Weeknight Wise Choice Chili

A heartwarming, hearty meal for when you're in a hurry. Grab your crackers and cheese—this one pleases the whole family in less than 25 minutes.

If you want pans that heat evenly and clean easily, this is the newer Ninja set I recommend.

All nutrition facts are AI generated and approximate.

Ingredients

Meat & spices

• 1 lb 85/15 ground beef
• 1 tsp lemon pepper
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• 3 Tbs chili powder
• 3 tsp salt
• 2 tsp pepper
• 3 tsp crushed red pepper (spicy—feel free to cut back)

Canned & liquids

• 2 (15 oz) cans pinto beans
• 1 (7 oz) can green chiles
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (11 oz) can V8 juice

Frozen

• 1 (10 oz) bag frozen seasoned vegetables

Directions

1. Start heating up a Dutch oven on medium-high heat while gathering ingredients.
2. Add ground beef to the pot and break it up with a spatula.
3. When halfway browned, add oregano, garlic powder, and half of the salt, pepper, and chili powder.
4. Stir in the frozen seasoned vegetables. Cooking may slow briefly but will recover.
5. Once beef is fully browned, stir in V8 juice and lemon pepper.
6. Add crushed tomatoes, green chiles, and the remaining spices. Stir well.
7. Bring to a simmer, then add pinto beans.
8. Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and cook for 12 minutes.

Notes

• Dial the heat: Three teaspoons of crushed red pepper is genuinely spicy—cut it back or leave it out for milder bowls.
• Add beans near the end: Stirring in the pinto beans just before the final simmer keeps them intact instead of mushy.
• Split your spices: Half go in early with the beef and half later, so you get both deep and fresh chili flavor.
• Better the next day: Flavors meld overnight—this reheats beautifully.
• Serve it up: Crackers and shredded cheese are the classic finish.

Why This Works

• Browning the beef: Letting the meat sear in a hot Dutch oven builds a savory fond that gives the chili its backbone.
• Two-stage spicing: Adding spices in two rounds layers roasted, bloomed notes with brighter ones added later.
• Tomato and V8 acidity: The crushed tomatoes and V8 add brightness and body that balance the rich beef and beans.
• Covered low simmer: Twelve gentle minutes under a lid lets the flavors marry and the sauce thicken without boiling away.