It’s officially chili season! For this month’s Fit Foodie Cooking Club, we’re all making our popular beef chili recipe—comforting, filling, and perfect for a chilly evening.
What is the Fit Foodie Cooking Club?
The Fit Foodie Cooking Club is a monthly cooking challenge designed to inspire you to cook from scratch and connect with our virtual community. Each month we choose one recipe for everyone to make, so we can celebrate real food together online.
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October 2021 – The Details
Please read the instructions below carefully so your entry counts. If you have questions, leave them in the comments of the recipe post.
Recipe of the Month
October’s recipe is our crowd-favorite beef chili. This hearty chili combines ground beef, beans, multiple tomato components, and a homemade chili seasoning for deep, layered flavor. Many readers say it’s the best chili they’ve made—easy to prepare and excellent for leftovers.
It’s our most popular chili on Fit Foodie Finds: rich tomato notes, tender meat, and satisfying texture from beans and vegetables. The recipe is straightforward and can be scaled up for meal prep or freezing.
Why You’ll Love It
- Perfect for Meal Prep: This chili yields 6–8 servings and freezes well. Make a double batch for easy weeknight dinners or to transform into chili mac for variety.
- Nutritious: Made with lean ground beef, beans, and vegetables, this chili is high in protein and fiber. Using homemade chili seasoning avoids additives commonly found in store-bought mixes.
- Quick to Make: From start to finish you can have a comforting dinner on the table in under 45 minutes.
All About Beef Chili
Ingredients You’ll Need
Beef: Ground beef is the star. Using 80–85% lean adds flavor and keeps the chili juicy; very lean beef can alter texture and richness.
Tomato Components: This recipe uses three tomato products for depth and body: tomato sauce for base flavor, diced tomatoes for texture, and tomato puree to thicken and intensify the sauce.
Beans: While some traditional chili recipes omit beans, we include pinto and kidney beans for added fiber and texture.
Chili Seasoning: Make your own homemade chili seasoning for superior flavor and no unwanted additives. Keep a prepared batch on hand for quick chili nights.
Tools You’ll Need
A large stockpot or Dutch oven, a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula, measuring spoons, and a cutting board with a chef’s knife will cover the basics for this recipe.
Recipe Tips
Sauté the Beef First: Brown the ground beef with onion and garlic for 7–10 minutes to develop flavor and ensure the meat is fully cooked before adding liquids and other ingredients.
Make Your Own Seasoning: Homemade chili seasoning delivers fresher, brighter flavor and avoids unnecessary additives—store a batch in your pantry for convenience.
Secret Touch: A small amount of sugar—white, brown, or a splash of maple syrup—balances the acidity of the tomatoes and enhances the savory spices.
Adjust the Heat: Customize the spice level to your taste. Add diced jalapeños, poblano, green chiles, or a few tablespoons of hot sauce to increase the heat.
Don’t Skip the Toppings: Toppings elevate the chili—try shredded cheese, tortilla chips or Fritos, green onions, Greek yogurt or sour cream, chives, and hot sauce.
How to Enter
Once you’ve made the recipe, submit your entry to be eligible for the prize drawings.
- Visit the beef chili recipe blog post.
- Prepare the recipe and take a photo of your finished chili.
- Leave a comment on the recipe post with your photo, a brief note about how it went, and optionally a star rating. Include your name and email in the comment form so we can contact winners.
Join the Fit Foodie Cooking Club on Facebook!
Share your photos and connect with other home cooks in the Fit Foodie community by joining our free Facebook group. It’s a great place to swap tips and celebrate each month’s dish together.
Important Dates
Monday, October 4, 2021 – First day to submit entries.
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 – Last day to submit your photo and comment.
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 – Winners will be randomly selected and announced on the blog and social media.
The Prize
Two winners will each receive a $100 Target gift card. Winners are chosen at random from comments posted between October 4 and October 26, 2021. Announcements will be made on the final Wednesday of the month.
Charity of the Month
Each month we partner with a charity. For October we recognize Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and are supporting the Star Legacy Foundation. This organization focuses on prevention, research, education, and family support related to pregnancy loss and stillbirth—an issue that’s personally meaningful to our team.
We will match and double the giveaway contribution to donate $400 to the Star Legacy Foundation in October.
Donate
If you’d like to support the cause, please consider donating to the Star Legacy Foundation or contributing in a way that feels right for you. Every bit helps families affected by pregnancy and infant loss.