = 1 can) 1 can or frozen petite diced tomatoes
• (1 can = 15.5 oz) Beans: red or black beans of choice
• (1) Large Yellow Onion
• (1) Bell Pepper, any color
• (To Taste) Poblano Pepper (optional)
• (1-2) Pressed Garlic Cloves
• (1-8) Ground Beef
• (1-8) Ground Pork
• (1-2) Italian Sausage - Ground
• (1/2-1 oz) Chili Powder
• (1 tsp) Salt
• (1 tsp) Cumin
• (2 tsp) Paprika
• (To taste) Ground Pepper
• (1 TBS) Brown Sugar (optional)
• (To Serve) Hot Sauce, Shredded Cheddar, Sour Cream

Directions

How Much to Make

• 1# ground meat serves ~3½-4 people
• Do not exceed 8# of meat per 22-qt Nesco roaster
• Amounts in the ingredients list are for 1# of ground meat, scale as needed. i.e. if your making 5# of meat use 5 peppers and 5 onions etc.
  

Meat options

• Ground beef, Ground Italian Sausage, 50/50 ground beef + ground pork (recommended)

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the Meat

• Brown all meat thoroughly.
• Drain excess fat if needed.

2. Season the Meat

• Season immediately after draining.
• Add:
  • Chili powder, salt, cumin, paprika, pepper, optional brown sugar
• Add a small splash of water to help spices coat evenly.

3. Add Remaining Ingredients

• Stir in:
  • Onions, Garlic, Peppers, Tomatoes (with juice), Beans (drained or not, your call)

Tip (Dutch oven, stovetop):
If cooking on the stove, sauté onions, garlic, and peppers first to speed things up, then add meat back in with tomatoes and beans.

4. Simmer

• Nesco roaster: 3 to 4 hours on low/medium
• Stir occasionally.
• Taste and adjust seasoning: for more heat, add more chili powder, for a hint of sweetness add brown sugar.

Notes & Tips

• This chili improves with time, longer simmer = better flavor.
• Always under-season early; you can add more later.
• Scales cleanly from 2# to full roaster batches.
• Have fun with different kinds of cheese, hot sauces and crackers to serve.

By Pete Bernstein