Classic Chili or Wisconsin Style Chili
Classic Chili or Wisconsin Style Chili
This is our recipe for Classic Chili or Wisconsin Style Chili. It’s a recipe I have been making for many years. I always made a big pot of this delicious chili every year on Halloween. Nothing hits the spot better than a hot, steamy bowl of chili when you come in from the cold. Serve with lots of buttered saltine crackers and a sprinkle of shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Doesn’t get much better than that! This chili is perfect.
Thank-you John Davis
In early December I was contacted by John Davis from public radio station located in La Crosse Wisconsin. John asked if I would be willing to talk about my recipe for Wisconsin-style chili. Shocked and tongue tied (first time for everything) I said yes. We talked over the phone and then set up a Zoom meeting, (another first) and John explain the types of questions he was going to ask, and so on and so forth.
On the day of our Zoom meeting I was slightly nervous. When the meeting began I realized that John was friendly and super easy to talk too. The meeting no sooner started and I could feel my motor-mouth start. When I get nervous I start excessively, yes I ramble on even more than normal. My hubby warned me not to ramble but I very seldom listen to him anyway, so on and on I went:) Thanks again John for this wonderful experience, another first for me:)
Long Story Short
To make this long story short, in my humble culinary opinion, Wisconsin Style Chili is a recipe that gets handed down through families. Each family might add their own “flair” to the basic recipe which is consists of tomato-based “stock”, if you will, ground beef, kidney beans, and elbow macaroni. John asked me, “Why is Wisconsin style chili made with elbow macaroni?” Back in the day, when families were large, moms had to feed a family on a tight budget, and chili was often the answer. Also, way back when, there wasn’t a large variety of boxed pasta to choose from at the local Red Owl or Piggy Wiggly.
Check out
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Recipe Has Changed Over Time
Wisconsin Style Chili
If you aren’t from the Upper Midwest you are probably wondering why this recipe is called Wisconsin Style Chili. If you are from the Upper Midwest, you know why:) Here in the Upper Midwest, and definitely in my family, chili isn’t chili unless it has noodles or elbow macaroni added to it. Another Upper Midwest absolute must, the only beans added to chili are kidney beans. With that being said, here are a few other “rules”
A Few Rules
Classic Wisconsin Style is never served “over” the noodles, noodles are added to the chili. Grated cheddar cheese can be served on top of the chili, but this is a recent development (at least in my family). The only beans used are light or dark red kidney beans. Chili powder is usually the only seasoning added besides salt and pepper. Always add chopped onion and celery, maybe chopped green peppers. Ground beef is the meat of choice.
Optional Ingredients
The recipe below for Classic Chili or Wisconsin Style Chili, that my sister Barb gave me 40 years ago. The ingredients that have an * after it, indicates that ingredient was added over the years. Never ever serve Wisconsin Style chili with oyster crackers. Saltines only! Give both recipes a try, the classic version and the spicier version. Let me know which one you like best:)
I guess it would be a fair statement to say, that this recipe with the added ingredients (* after it) breaks a few of the “rules.” Yes, That would be correct. But sometimes rules are meant to be broken! Another recipe that will hit the spot on a cold day, Easy Tortellini Lentil Soup
Classic Chili or Wisconsin Style Chil
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage*
- 4 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced*
- 1 46 oz can tomato juice
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes with diced green chilies*,
- 1 4 oz can diced green chilies*
- 2 10 3/4 oz cans condensed tomato soup, undiluted
- 1 soup can water
- 1 14 oz can beef broth*
- 1 16 oz can kidney beans
- 1 15 oz can black beans*,
- 2 16 oz cans chili beans in chili sauce, hot or mild*
- 2 to 4 tablespoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes*
- 3 bay leaves*
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 envelope chili seasoning mix, (McCormick)*
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups cavatappi noodles or noodles of your choice, cooked and drained
- shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese*
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, brown ground beef, sausage, celery, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain. Add tomato juice, diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes with green chilies, diced green chilies, tomato soup, water, beef broth, kidney beans, black beans, chili beans, chili powder, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, brown sugar, envelope chili seasoning mix, salt and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour or longer.
- Stir in noodles, cook, uncovered for 10 minutes or until heated through.
- Before serving, discard bay leaves and top bowls of chili with shredded cheese.
Notes