Texas Chili with All the Fixin's

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 tablespoon bacon grease or vegetable oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons chopped garlic
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 pound ground beef chuck
  • 1 pound italian sausage links, removed from casings and crumbled
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
  • 2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes with puree
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) BBQ baked beans, drained
  • 1 tablespoon minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, plus more as needed

FIXIN'S:

  • grated sharp cheddar
  • chopped green onion
  • sour cream
  • crumbled corn chips
  • red pepper flakes
  • chopped jalapeno chilis

Heat the bacon grease in a heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions & garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano and stir until well combined. Add the ground chuck, sausage, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Increase the heat to med-high and cook the meat, stirring frequently, until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Adjust the seasonings with more kosher salt or chipotle chiles if necessary. Serve with any or all of the suggested fixin's.

changed April 14, 2008