KRISTI'S HEARTY CHILI

This makes 18 one-cup servings!  I make a huge batch and usually use about 1.5 cups for my meal.  Whatever I have left after meal prep for the week, I just freeze as this freezes great!  Simply cool and pour into freezer bag, remove air, and freeze for up to three months.

NOTE: If you don't like a lot of spice, I would suggest using tomatoes rather than the tomatoes with chiles, omit the hot sauce, and maybe half the chili powder!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 lbs 96/% lean ground beef (see note at bottom)
• 1 large onion
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper 
• 1 orange bell pepper
• 4 Tbsp chili powder
• 3 Tbsp garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 30 oz red kidney beans
• 30 oz cannellini beans
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 30 oz diced tomatoes with green chiles
•  (just use diced tomatoes if you don't like a lot of heat)
• 2 Tbsp hot sauce, optional, for additional spice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Finely mince onion and bell peppers
2. Cook ground beef and drain/rinse any grease
3. Combine onions, peppers and ground beef in large stock pot
4. Add garlic, salt, pepper, chili powder, and Worchesterhsire sauce 
5. Stir until well combined.
6. Add crushed tomatoes, kidney and cannellini beans (undrained), and diced tomatoes.
7. Add 1 cup tomato sauce, more or less to your desired consistency.
8. Add hot sauce, if desired
9. Combine well.
10. Simmer over low heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally (or cook on low in slow cooker for up to 8 hours).
11. Top with green onion, sour cream, and cheese (additional points/calories)

Yields 1 cup per serving

NOTE: When I make something in bulk that calls for 96% lean ground beef, I cut the cost and just use 80% or 85% lean.  I cook it, drain it, and put it in a strainer and run water over it until the grease is off.  I then treat it like it's the extra lean ground beef.  I don't know whether that is accurate or not, but just wanted to share that's what I do.  The points and nutritional facts are based on the 96% lean.