A Lovely Sort of Life

Cozy Cottage Chili

When the weather turns crisp and the evenings start to settle in early, there’s nothing quite like a big pot of chili simmering on the stove. It’s one of those simple, soul-warming meals that fills the whole house with a cozy, comforting scent and brings everyone to the table without even having to call them.

This is my tried and true chili recipe. The one I reach for when I want something hearty and easy that tastes like it’s been cooking all day (even when it hasn’t). It’s full of rich, smoky flavor thanks to Kinder’s Woodfired Chili Seasoning, and it’s loaded with four kinds of beans for the perfect balance of texture and heartiness.

We love it on game days, lazy Sundays, or any night that calls for comfort in a bowl. Serve it with cornbread, shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and maybe a good movie queued up .. it’s the definition of cozy living.

Cozy Cottage Chili

Serves: 6–8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour (longer for deeper flavor)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 can black beans (undrained)
  • 1 can pinto beans (undrained)
  • 1 can light kidney beans (undrained)
  • 1 can dark kidney beans (undrained)
  • 1 can Rotel Chili Fixings
  • 2 packets Kinder’s Woodfired Chili Seasoning
  • 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes

Instructions

  1. Cook the meat and onions: In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion over medium heat. Drain if preferred.
  2. Add seasoning and Rotel: Stir in both packets of Kinder’s Woodfired Chili Seasoning and the Rotel. Mix well.
  3. Add beans and tomatoes: Pour in all the beans (do not drain them), plus the crushed and diced tomatoes. Stir until everything is well combined.
  4. Simmer: Bring to temperature, then reduce heat and simmer for at least 1 hour. The longer it simmers, the richer it gets.
  5. Serve: Ladle into bowls and add your favorite toppings .. cheese, sour cream, green onions, or a crumble of cornbread on top.

It’s simple, hearty, and tastes like home. The kind of meal that turns an ordinary evening into something lovely.