Halftime Chili Recipe

This is the perfect chili dish to serve at your next halftime get together.  Serve with grated cheese and tortilla chips for dipping.  For a more healthy chili, get a leaner ground beef and use lowfat cheeses for toppings.

Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 8 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 pounds ground chuck
• 1 envelope taco seasoning or 1/4 cup taco seasoning
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 15oz can tomato sauce
• 3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 1 6oz can tomato paste
• 2 15 to 16oz cans of kidney beans (drained)

Directions

Heat oil in heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic.  Saute about 8 minutes or until onions are translucent.  Add chuck and cook until brown, breaking up meat with a spatula as it cooks.  Add taco seasoning, basil, oregano, and thyme.  Stir 2 minutes.  Mix in tomato sauce, chicken broth and tomato paste.  Simmer until thickened to desired consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, about 1 and a half hours.  Mix in beans.  Simmer for 5 minutes.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Refrigerate until cold then reheat over low when ready to serve.