Pete's Chili for a Party
January 16, 2026 • 0 comments
This recipe is especially great if you are feeding a crowd. Use a Nesco type roaster to set it and forget it so that you can enjoy your family and friends. All of the ingredients are ratios which can be tailored to the number of pounds of meat you are using. If you're feeding a hungry family or a basketball team this is a great go to recipe.
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Servings: Scaleable
Ingredients
- (28 oz = 1 can) 1 can or frozen petite diced tomatoes
- (1 can = 15.5 oz) Beans: red or black beans of choice
- (1) Large Yellow Onion
- (1) Bell Pepper, any color
- (To Taste) Poblano Pepper (optional)
- (1-2) Pressed Garlic Cloves
- (1-8) Ground Beef
- (1-8) Ground Pork
- (1-2) Italian Sausage - Ground
- (1/2-1 oz) Chili Powder
- (1 tsp) Salt
- (1 tsp) Cumin
- (2 tsp) Paprika
- (To taste) Ground Pepper
- (1 TBS) Brown Sugar (optional)
- (To Serve) Hot Sauce, Shredded Cheddar, Sour Cream
Directions
How Much to Make
- 1# ground meat serves ~3½-4 people
- Do not exceed 8# of meat per 22-qt Nesco roaster
- Amounts in the ingredients list are for 1# of ground meat, scale as needed. i.e. if your making 5# of meat use 5 peppers and 5 onions etc.
Meat options
- Ground beef, Ground Italian Sausage, 50/50 ground beef + ground pork (recommended)
Cooking Instructions
1. Brown the Meat
- Brown all meat thoroughly.
- Drain excess fat if needed.
2. Season the Meat
- Season immediately after draining.
- Add:
- Chili powder, salt, cumin, paprika, pepper, optional brown sugar
- Add a small splash of water to help spices coat evenly.
3. Add Remaining Ingredients
- Stir in:
- Onions, Garlic, Peppers, Tomatoes (with juice), Beans (drained or not — your call)
Tip (Dutch oven, stovetop):
If cooking on the stove, sauté onions, garlic, and peppers first to speed things up, then add meat back in with tomatoes and beans.
4. Simmer
- Nesco roaster: 3–4 hours on low/medium
- Stir occasionally.
- Taste and adjust seasoning: for more heat, add more chili powder, for a hint of sweetness add brown sugar.
Notes & Tips
- This chili improves with time — longer simmer = better flavor.
- Always under-season early; you can add more later.
- Scales cleanly from 2# to full roaster batches.
- Have fun with different kinds of cheese, hot sauces and crackers to serve.
