2 min read·Thrifty Meals
Chilis
A pot of chili is one of the most affordable meals. It is built almost entirely around pantry staples, feeds a crowd for very little money, and tastes even better the next day. Few dishes deliver as much flavour and nourishment on a small budget.
Key points
- Chili is built around beans and tomatoes
- A single pot feeds four to six people at a very low cost per serving
- It is an ideal meal to prepare in advance
- Chili freezes very well for quick future meals
Chili was invented by people who did not have much: dried chillies, tough cuts of meat, beans, and whatever else was on hand. Cooked low and slow everything became tender and deeply flavoured.
Today, canned beans, canned tomatoes, onions, garlic, and a few spices are all it takes to create meals with a very low cost per serving. If available, ground meat adds a bit of richness to the dish and deepens the flavour.
Ingredients that are well suited for chili:
- Beans: Kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, and chickpeas all work well, and using a combination of two or three varieties adds texture and visual interest. Canned beans are convenient, but dried beans are even cheaper.
- Tomatoes: Canned crushed tomatoes are the liquid base of any chili, providing both flavour and volume
- Onions: Yellow, white, or red onions add lots of flavour and nutrients
- Peppers: Colorful bell peppers add crunch, while jalapeños, poblanos, or chipotle peppers bring heat
- Starchy vegetables: Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, celery, and corn add a hearty texture and bursts of flavour
- Other vegetables: Zucchini, mushrooms, spinach or kale add yet more nutrients
- Spices: Cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic, and oregano are the spice blend that makes a chili taste like chili rather than bean soup.
A few sources for inspiration:
- 5-Ingredient Chili by Gimme Some Oven.
- 12 Chili Recipes by Corrie Cooks