“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. . . ” Philippians 2:12

Hearty Black Bean Chili is a thick and savory one-pot dish that will be great for your next game day dinner or ‘chilly’ evening.

My Hearty Black Bean Chili is perfect to serve over tortilla chips, sprinkled with all the yummy toppings for the ideal nachos.  OR you can add some corn chips and cheese for a frito pie.  OR just serve it in a bowl with a little sour cream and chopped onion for that little touch of warmth on a cold night.  However you want to serve it, Hearty Black Bean Chili will be pleasing to your tummy.

Who Even Invented Chili?

There are a few stories out there about where the origins of Chili came from.  Some say it was from a Spanish nun from the 17th century that created a recipe for a venison stew with tomatoes, peppers and onions. 

One story interpretation is that chili is from women from the Canary Islands that migrated to San Antonio, Texas who sold the dish to soldiers and cattlemen.

Most Food historians believe that chili originated in the border towns of Texas and Mexico and the delicious dish spread to the Northern territory.

All I know is chili is a great dish to serve for a large crowd of people.

What is a Poblano Pepper?

Poblano peppers are a mild Mexican chili pepper.  The name comes from where they were first grown–Puebla, Mexico.

The flavor of the poblano is similar to a green bell pepper with a slight heat and smokier taste. I think it adds more flavor to the Hearty Black Bean Chili than the average green bell pepper.  

If you like a spicier chili; use a jalapeno or hotter pepper.

You can find poblano peppers loose where they sell other varieties of peppers.

Black Beans?

Usually you find kidney beans or pintos in chili if you use beans at all.  

Some people swear chili should not have beans in it.  And I would agree most of the time.

I’m not a real fan of kidney beans and I can put up with pinto beans but I really like the black beans in the chili.  It makes a hearty dish even heartier and think of all the protein and nutrients that are added to the Hearty Black Bean Chili.

*Make sure you drain and rinse off the can of black beans before adding them to the chili.

What Do I Need to Make Hearty Black Bean Chili?

You will need a large dutch oven, spoon, cutting board, knife, measuring cups, measuring spoons, can opener, ladle and the following ingredients:

Mama Fawn’s Tips . . . 

•  You can substitute any lean ground meat for this chili.  Bison, turkey or chicken would be delicious.
• Chop the onion and peppers in uniform pieces so they will cook evenly.
• If you like a spicier 🌶️ chili, feel free to use jalapeno or any other spicy pepper.
• When using spicy peppers, make sure you do not touch your face or eyes.  
• Rinsing the black beans keeps your chili from having a ‘muddy’ look to the chili.
• Covering the lid halfway helps the chili from splashing all over your kitchen.  Take my word for it!  😬
• Black Bean Chili is a thick chili.  If you like a thinner chili, add more chicken broth.
• Chili’s taste and texture actually gets better if refrigerated and heated the next day but I promise you this chili is amazing right out of the pot.