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Simple Summer Chili

July 23, 2012 by Julie 55 Comments

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When it came time to make dinner this evening, I wanted comfort food. It was pouring outside and a warm, cozy meal sounded appealing. I put on my pajamas, headed into the kitchen and got to work. Hello, chili! This simple summer chili recipe is a great meal anytime.

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Tonight’s chili came together quickly and didn’t require too much work. We let it simmer on the stovetop while doing some stuff around the house, but other than waiting for the chili to soak up all the yummy spices, this dish didn’t require too much time to make.

easy chili 022

Simple Summer Chili

Simple Summer Chili

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Simple Summer Chili

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  • Author: Julie (PB Fingers)
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Category: dinner, recipes
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Description

While this dish doesn’t require too much time to make, the yummy spices satisfy when you are looking for comfort food!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 can low sodium kidney beans, drained
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

  1. Pour olive oil into a large pot on medium heat and add onion and zucchini
  2. Allow vegetables to sauté until onion becomes opaque, about 5 minutes
  3. Add ground beef to vegetables and stir until meat is browned
  4. Drain any excess fat from pan before adding remaining ingredients
  5. Allow to simmer on low for approximately 45 minutes
  6. Enjoy topped with shredded cheese, plain Greek yogurt, sour cream or simply as is

Did you make this recipe?

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Now that our bellies are full of chili, Ryan and I have plans to be lazy and watch a movie. That’s what you’re supposed to do when it’s raining like crazy outside, right?

See ya in the morning!

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I'd love to connect with you! I am always so grateful when you let me know you tried one of my recipes or workouts and tag me in your photos or updates. Thank you so much!!!

Filed Under: Dinner, Recipes Tagged With: beef, chili, dinner, Recipes

About Julie

My name is Julie and I am a full-time blogger, new mama, fitness enthusiast (certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor) and food fanatic (mostly healthy... but also not-so-healthy) living in North Carolina with my husband, dog and baby boy. Thank you for visiting Peanut Butter Fingers! I hope you enjoy little glimpses into my life and have fun trying the sweaty workouts I frequently share and making some of my favorite recipes along the way!

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Comments

  1. Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says

    July 23, 2012 at 8:08 pm

    pajamas, a movie, and chili make for the perfect rainy night in my opinion! pinning that recipe! i looove chili!

    Reply
  2. Brie @ Coxswain's Dilemma says

    July 23, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    I JUST made chili too! No beans, though… and cocoa makes a great addition 😉

    Reply
  3. Kelsey says

    July 23, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    Yum! This looks delicious!

    Reply
  4. Victoria (District Chocoholic) says

    July 23, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    Awesome, I’m not the only one who puts zucchini in chili.

    (Or butternut squash, which is even better come fall.)

    Reply
  5. Shay @ Whine Less, Breathe More says

    July 23, 2012 at 8:39 pm

    Yum chili! I’m currently looking for a good vegetarian chili recipe.

    Reply
  6. Anne@ LoveMintChocolateChip says

    July 23, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    you must have been reading my mind!! tonight as i was cooking dinner i literally said: “i am really craving chili!!!” HA! did you use any vegetable or chicken broth to make it soupy?!?

    Reply
  7. Sam @ Better With Sprinkles says

    July 23, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    I haven’t had chili in so long! I’m not the biggest fan, unless it’s topped with copious amounts of cheese, sour cream or greek yogurt, and crumbled up tortilla chips. Makes it awesome 🙂

    Reply
  8. Brenda says

    July 23, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    I had to chuckle when I saw your post about chili… I just got home a little while ago from a sweaty workout at my local gym…and it’s 95 degrees here today…and I come in the door to my sweet husband cooking…..yep, chili! After I cooled off, it was actually a nice change to have chili in the middle of the summer. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Rachel says

    July 23, 2012 at 9:27 pm

    it’s raining here too! We had comfort food too– pasta 🙂

    Reply
  10. Beks says

    July 23, 2012 at 9:32 pm

    You’re so lucky to be getting rain. We NEED a lot of it here in the midwest! Been over 100 for the last several weeks.

    Reply
  11. Amy says

    July 23, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    My #1 comfort food has to be grilled cheese or brownies

    Reply
  12. Jessica @ New Girl, New City says

    July 23, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    I thought about making chili tonight as I was craving it too, but I backed out.. I wish I hadn’t!

    Reply
  13. Julie says

    July 23, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    Oooh we love chili, a summer chili would be just what the weather ordered 🙂

    Reply
  14. Lindsay @ FuelMyFamily says

    July 23, 2012 at 10:32 pm

    I jsut bought beans today for some chili this week. Even if it is 100 degrees outside, oh well!

    Reply
  15. Steph says

    July 23, 2012 at 10:52 pm

    Do you have any suggestion for workouts for thighs and hips? I do cardio 3x a week and also do weight training. However, when I do weight training for legs I do a lot of lunges, squats, calve raises, leg press, and hip abductor machines… But I never feel like my hips and inner thighs are targeted to be slimmer when doing them. Any suggestions on a specific move that would be good to add to a leg circuit?!

    Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  16. MegS says

    July 23, 2012 at 10:58 pm

    Lucky you are getting rain!! 🙂
    We haven’t had any in awhile where I live 🙁
    Fall needs to hurry up and get here!

    Reply
  17. Danica @ It's Progression says

    July 23, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    I was just craving chili today but thought I’d be nuts to actually make it in July. Thanks for making me feel less crazy : )

    Reply
  18. Suzanne @ Fit Minded Mom says

    July 23, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    If only we could get some rain I would be THRILLED!! I have a feeling it will be several more months before chili seems appetizing but when it does I am coming back for this recipe. It looks delicious!!

    Reply
  19. @pluvk says

    July 23, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    I miss the rain… I know that sounds strange during summer, but it’s been so hot! I’d love for one day of stay-in and cuddle weather. I’m going to have to save this chili recipe for that day!! 🙂

    Reply
  20. Eva @ committed2nutrition says

    July 23, 2012 at 11:21 pm

    Looks delicious! Getting a crock pot when I move into my new place in September.. perfect recipe to let simmer all day when it gets cold here in CT 🙂

    Reply
  21. Annette@FitnessPerks says

    July 23, 2012 at 11:39 pm

    Oh I LOVE chili! Enjoy your night 🙂

    Reply
  22. Rebecca says

    July 23, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    I recently stumbled across your blog when I was searching clean eating on google and I’m so glad i did! I am all the way from Australia and love reading about your healthy lifestyle each day. It is truly motivating and your recipes are great! I was just thinking this morning about how I could add chilli into my diet as i hear it is realllyyyyyyy good for you then I open up your page and this post is here! Freaky! Thank you thank you thank you, and keep up what you are doing!

    Reply
    • peanutbutterfingers says

      July 24, 2012 at 8:32 am

      so glad you found me. thanks for commenting, rebecca!

      Reply
  23. Lisa says

    July 24, 2012 at 12:02 am

    The only way to spend a rainy day in my opinion is with pajamas, hot chocolate, movies, and chilli, just so comforting!
    We get so much rain where I live, so its pretty normal for us to have those rainy days.

    Reply
  24. Khushboo says

    July 24, 2012 at 12:46 am

    Lazy nights in should be a rainy day NECESSITY!

    Reply
  25. Georgia says

    July 24, 2012 at 12:48 am

    So funny I was thinking of making chili and cornbread for my bf tomorrow night but was worried it would be too hot. This sounds perfect. Thank you!

    Reply
  26. Sarah says

    July 24, 2012 at 6:42 am

    And you’ve just convinced me that this chili recipe is perfect for our dinner tonight. I have all these ingredients already on hand-and I’m looking for new ways in eat our abundance of zucchinis yay!

    Reply
  27. Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says

    July 24, 2012 at 7:01 am

    This chili looks and sounds great. It’s so comforting 🙂

    Reply
  28. Kristen @ notsodomesticated says

    July 24, 2012 at 7:21 am

    I love chili … I could care less what time of year it is! That’s what air conditioning is for … right??

    Reply
  29. Cheri @ The Watering Mouth says

    July 24, 2012 at 8:28 am

    This looks great Julie! Isn’t this rain crazy? It’s actually my favorite time of year – I feel so cozy with all these storms!

    Just a quick note – you left out the number of minutes on step 2 of the Directions 😉

    Looks yummy – will add to my arsenal!

    xoxo
    Cheri

    Reply
    • peanutbutterfingers says

      July 24, 2012 at 8:31 am

      ooh! thanks! just updated it.

      Reply
  30. Ross says

    July 24, 2012 at 9:35 am

    The zucchini is a great addition. Can’t wait to make this one!

    Reply
  31. Amanda @ Eat More Rabbit Food says

    July 24, 2012 at 9:50 am

    Looks yummy! I am missing the rain for sure! We are in the middle of a terrible drought. When we do get a good storm, I plan to open every window in the house, grab a blanket and a book and just relax. Maybe I’ll even make some chili =)

    Reply
  32. Kat says

    July 24, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    I think summer has gone on vacation where I live, so I’m definitely going to be making this one…thanks!

    Reply
  33. Jen says

    July 24, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    How big of a can of diced tomatoes do you use? The large selection of canned tomatoes at the store intimidates me.

    Reply
  34. Jen says

    July 24, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    just made this and its delicious! thanks Julie!!

    Reply
  35. Bek @ Crave says

    July 25, 2012 at 5:21 am

    I love your simple uses of spices- I’ll have to try this sometime..my last attempt used like 7 different spices haha.

    Reply
  36. MarthaLoraine says

    July 25, 2012 at 8:40 am

    I stumbled upon your website via pinterest and i love looking at your recipes. I’m defiantly going to make this but i was wondering if you knew about how many servings it makes? I’m probably going to leave the meat out add more beans and make a veggie chili for just me while my boyfriend makes his own chili.

    Reply
  37. Heather (Where's the Beach) says

    July 25, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    Right now chili is the one thing I’m missing and it just seems too hot for it. Love adding in the zucchini.

    Reply
  38. Anna says

    July 30, 2012 at 6:30 pm

    just made this for dinner and eating it as I type…it’s so good! thanks so much for the great idea and recipe!

    Reply
  39. Jchokie says

    August 5, 2012 at 5:08 pm

    Making this right. It’s been raining all day and this seem like the perfect comfort food!

    Reply
  40. Thom says

    August 10, 2012 at 3:41 pm

    Zucchini in Chilli???????????? I don’t think so. (Not me) Please sub jalapeno and/or Cilantro and fresh garlic.

    Reply
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Hi! I’m Julie and I am a mom to three energetic boys and a personal trainer and blogger living in Charlotte, North Carolina. Welcome to my blog! Peanut Butter Fingers follows my life and my interests in food, fitness, family, travel and (mostly) healthy living.
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