Bear Creek "Darn Good" Chili

Time to try another product from Bear Creek:  "Darn Good" Chili!  

You can certainly follow the package directions and enjoy this meal "as is."  But, as with most things I try in the kitchen, it's always fun to experiment and add in some extras to make it my own.

Here's what I used:

2 lbs. ground chuck

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 T. minced garlic

1 heaping t. ground cumin

1 package Bear Creek "Darn Good" Chili mix

7 cups water

1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste

1 (14.5) can diced tomatoes

1 small can fire roasted diced chiles

In a 5 quart Dutch oven, brown the ground chuck, onion, and garlic over medium high heat.

When the meat is cooked through, stir in the ground cumin, and cook for 1 - 2 minutes.

Add in the chili mix, water, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and roasted chiles.  Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer.  Let chili cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Top with your favorites!  I chose shredded sharp cheddar cheese and a small dollop of sour cream.

We enjoyed this chili a lot.  Super easy and ready to eat in less than 30 minutes.  It had a nice flavor and the heat level was mild.  You could certainly add a can of Rotel tomatoes or season with your favorite hot sauce if you need some heat.

We'd definitely buy again to stock the pantry!