No Fuss Beef and Black Bean Chili

January 27, 2015

No Fuss Beef and Black Bean Chili | Sarcastic Cooking

Hey! All you adults out there! Do you budget? No, it isn’t some new-fangled slang term that means something weird or sexual. It is just a straight up budget, a spending plan, so to speak. Since the age of 23, give or take five years, I have had my fair share of budgeted living and Excel spreadsheets shoved in my face about what I earn and how I spend.

Spoiler alert: One of those is way higher than the other one, and it isn’t my income.

My parents always said I had/have champagne taste on a beer budget. It is true. I won’t skirt away from the issue. Now with a toddler in our possession and care plus the fact we are saving for a house yeah, this whole spreadsheet life is back.

Let me tell you guys, it is hard! I have to purchase food for the fam and try and buy food to make for the blog and then plan out what is for dinner. Way too much thinking and planning. I am not a planner. I am more of a worrier, after the fact, kind of person. And also, Andy is outgrowing 12-18 month clothes so he needs some new threads, and golly are kids clothes sooooo cute. Why do designers do this to us poor moms???

Last week was the week before a pay period, or what we like to call “lean week” in our house. I really didn’t prepare very well because the last shopping trip was right before we would be out of town for two nights so my pantry was sparsely stocked. Last week’s dinners turned into dinner on a dime which was basically me scrimping together everything in my freezer and pantry to make interesting dinners.

I made this breakfast fried rice one night, the next night was breakfast for dinner, then minestrone soup, and then chili, aaaannnnddd then leftover chili again. Thank god for canned goods and dried beans. They really helped me make it to payday!

This is the chili recipe I make on the reg. I honestly feel weird putting measurements on the spices because I literally change them up every time I make this. I add more spice when it is just me and Mike or less if Andy gets to have some of the veggies. Also feel free to swap out beef for chicken or turkey. This recipe is very versatile and can help you through all the fun that is involved in living a budgeted, adultified life!

 

No Fuss Beef and Black Bean Chili

Super easy classic beef and bean chili. A very versatile dish you can add and sub in whatever you have on hand!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 lb. Lean Ground Beef
  • 1 Red/Orange Bell Pepper seeded and diced
  • ½ Cup Diced Red Onion
  • ¾ Cup Frozen Corn Kernels thawed
  • 1, 15 Ounce Can Black Beans drained and rinsed
  • 1, 28 Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes
  • 1 ½ Cups Low-Sodium Beef Stock
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
  • ¼ Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • Tiny Pinch of Cayenne Pepper or more depending on your heat tolerance
  • 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Cumin
  • ½ Teaspoon Dried Oregano

Instructions

  1. Add olive oil to a large stockpot and warm over medium heat. Add ground beef and sauté. Use a wooden spoon to break apart the beef into small pieces. Add the bell peppers and sauté for seven minutes. Add the onion and sauté until translucent.
  2. Add corn, beans, tomatoes, and stock to the pot. Add all the seasonings. Stir to combine.
  3. Bring to a simmer and cook for fifteen to twenty minutes.

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  • Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps
    January 27, 2015 at 9:38 am

    Love meals that are both easy and wallet friendly! I have the same struggle, it’s hard to balance what food you buy for the blog and what you buy for your family, so most times we just eat what I blog, even if it’s three different appetizers or dessert for dinner. Ha! Love this chili!!

    • Stefanie
      January 27, 2015 at 10:19 pm

      Oooo dessert for dinner!!! Andy would love that!

  • Joanne
    January 27, 2015 at 7:16 am

    What is this “budget” of which you speak? We don’t really keep to one, THOUGH WE SHOULD. Luckily we tend not to overspend, so it’s not a huge deal. But…we also don’t have kids, so that’s a major difference. Chili is such a great low-budget meal!

    • Stefanie
      January 27, 2015 at 7:26 am

      Budgets are the worst! Chili is the best though! Thanks Joanne!