Taco Bell Chili

 Surprisingly enough Taco Bell doesn't make chili. It makes everything else Mexican, from chalupas  to burritos to tacos. For some reason chili has always been off the menu. This is odd because they probably could come up with a delicious one. However the average home chef can, using their sauce packets and the usual ingredients and come up with a tasty variation.

This was something I wanted to try. I have tons of Taco Bell sauce packets in my house , thanks to a tendre for their burritos. I used my Mom's chili recipe, and tweaked it. 

I used ten  packets of the mild hot sauce packets along with kidney beans and tomato sauce.

These actually gives the chili a spicy flavor but not overwhelming Ten packets work, You could try less or more. You can also try their extra hot or Diablo strength if you want a two or three alarm chili.

Then there was the usual Morningstar Farm soy beef crumbles

Water, olive oil and a tiny drop of maple syrup were added. I usually use honey but found that maple syrup also works if added in a tiny  amount (think one drop).

Cumin, onion and garlic powders are the spices used. A good dash of each  flavors the chili.

I decided that the kidney beans and crumbles weren't enough so I also added some red beans for more protein and to fill it out.

Everything was cooked in the crockpot on high for two hours. The end result was a flavorful chili, one of the best I've made.I am definitely making all future chilis with the  hot sauce packets from Taco Bell. 

Taco Bell could probably make a great chili but they don't  - and should. we can using their sauce packets to create a tasty variation that's rich in flavor. Use those leftover sauce packets and make it today for a yummy version on this Mexican classic!!!