When you know you have a half a pound of ground pork and a half a pound of ground beef in the freezer and you’ve already shot your grocery budget to hell, what do you have for dinner? Chili!

If you keep a well stocked pantry, the beef and pork might be the only thing you have to purchase. Its really easy. Saute and simmer. And its delicious. There are a lot of chili chefs out there with their secret ingredients and age old recipes, but when all you need is dinner on the cheap and its cold outside, this will do just fine.

You can add really anything you have lying around that might be good. Some diced carrots (throw in after the onions and garlic), turnips, potatoes or parsnips can go in after the tomatoes.  

Pantry Chili:

2 Onions, sliced (or however many you happen to have)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 pound ground pork

1/2 pound ground beef

1 32 oz can canned tomatoes (whole, diced, pureed…it doesn’t matter)

1 can kidney beans (or black, white, pinto…again, it doesn’t matter), drained

Chili powder, red pepper flakes, cumin, salt, pepper to taste

Saute the onions in whatever fat you like, I used bacon fat, but canola oil will do. Add the garlic, saute until transparent. Add the meat. Saute until mostly cooked.

Add the tomatoes and the beans. Add any seasonings you like. Simmer until chili reaches your desired consistency or until you’re too hungry to simmer it anymore.

Serve with grated cheddar or sour cream.