Stephanie's Five Bean Chili

Dave getting ready for the Air Force Game at Falcon Stadium.

The original recipe came off a McCormick's package for White Chicken Chili. Someone at the store told me it was terrific. I bought a couple and discovered that it was delicious. Not as tomato-tangy as regular chili and definitely not as spicy. But it was a little bland. So one day while shopping down the canned bean aisle. I noticed there was a sale on canned beans. I had never really even noticed all the different varieties of beans. So during this "sale" I made it a point to buy two of each different canned bean offered. So I got Pinto, Black Bean, Red Bean, Red Kidney Bean, White Kidney Bean, Navy Bean, and Great Northern Bean. Once home I decided to add color to this otherwise "white" chili by adding the different beans. The results were terrific!

A couple of years ago, the whole Colorado Clan got tickets for the Air Force/Navy Game at the Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs. A friend pulled up his fifth wheel and we tailgated. There was a variety of foods brought by everyone. And a couple of chili dishes too! Mine was the one most complimented. My nephew Jeremy Waldschmidt, former Navy man and married to my niece Jenna, told me it was the best chili he had ever had. Navy won that day! But here is my award winning Five Bean Chili.



Chase, Jenna & Jeremy Waldschmidt



Stephanie's Five Bean Chili:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 lb ground chicken or turkey (you can also use diced chicken or turkey instead)

1 lg onion diced

2 - 8 oz cans diced tomatoes with liquid

2 - 3 packages of McCormick's White Chicken Chili Mix

Chose 5 different varieties of beans: Pinto, Black Bean, Red Bean, Red Kidney Bean, White Kidney Bean, Navy Bean, or Great Northern Bean drain drain liquid.

4 cups of chicken broth - paste or powder mixed with water or actual broth from can.

Add olive oil and onions to a frying pan cook about 2 minutes and then add the ground chicken or ground turkey along with one package of the McCormick's White Chicken Chili Mix. (If using cooked diced chicken or turkey wait until the end to add). Cook until the meat is brown and cooked. Transfer over to crock pot - turn on to high heat. Add both cans of diced tomatoes. Then add 5 varieties of beans to the crock pot after draining their liquid. Finally add 4 cups of chicken broth and the remaining 1 2 packages of  McCormick's White Chicken Chili Mix.  You can add one and after about 3 hours of cooking taste and add another if you think it needs more flavor. If adding already cooked meat like chicken, turkey or even pork, add now. Cook this on high heat for at least 4 hours then lower high. But the longer this cooks the more flavorful it gets. But 4 hours is the minimum.

Serve in bowls with any of the following garnishes: diced onion, cheese, sour cream, diced scallions, diced chives, avocado, and corn chips.

Tip: If you buy one of those new crock pots with the clamp on lid, it makes a great dish to transport for potluck, tailgating, football, picnic or BBQ.