Adapted from thekitchn.com with tweeks from kitchnbitch

Ingredients

* The Proteins: (Select one pound-single protein or mixed)
Ground beef
Ground pork
Ground buffalo
Ground turkey

* The Vegetables: (Select four or five)
1 cup diced onions
3 chopped garlic cloves
1 diced bell pepper
1 cup celery
1 7 oz can roasted and chopped green chili
1 Jalapeno chili, chopped with or without seeds
1 tbsp Adobo Sauce (from chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)

* The Beans: (Select one 16-oz can)
Black beans
Pinto beans
Kidney beans

* The Seasonings: (Select two or three)2 tbsp. ground chipotle
2 to 3 tbsp. ground dried chiles of your choice (pasilla is milder, anaheim and serrano are spicier)
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tbsp. ground cumin
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp. ground cocoa powder – this mixes very well with red chiles, but don’t use this if you’re adding cumin, oregano or chipotle.)
1 tbsp. finely ground coffee beans – like ground chocolate, it mixes well with red chiles.

* The Liquids: (Select one)
1/2 a bottle of pale ale
1/2 a bottle of a dark brown beer, like porter

* The Must-Haves:
1 28-oz can of diced or crushed tomatoes, with liquid
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)

* The Garnishes: (Select as many as you want)
Chopped fresh cilantro
Shredded cheddar
Shredded hot pepper jack cheese
Sour cream
Raw diced onions
Chopped scallions
Diced avocado
Crumbled Fritos

Tools
A sharp knife
A cutting board
A big pot

1. Brown the protein in a large pot. Remove, set aside, drain the fats.

2. Add 2 tbsp. of oil to the pan and cook the vegetables until soft. Add the protein back to the pot and add the seasonings.

3. Add the beans, tomatoes, and liquids. Add salt & pepper and taste. Adjust seasonings if needed. Let simmer, partially covered, for a hour. Stir every 20 minutes.

4. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Serve with garnishes of your choice.