Salsa Chili

Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 20 min.

Makes

5 servings

Updated: Jun. 30, 2023
You'll need just five ingredients to stir up this quick-and-easy chili from Jane Bone of Cape Coral, Florida. "We like to use medium salsa for zippy flavor, but sometimes I use half mild and half medium," she notes. "Sprinkle hearty servings with shredded cheddar cheese and other tasty toppings," Jane suggests.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 jar (16 ounces) salsa
  • 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (5-1/2 ounces) tomato juice
  • Shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green peppers, sour cream and thinly sliced green onions, optional

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, cook the beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the salsa, beans and tomato juice; heat through. Serve with the cheese, peppers, sour cream and onions if desired.
Chili Peppers - What's Hot?
When it comes to chili peppers, some are hotter than others. Can you please provide some guidance? TOH: When it comes to rating chili peppers' heat, looks don't help: It's the seeds and membranes that count. Scoville Heat Units (SHU), named after researcher Wilbur Scoville and used by heat experts, indicate the amount of capsaicin, a potent compound that gives chilies their sizzle. Although the method for determining SHUs relies heavily on subjectivity, the scale is a respectable gauge. Use the following information from chiliworld.com to put the heat into perspective: Sweet bell pepper - 0 Cubanelle pepper - 100-1,000 Texas Pete Hot Sauce, T.W. Garner Food Co. - 747 Anaheim pepper - 500-2,500 Poblano pepper - 1,000-2,000 Jalapeno pepper - 2,500-5,000 Chipotle pepper (a smoked jalapeno) - 5,000-10,000 Serrano pepper - 6,000-23,000 Tabasco brand Habanero Sauce, McIlhenny Co. - 7,000-8,000 Cayenne pepper - 30,000-50,000 Habanero pepper - 100,000-350,000
Peppers (Hot)
Wear disposable gloves when cutting hot peppers; the oils can burn skin. Avoid touching your face.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 264 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 44mg cholesterol, 718mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 7g fiber), 21g protein.