Chili help

livinitup

I made a chili in the crock pot today. The flavor came out a bit flat. Its a very simple combo of ground beef, garlic, beans, crushed tomatoes, sweet onions, red peppers, crushed tomaotes, tomato paste, chilis, cumin, chili powder - but usually tastes great. This time I added a little canned tomatoe sauce and some extra tomato paste - would that make a difference?

It usually tastes better. Should I add something to bring-up the flavor? What can I do? - or just wait until I add the usual stuff on top (red onions, cheese, sour cream, hot sauce)??

JoBell123

When I make chilli, the spices I use are chili powder, cajun seasoning, diced tomatoes w/green chilis, 1 cup of beer, and some chocolate syrup.

I make it vegetarian, though and use black beans, kidney beans and small white beans.

livinitup

I'm reaching for the chocolate syrup right now!

UDscoobychick

If you added a lot of canned tomato sauce, it might dilute out the spices a bit, but that doesn't seem like the case.  Sometimes when flavor is flat, I find it just needs a bit more salt...maybe check your salt level?

laptopprancer

I agree with adding salt.

 

lillyofthelord

Yes, tomato sauce makes a big difference.  

I usually use pasta sauce when I make chili because it's thicker and sometimes you can choose pasta sauce with onions or meat in them already, so it adds to the flavor of it.  Once I ran out of pasta sauce and used tomato sauce instead, and it really messed it up -- too liquidy and not enough flavor.

I also take a short-cut on the seasonings and add a pack of hot chili seasoning as well as the regular seasonings.

Here's what I use:

ground beef, pasta sauce, black beans, chili beans, salt, pepper, garlic powder, basil, chili powder, onions, a few chopped tomatoes (not too much for fear of wateriness), and a pack of hot chili seasoning. 

 I hope this helps!

Pecswife

I cheat with taco seasoning