Clean Eating 4 Bean Chili Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the best beans to use for homemade chili? ›

The best beans for chili are pinto, kidney, and black beans, like in this easy and tasty recipe. This 3-bean chili freezes great for meals later in the week. If you prefer thinner chili, add an extra can of tomato sauce. The green chiles are not hot and add a wonderful flavor, so don't be afraid to use them.

Chili might be one of the world's healthiest meals. Purists will argue that “real” chili is ground meat (usually beef) flavored with chili pepper and other spices, but more inclusive recipes use beans, tomatoes, and other vegetables—and even whole grains or tofu. It's pretty user-friendly, too.

Chili without beans, with meat, homemade (1 cup) contains 12.8g total carbs, 8.1g net carbs, 10.6g fat, 16.6g protein, and 206 calories.

You'll want to drain the kidney beans, but rinsing them is optional. Doing so will reduce the amount of sodium that gets carried into the dish. I choose to let mine sit in the strainer for awhile, but I don't rinse them.

Kidney Beans

They are the most popular bean for chili and, in some circles, are often called 'chili beans. ' They add a hearty, rich texture to your chili.

Best: Pacific Foods Plant-Based Fire Roasted Vegetable Chili

This is because the vegetarian ingredients pack loads of fiber and still meet our minimum protein recommendations. Although this option falls a little short at 8 grams of fiber per cup, eating a full can will fill you up with 15 grams and only 360 calories.

"By adding extra veggies you'll increase nutrients, fiber, and satisfaction," the twins say. "Bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, crushed tomatoes, onions, and carrots are all great choices."

Eating chili peppers offers many health benefits, including improving your heart health, metabolism, and immune system. They also add spiciness, warmth, color, and flavor to your food. Experiment with different types of chilis to find the ones you enjoy eating and cooking with.

Chili can be an effective weight-loss food if you select the most nutritious ingredients and eat it in place of higher-calorie and higher-fat fare.

Chili Nutrition Facts

A 100-gram portion of chili made with meat and beans has 157 calories, 9.8 grams of fat, and 12.6 grams of protein. While not considered to be a low-fat meal, chili is relatively low in calories and provides a great serving of protein, thanks to the meat and beans it contains.

Is it OK to eat chili on a low carb diet? ›

Is chili keto-friendly? Classic bean-based chili is not keto-friendly, as beans are high in carbohydrates. Luckily you can still make a keto-friendly chili without the beans. All of the traditional chili spices, such as chili powder, ground cumin and smoked paprika, are great flavor-boosters for keto foods.

Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed." If that sounds a bit uptight, the ICS's Homestyle Chili competition defines chili as: "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, and/or vegetables cooked with beans, chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients.

DO NOT DRAIN CHILI BEANS. (That's what thickens it up, I don't use tomato paste) add juice and all! Do Not drain Stewed tomatoes,diced tomatoes,or tomatoes with green chiles. Add all ingredients, and seasoning, mix.

Instead of adding water to your chili, add some more flavor with chicken or beef broth, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or even beet or wine. Each one of these options brings out different notes and levels of sweetness that will enhance your culinary creation.

According to Southern Living, kidney beans are probably the best chili option because they are large and can hold their own, texture-wise, alongside other chili ingredients such as diced tomatoes or other vegetables. Black and pinto beans, which are also substantial, are also good choices, according to the outlet.

Best Kidney Bean Substitutes by Common Use

Black beans, garbanzo beans, and cannellini beans will work best in chili and soups where you want the firm texture of a bean. If you do not mind the beans breaking down a bit, pinto beans will also work well.

Dark red kidney beans are used in soups, cold bean salads, and chili. Light Red Kidney Beans are large, kidney-shaped beans with light red/pink glossy skin. They have a firm texture, and they hold up well in soups or other dishes that cook for a long time.

Some popular options include kidney, black, pinto, cannellini, or canned beans.