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Budget-Friendly Hearty Rice-Stretched Chili

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A budget-friendly, hearty chili stretched with rice that is easy to make, perfect for meal prep, and packed with comforting flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey (or plant-based crumbles for vegetarian)
  • ½ cup uncooked long-grain white rice
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium bell pepper, diced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) canned diced tomatoes with juices
  • 1 can (15 oz) canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) canned black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups beef or vegetable broth (low sodium recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. Chop the onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Drain and rinse the canned beans. Measure out the rice and spices.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef or turkey and cook until browned, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  3. Add chopped onion, garlic, and bell pepper to the pot. Cook until softened, about 4–5 minutes.
  4. Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute to toast the spices, then mix in tomato paste until evenly coated.
  5. Add diced tomatoes with juices, drained beans, broth, and uncooked rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low simmer.
  6. Cover pot with lid slightly ajar and simmer gently for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Add more broth or water if chili becomes too thick.
  7. Taste rice near the end of cooking; it should be tender but not mushy. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  8. Serve hot with optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, or cilantro. A squeeze of fresh lime juice adds brightness.

Notes

Use long-grain white rice to avoid mushy texture. Brown meat well for richer flavor. Simmer gently with lid slightly ajar to prevent scorching. Adjust liquid if chili thickens too much. For vegetarian version, omit meat and use vegetable broth with extra beans or lentils. Brown rice can be used but requires longer cooking time (about 40 minutes) and more broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: chili, budget-friendly, rice-stretched chili, easy chili recipe, meal prep, hearty chili, ground beef chili, turkey chili, vegetarian chili option

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/budget-friendly-hearty-rice-stretched-chili-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-meal-prep/