Cheeseburger Chili

After the last couple of days, we all need some comfort food! The day is gloomy and overcast and it is raining. It is a perfect chili day! I find it amazing that a lot of people only eat chili in cold weather. Chili is a favorite with us in any weather, and we have it often! Some days just feel like chili days, and this is one of them!

I have made many different kinds of chili. It's one of those meals that I am always looking for different styles for. We have experimented and tweaked and finally came up with a recipe that the whole gang loves!

My mother made beef chili with tomato juice so that it would have a lot of soup. I prefer a chunkier, meatier chili, so i don't put extra tomato juice in, only diced tomatoes.

My chili secret: I use salsa as a shortcut for onions and peppers. Salsa is a great way to infuse heat into your chili. I prefer a milder chili, so I always use mild salsa. It adds a ton of flavor without a ton of work! If the salsa gives it the taste I prefer I don't even use chili powder.

The Beans! I have made chili with all different varieties of beans. Classic chili is generally made with kidney beans. I am not a fan of kidney beans. I found that my favorite chili is made only with pinto beans and white beans. Sometimes I add black beans also if I have them on hand. The kind of beans you want to use is really just a matter of preference. Mix it up! Have fun with it!

The cheesy part of the recipe comes from the addition of cheese sauce at the end of the cooking process. I use a jarred cheese sauce, but Velveeta type cheeses can also be used. I use the sauce simply because I like the taste and it doesn't require the melting time that the processed cheese blocks need. Once again, it is always about what you prefer and what your family likes! Play with it til you find what you like best!

You can find my complete recipe for our Cheeseburger Chili recipe here!

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Hurry back for another visit! There's always room for one more at the table!