Chili - what's your secret ingredient?

[newfiemountiewife]

Vinegar is my secret ingredient!

 

[MamaBee]

We eat our chili with elbow noodles (isn't that typical for midwest?) and then top with cheddar cheese and crushed saltines... and if I'm feeling naughty, I'll add sour cream and scallions on top....oooh yum!

 

[rach3975]

You know, I don't think I've ever made chili. I don't think it's a big northeast thing, and I grew up in New England. I may have made a vegetarian version once back in college, but nothing more recent. I wonder if my kids would eat it. I may need to try. I'd do 2 pots, 1 with meat for DH and the kids and 1 without for me. I don't know how I'd serve the kids' (with fresh bread/in a bread bowl or over pasta, probably) but I'd put mine over salad.

 

[sigmakap95]

Couple of cloves added in while it's simmering... and then I try to find them to remove them before someone gets a bite in to one..... gives it a good overall flavor, but I can't stand it if I get one in my mouth :/ Although, somehow it usually works out that the kids get it instead of me

 

[julifish]

My husband likes his chili over rice, which is the way I serve it for the kids. I like it in a bowl with oyster crackers, cheddar cheese and a little bit of sour cream and onions.

I like white chili too, but no one else here will eat it.

 

[terrab]

My husband makes the best chili. I was never a fan until I tried his.... but I have to say that my favorite version is when he adds either peaches or mangos. So good!

 

[MandaT]

ground beef
onion / carrot / celery
red bell pepper (NEVER green)
can diced tomatoes (maybe 2 if I want to stretch it out)
can tomato sauce
handful or so frozen corn
1 can each: black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans
garlic powder
salt
pepper
chili powder
cumin
oregano
1 bottle of beer
chicken stock (or a combo of chicken/beef, if I'm out of either of those, V8 or tomato juice)
1/4 c honey/brown sugar

sometimes I do more veggies (zuchinni, mushrooms, whatever needs used up in the fridge), I don't really have a recipe, just throw it together.

Eat it plain, with corn bread, on top of potatoes, in tortillas, over chips, on a hot dog. Topped with cheese, sour cream, freshly chopped red onion, black olives, green onion, depends on what we have.

 

[meganmecrazy]

My hubby is the chili maker in our house and he throws everything in there! I esp. like when he adds some chocolate, corn, beer...

 

[Tracyfish]

Well my chili is in the crockpot for today. Aside from the normal stuff I use, I added beer, green pepper and cumin.

Next time I'm trying something like the chocolate or fruit added.

 

[gracelikerain]

LOL My DH would have a fit if I tried to put fruit in his chili! But a beer....now that's an idea

 

[Arual]

Does it matter what kind of beer? Im going to add that in next time!

 

[tuneskids]

I make chicken chili - ground beef hurts my tummy. And I have a different "add-in" to it - BACON!!! mmmm
My family loves it! So simple too - onion, bacon, ground chicken, peppers, celery, kidney beans, tomato soup, a touch of garlic, tons of chili powder, and some salt & pepper.

Oh, and we have ours with Ciabatta buns or garlic bread.

 

[Paula]

My secret ingredient is cinnamon.