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Home › Recipes
6 Comments

Texas Chili

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Feb 9, 2023

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This post may contain affiliate links.

We are iced in for at least 2 days, and I’m prepared with a big pot of chili- Texas Red to be exact.  So I thought I would share with you a quick little ditty about chili.

Chili has a long and highly debated history, much of it springing from the tall tales of long Texas cattle drives.  But there is a lot of fact woven into that history too. 

From the lore of the cattle drive, tales of priests railing against the aphrodisiac powers of the chili pepper, to the well-documented Chili Queens of San Antonio, one thing is for sure… real chili doesn’t have beans. 

That’s right.  No beans.  No kidney beans, no pintos.  No beans.  Period. 

A spoonful of Texas Chili.

And thank goodness because I am not a huge fan of the lentils, and they sure as heck can ruin a good pot of Texas Red.

2 bowls of Texas Chili with corn chips, sour cream and cheese.

Tomatoes, like beans, are a controversial and argued chili  ingredient.  And while I stick to the hard and fast “no bean” rule, I do make the occasional exception for the tomato.  When I go red, I go red-  chilies, cayenne, and yes, that might include a tomato or two.

Overhead view of a big bowl of Texas Chili.

So saddle up your taste buds, partners, because I am going to share with you 2 versions of my recipe (with tomatoes and without) for Texas’ official state food. 

And don’t miss out on the fascinating info included in the source links below.  I mean, did you know, that Lyndon B. Johnson had his very own chili recipe which is archived in his presidential library?  (His recipe included tomatoes, too.)


Recipe Card

Texas Red Chili (with tomatoes)

Hearty and warm, Texas Red is a true Texas chili with no beans.
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Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs ground beef
  • 1 ½ tablespoon chili powder
  • 1-1 ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ – ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2-3 C water or 2- 14 oz can tomato sauce
  • 2 cans Mexican Rotel
  • 2 cans Rotel

Instructions

  • Brown the beef in a medium dutch oven or stock pot.
  • Add in spices.  Stir to coat beef.
  • Stir in water or tomato sauce.  Simmer 5-10 minutes.
  • Add in Rotel.  Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Notes

Serve with Fritos, sour cream, and shredded cheddar.
Did you make my Texas Red Chili (with tomatoes)?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
Tag on Insta Leave a Rating

 

Texas Red Chili (without tomatoes)

Hearty and warm, Texas Red is a true Texas chili with no beans.
Print Pin Rate
Author: Stacey | SouthernDiscourse.com

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs ground beef
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 ½ tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon paprika helps achieve that signature red color
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ – ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2-3 C water

Instructions

  • Brown the beef in a medium dutch oven or stock pot.
  • Add chopped onion.  Cook until onions are translucent.
  • Add in spices.  Stir to coat beef.
  • Stir in water.  Simmer 10-15 minutes

Notes

Also great with Fritos, sour cream, and shredded cheddar or just crackers.
Did you make my Texas Red Chili (without tomatoes)?Show me how it went! Share on Instagram, tag @southerndiscourse, and use the hashtag #SouthernDiscourse!
Tag on Insta Leave a Rating

Little Things You Might Need To Make & Serve Texas Chili

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Don’t forget to PIN this Texas Chili Recipe!

Texas Chili is an easy recipe made with a flavorful blend of spices and beef with no beans. Harkening back to the chuck wagon days, Texas Chili warms the heart and soul on crisp days.  Delicious with corn chips, cheese and sour cream. #Texas #chili #nobeans #fritos #southerndiscourse

Sources:

International Chili Society, “History of Chili”

Linda Stradley, What’s Cooking America: “History and Legends of Chile, Chile Con Carne”

Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson’s Recipe for Pedernales River Chili, LBJ Presidential Library Archives, University of Texas

Find this and other great recipes on Meal Plan Monday!

 

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Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes, Soups Tagged With: beef, comfort food

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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  1. Heather R Green

    February 16, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    Quinky dink! We’re enjoying chili this evening, too. Since it was a mad dash into the grocery store, Stubb’s BBQ is our seasoning support this evening.

    Reply
  2. Stacey Pirtlestacey

    February 16, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    Heather,

    Love it!

    Reply
  3. Anita Hickerson

    February 17, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    I normally use my mothers recipe, but will have to try one of these. They sound great!

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      February 18, 2015 at 11:18 am

      Anita,

      I think you will like it for something a little different. Those Texas Red recipes are easy and quick! But family recipes are hard to beat; they are such treasures.

      Reply
  4. Lindsay Hutchinson

    February 24, 2015 at 11:03 am

    Totally agree! I don’t love beans in my chili either, but I’ve never been able to find a recipe without them. Will have to try this!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Grilled Pimento Cheese, Apple & Bacon Sandwiches - a southern discourse says:
    November 2, 2018 at 1:35 pm

    […] soft, melted cheese, the crisp toasted bread…  It goes with just about anything- soup, chili– but is the perfect quick and easy comfort food just all by itself.  Just cheese and a […]

    Reply

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Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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