Easy Book Club Chili
Think it’s impossible to source a delicious chili from the pantry? I did. Until I tried delicious book club chili at a summer meeting! 
It’s book club to the rescue again. Today’s recipe, which I decided to call Book Club Chili, comes from a meeting last summer. Besides hanging with a great group of gals and doing some excellent reading, the group can be counted on for delicious food!
I love a good chili. And I have a great appreciation for people who blend specialized peppers and seasonings for award-winning flavor. Probably because I have never successfully done this myself.
Chili & Corn Bread
So when my Sunday blogging group decided to make chili, I was in a panic. Then I remembered the book club chili that was so good I’d asked for the recipe. It was still in my in-box.
This recipe is quite different from the secret spice blend, slow simmer recipes. You see, you can source all of the ingredients (except a single onion, which I’d even leave out if I were really late) from your pantry. And did I mention the entire book club raved?
Book Club Chili Ingredients!
In the end I browned a pound of ground beef (gotta clear out the freezer for this season’s local harvest!) rather than use the couple cans of chicken option. And I used the last of the local corn. But still super quick and easy. You could even do easy vegan with a meat substitute.
As I served it up with corn bread, my kids, having eaten too many of my chili-fails, were skeptical. Their reaction? A unanimous thumbs-up, just like book club. Okay, with a little more wide-eyed surprise.
Served!
I went out to buy a repeat of the ingredients for the next time I’m in a pinch. Probably tomorrow.
Keep the stuff on the shelf for when you need a fast lunch or supper. It may save you some day too!
Mmm!
- 1 Tablespoon oil
- 1 onion (see note)
- 2 cloves of garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cans chicken or 1 pound ground beef
- 1 16-ounce can kidney beans
- 1 16-ounce can pinto beans
- 1 16-ounce can corn
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- small can chopped green chilis drained
- 1 pkg Taco seasoning
- 8 oz jar Taco Sauce (not salsa)
- Heat the oil, then sauté the chopped onion and chopped garlic (if using) until tender. Brown the ground beef, if using, and drain. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors.
- Top with shredded cheddar, sour cream, chopped onions if you would like to dress it up. Great with corn bread.
- I'd even trade in the onion for onion powder if I were in a real pinch! You can be very loose with ingredients by adding more beans or more tomatoes or ??? according to taste and pantry ingredients.
Game Day Chili Recipes
- 6 Can Chili by Our Good Life
- Chili Con Carne with Chocolate by That Recipe
- Classic Chili with Beans by Sweet Beginnings
- Easy Book Club Chili by Art of Natural Living
- One-Pot Chili Mac by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Roasted Garlic Turkey Chili by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
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I’m digging the quick and easy of this chili. Sometimes, you just want a hearty meal on the table without all the fuss. This is one of those go to recipes.
Chili fail! I sympathize with you. I just had an epic pie crust fail! I’m glad this chili was a runaway success. It looks delicious! I love that it takes very little time to make ♡
I love the taco flavors in your chili! This sounds great for an easy dinner!
Everyone needs an easy dinner sometimes right?!
We only perfectly easy recipes like this now and then. And how can you go wrong with such wonderful flavors and ingredients?
I am usually a “from scratch” bigot David and I wouldn’t have believed this is I hadn’t tried it.
This is perfect for busy Fall weeknights. And I bet it would be delicious with chicken, beef or even TVP
It was great with chicken Audrey–that’s how we had it for the book club meeting! And how easy is that then!
This looks super easy.
It is–I almost felt guilty! (Then I looked at the great low calorie count and felt good again!)
I can’t imagine you’d ever have a chili fail! This, along with the cornbread, looks delicious.
Thanks for the vote of confidence Karen!
The taco sauce was the big surprise for me in this recipe. I have used salsa many times but have never thought to use taco sauce. Interesting.
I was surprised too Wendy. It blended beautifully though!