Hearty Tex-Mex Beef and Bean Chili with Warm Tortillas

Prepare the vegetables: Peel and finely chop 1 medium yellow onion. Wash, core, and dice 1 medium green bell pepper. Peel and mince 3 cloves of garlic.

Open, drain, and rinse 15 oz canned black beans and 15 oz canned great northern beans in a colander.

Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and green bell pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and translucent.

Stir in the minced garlic, 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tbsp ground cumin, and 1 tsp smoked paprika. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to toast the spices and release their fragrance.

Add 2 lb raw ground beef to the pot. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, using a wooden spoon to break the meat into small crumbles, until it is fully browned and no pink remains. Carefully drain off any excess grease from the pot.

Pour in 28 oz canned fire roasted diced tomatoes (with their juices), the rinsed black beans, the rinsed great northern beans, 1 cup water, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients.

Bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 25 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the beans to soften.

Remove the lid and simmer uncovered for an additional 5 minutes to let the chili thicken slightly to your desired consistency.

While the chili finishes simmering, heat a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Warm 4 medium flour tortillas for about 30 seconds per side until soft and slightly charred. Wrap them in a clean kitchen towel to keep warm.

To prepare for Day 7: Measure out exactly half of the cooked chili (approximately 4 cups, containing the equivalent of 1 lb cooked ground beef). Transfer this portion to an airtight container, allow it to cool completely, and store it in the refrigerator for the Day 7 loaded potatoes recipe.

Ladle the remaining half of the chili into two bowls and serve hot alongside the 4 warm flour tortillas.