Walt Disney's Own Chili & Beans
Submitted by jesterd
Walt Disney’s personal chili recipe with dried pinto beans, ground beef, tomatoes, and a spicier variation. Slow-simmered from scratch, straight from Mickey’s Gourmet Cookbook.
YIELD
4 servingsPREP
15 minCOOK
3 hrsREADY
11 hrsStraight from the pages of Mickey’s Gourmet Cookbook, this is the chili recipe Walt Disney himself reportedly enjoyed. No shortcuts, no canned beans. You start with dried pintos, soak them overnight, and simmer them low and slow until they’re creamy and tender.
The meat sauce builds separately: ground beef browned with garlic, celery, chili powder, paprika, and thyme, then simmered with canned tomatoes until thick and deeply seasoned.
Combine the two, let them meld for another half hour, and you’ve got a hearty, from-scratch chili that earns every minute of its cook time.
Variations
- Spicier version: Add a pinch each of coriander, turmeric, fennel, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger with a small hot chili pepper for a complex, warming heat.
- Turkey swap: Use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter take that still holds up to the spice.
- Vegetarian: Skip the meat entirely and double the beans. Add diced bell peppers and corn for substance.
Chef Tips
- Don’t skip the overnight soak. It cuts hours off the cooking time and gives you evenly tender beans.
- Break the tomatoes up with a wooden spoon right in the pot. No need to chop them beforehand.
- This chili gets even better the next day after the flavors have had time to settle in together.
Ingredients
Directions
Wash, sort and soak beans in cold water overnight.
Drain; place in 2 quart saucepan.
Add water to cover 2 inches over beans.
Add onions and simmer in covered pot until tender, 2 hours.
Meanwhile, heat oil in large sauce pot; sauté garlic until lightly browned.
Add celery and beef; cook.
Add chili powder, paprika, and thyme.
Break up tomatoes with spoon and mix with meat mixture; cover, simmer 1 hour.
When beans are tender, combine with meat, stirring gently.
Salt and pepper and add additional spices if desired, cook 30 mins.
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