What’s better? Chili with beans or chili without beans?
It’s a debate that has raged for years. This question ignites passion and can sometimes even flare tempers. For some, it’s a war! Thankfully, this war is waged with stomachs and not weapons.Ok, we may be exaggerating a bit, but the fact remains (as silly as it seems) some people have very strong stances as to whether beans belong in chili or not.
For the most part, it’s a geographical thing. In Texas, chili without beans is the norm. This sentiment is carried throughout many southern states. However, hop on the interstate and head north and you’ll find that many kitchens will be cooking up pots of chili exclusively with beans.
Is there a right side? Is there a wrong side? Obviously, we like our chili with plenty of beans, but there are two sides to every story.
Chili without beans
By almost all accounts, chili as we know it started in the great state of Texas. Prepared as a quick and easy feast for ranchers and cattle drivers to make out on the range, the base of the recipe is classic chili con carne, Spanish for chilies with meat. Many are quick to point out that if beans were meant to be in chili it would have been called chili con frijoles. It could be easily prepared with local resources like chilis, onions, garlic and fresh locally-grown beef.
Then, in the early 1900’s,the mythos of beanless chili continued to grow with the arrival of the Chili Queens in Texas. Offering food, shelter and musical entertainment to travelers, these kitchens were famous serving up a meat and chili stew without beans. Historians mark this as the firmest roots to classic Texas chili.
Seeing as chili really began in Texas, many won’t accept anything other than authentic Texas-style chili (without beans) as being “real chili.”
Chili with beans
As times grew tough for families during the Great Depression, the simple and cheap recipe for chili began to appear more and more on tables across the country, not just in Texas. However, with meat sometimes being expensive or a luxury, chefs had to seek out meat alternatives. Enter the humble bean!
Meaty, hearty and ever-so rich in protein, the bean became the perfect substitute for chili recipes when meat was not available. But, a tradition was born as homes continued to add beans to their pots of chili, either by themselves or even alongside meat. Cooks and eaters alike appreciated the textures and tastes that beans brought to the dish. As for the right bean for the job? While chili can be made with any kind of bean, kidney beans have emerged as the favorite.
The comparison can (and has) been made that chili without beans is really just a meat sauce, like a spicier Italian-style sauce you would serve over spaghetti. Chili with beans is much more substantial and can stand better by itself, some say.
The Verdict
No matter what side of this debate you fall on, one thing is certain, you probably aren’t going to change your mind anytime soon. People like their chili the way they prefer because of where they come from, how they grew up and what they were first introduced to as a kid. Those opinions are hard to change.
But we can all agree on this: with or without beans, chili is awesome! For football parties, warming up during the fall and winter or just feeding a lot of mouths at once, chili is always a great choice whether it has beans in it or not.
However, it’s also important to expand your horizons, both culturally and culinarily. It gives you perspectives intodifferent ways of life and different ways of thinking. So, even if you are the most die-hard chili con carneconnoisseur or a brave bean loyalist, see what’s on the other side of the fence every now and then.
For you bean lovers, you may find a new favorite. For you non-bean eaters, you may just find something you like after all like White Bean Chicken Chili or Black Bean Chorizo Chili.
This recipe can be made with either Randall Great Northern Beans or the Randall Organic Great Northern Beans.
FAQs
For the most part, it's a geographical thing. In Texas, chili without beans is the norm. This sentiment is carried throughout many southern states. However, hop on the interstate and head north and you'll find that many kitchens will be cooking up pots of chili exclusively with beans.
Does it matter what kind of beans you use in 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.
Are beans optional in chili? ›
Texans in particular are likely to reject beans; in fact, the no-bean version is often referred to as Texas chili. Chili that's added to other dishes (chili dogs and chili burgers, for example) doesn't usually have beans, either. And, of course, some people just don't like beans!
What is the difference between Texas chili and regular chili? ›
What primarily distinguishes Texas chili from other chili recipes you might find is a lack of beans, but it also doesn't feature any tomatoes. It is, largely, a ground beef dish that's seasoned with a spicy chili paste made of dried peppers.
Does Gordon Ramsay put beans in chili? ›
Gordon Ramsay's recipe for chili con carne includes onion, a red chili pepper, fresh tomatoes, and kidney beans. Ramsay's chili recipe is lengthy — it includes everything from ground cumin and sweet paprika to a cinnamon stick, ground beef or beef mince, and garlic.
Does the South put beans in chili? ›
In all likelihood, beans have long been a part of chili, even in Texas. And while purists will argue the point until they're red in the face, that fight doesn't hold sway with historians like Guerra. Cowboys mixed chili and beans on their tin plates according to the Chili Appreciation Society International.
What not to put in chili? ›
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.
Does authentic chili have beans? ›
As purists would have it, traditional red (chili con carne) hasn't changed much over the years. It still consists of meat, red chili peppers, and spices—no beans, rice, pasta, or other fillers, aside from vegetables, according to ICS criteria.
Do most people put beans in chili? ›
The majority of us believed that beans are an essential part of our favorite chili recipes, but there were a few caveats. According to our Associate Culinary Producer Justin Sullivan, "BEANS GO IN CHILI unless it's specifically called 'Texas' chili."
What is a chili without beans called? ›
No bean chili, also known as Texas chili or Chile con carne, is a spicy stew made without any beans. It traditionally contains meat (usually ground beef), tomatoes, peppers, onions, aromatics and flavorful spices.
What is a California chile? A California chili is dried Anaheim pepper. It is a dark burgundy color with wrinkled and dehydrated skin. These peppers can be five to seven inches long and two to three inches wide.
Is chili real chili without beans? ›
Chili's Popularity and Recipe Adaptations
The ICS defines Traditional Red Chili as "any kind of meat, or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices, and other ingredients. Beans and non-vegetable fillers such as rice and pasta are not allowed."
Does all beef chili have beans? ›
Chili con carne usually is made with beans. Now I was born and raised in Texas and I make a good beanless chili, but ~90% of the chilis I've seen and eaten have had beans in them.
Is chili healthier with or without beans? ›
Bring On the Beans
But for health purposes, you don't want to skip them—whether you're using them in place of or in addition to meat. Adding just 1 cup of beans to your recipe adds about 15 grams of protein, up to 15 grams of fiber, plus potassium, folate, and other nutrients.
What is the difference between chili and chili con carne? ›
Traditional chili con carne has red kidney beans, but they can be left out if you wish. What is the difference between chili and chili con carne? Chili refers to the actual fruit/pepper while chili con carne is a spicy beef stew.
