Beef Chili with Vegetables: this is not your average chili. All the awesome kidney beans, ground beef, and spices but loaded with other vegetables too.
![Beef chilli with vegetables.](http://www.lifeisaparty.ca/wp-uploads/2014/01/easy-beef-chili-with-vegetables-1.1.jpg)
This beef and vegetable chili has got a little extra goodnesses with the addition of loads of vegetables. This chili incorporates all the traditional beans, ground beef, tomato, and spices that classic beef chili includes, but also includes corn, different types of beans, mushrooms, and peppers to make it extra delicious. These veggies add extra goodness. This is the best chili recipe and I'm sure you will love it.
Chili con carne is traditionally a beef stew with chili peppers that originated in southern Texas and moved north. The cowboys are credited with adding beans to the dish. Today it is a popular tex mex dish, made with simple ingredients of beef and beans and often very spicy. Our version adds in lots of vegetables to the popular dish.
Old Family Recipe
This is my version of my mom's chili, she got the recipe from Kerry, a family friend, although I'm sure his was much spicier. My mom added some tweaks, and I also added my own tweaks. This is real comfort food to me, and such a favorite. It's so, so good. I love it in the winter months. On a cold day I love to make a big pot, because it's even better the next day once all the favors have melded together. This is my go-to recipe for chili. I love that it's not only delicious but also a healthy recipe, with all the great veggies included.
Funny story, one of my brothers old girl friends wanted to make him a special dinner and asked him what he'd like. He said chili, thinking of mom's chili of course, the only chili we ever knew. She made him what I'm sure was a lovely, classic chili recipe of beans, and meat, and asked expectantly what he thought. He said "this isn't chili" which lead to quite an argument. So, this isn't indeed your traditional chili, but I promise this great recipe is delicious.
What makes this chili so different is the addition of green beans, yellow beans, corn, mushrooms and green bell peppers. It adds so much to the chili. And it's very easy to make because the green beans, yellow beans, and corn are canned. It also makes this a great pantry meal. All you need is a fresh onion, mushrooms, green pepper and ground beef to make this meal anytime.
This would be great easy recipe for game day. Make a big pot of chili or a double batch and enjoy while you watch the game. It's also always a hit a potluck, or a great easy recipe for entertaining since you can make it ahead of time.
Vegetarian Option
If you are looking for an easy vegetarian chili recipe, you can simply replace the ground beef in this recipe with a plant-based protein. It makes a very good veggie chili since it's so loaded with extra veggies which gives it such great flavor. It's also pretty easy to make a half batch of vegetarian and half batch of regular if you're serving a mixed group. Just replace the ground beef with the plant-based protein and make two pots at once spitting the rest of the ingredients between the two pots. You can offer the same dish with two versions, without having to come up with two different menus, and create an entirely different dish for each.
Spicy Option
If you like your chili on the spicy side, feel free to up the spice by adding in a jalapeno pepper that's been chopped along with the green bell pepper. You can also up the hot chili flakes in the recipe, or add hot sauce, chili powder, or cayenne pepper to the dish.
Healthier Option
If you're looking for a healthier option that is lower in calories and weight watcher points you can use lean ground beef for this recipe and drain excess fat after frying the lean beef. You can also turn this into turkey chili by substituting ground turkey (or ground chicken) in place of the beef. This hearty chili is loaded with protein and fiber, making it a great option as a healthy chili recipe. It's delicious served over a baked sweet potato as another healthier option.
Recipe
![Beef chilli with vegetables.](http://www.lifeisaparty.ca/wp-uploads/2014/01/easy-beef-chili-with-vegetables-1.1.jpg)
Ingredients
- 2 cans diced tomatoes 796 mL
- 2 cans red kidney beans 540 mL
- 1 can green beans 398 mL
- 1 can yellow beans 398 mL
- 1 can corn 341mL
- 1 package chili seasoning mix 35 g
- ½ - 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 2 lbs ground beef
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon angostura bitters
- 1 large package fresh mushrooms -sliced 227g
- 1 large onion -diced
- 1 green pepper -diced
- 3 cloves of garlic -minced
Instructions
- In a large pot combine canned diced tomatoes, kidney beans, green beans, yellow beans, corn, chill seasoning, and chill flakes. Simmer on low.
- In a large frying pan brown ground beef over med-high heat with some salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and angostura bitters. When brown add to the pot of other ingredients and stir to combine.
- In the empty frying pan add the mushrooms, onion, green bell pepper and garlic, and cook over med-high heat until onion is transparent and peppers and mushrooms are softened. Add these sauteed vegetables to the pot and stir to combine.
- Simmer the chili for 2 hours on low, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition
Something to look forward to on a cold winters night. Make it this weekend, and enjoy the leftovers for lunches.
With a big bowl of chili on a cold day, life really is party.
You might also like our Easy Lasagna recipe here.
Also check out our Butter Chicken Pizza recipe here.
You might also enjoy our Tortellini and Italian Sausage Soup recipe here.
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