This hearty chili recipe is a family favorite, full of bold chili flavors without any of the heat – perfect for a weeknight dinner or a crowd pleasing party dish!
It’s sometimes hard to be a person who’s really passionate about food and also be the person who in charge of cooking for a houseful of really picky eaters.
My guys do not like anything remotely spicy. Even something that I consider mild will send them scrambling for cold glasses of water, so there are a some dishes that I simply don’t make – and chili is one that I miss the most. There’s something about digging in to a bowl full of chili that feels as quintessentially “fall” as pumpkin spice and apple picking.
Maybe it’s the warm spices or the hearty way that chili fills you up and warms you from the inside out. Or maybe the allure comes from being able to whip up a big batch of chili in no time, making it a perfect meal for nights when we’re juggling homework, after school activities and parent teacher conferences.
I’ve attempted to discover a good chili recipe at least once a year for the last decade, but I’ve always found that ditching the heat meant leaving out the bold flavors that make chili a comfort food staple.
So when my 8 year old picky eater requested chili the other day I knew I had to ditch the cookbook and spend some time figuring out the perfect blend of spices and ingredients that would leave me with none of the heat but all of the flavor in order to convince this family that Zero Alarm Chili deserved a spot at the table.
I served dinner to a very skeptical crowd that night. I’m pretty sure my husband had a pizza menu stashed under his chair.
They went nuts! And not for glasses of water, but for refills of chili! And then there were requests to have chili again tomorrow night. And the kids cleaned their bowls. And my husband cleaned his bowl. And if the bowls had washed themselves this would have been a real-life fairy tale ending.
My Zero Alarm Chili was a hit – both kid-friendly and foodie approved. This hearty chili is loaded with flavor – thanks to a blend of traditional spices, tomatoes and bell pepper. It’s carefully crafted avoid any spiciness and is perfect for scooping up on chips, eating over rice or piling on top of cornbread.
Zero Alarm Chili is now a staple in our menu rotation, and a huge hit at parties and get togethers. It’s perfect for serving a crowd and can be an easy “finger food” if you bring along a bag of chips. Here’s a few of our favorite chili toppings and sides:
- shredded cheddar or mexican blend cheese
- sour cream
- tortilla chips for scooping
- sliced green onions
- Club Crackers
- fresh sliced jalapenos for those who enjoy the heat
- chopped raw onions
- fresh avacodo
- Cornbread for dipping
You can also make some delicious chili nachos by topping tortilla chips with Zero Alarm Chili, queso, salsa, sour cream, sliced black olives and cilantro!
Zero Alarm Chili
A hearty family favorite with bold chili flavor and none of the heat!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 can red kidney beans drained
- 1 can pinto beans drained
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 4 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
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Heat the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven.
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Saute the peppers and onions until soft.
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Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
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Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and black pepper – stir until well combined.
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Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, kidney beans and pinto beans.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 25-20 minutes.
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Remove from heat and allow chili to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Do you have a favorite way to serve Zero Alarm Chili? Let me know what it is in the comments, or tag me on instagram to be featured in the community!
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