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California Three Bean Chili ($0.53 per Serving)

California Three Bean Chili ($0.53 per Serving)
My family loves this bean heavy chili in the cold months and all though the
Lenten Season.  This recipe was modified to satisfy my families preferred taste
from the 

McCormick California Three Bean Chili Recipe: 
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon Oil
1 Small-Medium Chopped Onion
1 Large Clove of Garlic
1 Green Bell Pepper, Coarsely Chopped
1 Can (15 oz) or 1 cup of Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 Can (15 oz) or 1 cup of Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
1 Can (15 oz) or 1 cup of Northern or Pinto  Beans, drained and rinsed
1 Can (14 ½ oz) Crushed Tomatoes
½ Cup Water
2 teaspoons Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin, Ground
1 Teaspoon Basil Leaves
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder 
1 Teaspoon Oregano Leaves
½ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper, Ground
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Chop up Onion, Pepper and Garlic
  1. Heat oil in a large saucepan on medium-high heat.  Add onion, garlic and green bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes. (If the mixture starts to burn before finishing sauteing, then just add a tablespoon of water.) 
  1. Stir in beans, tomatoes and remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil 
  1. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  1. Enjoy your chili with all of the fixings (cheese, sour cream and maybe a little cornbread)
Tip 1- Are you a meat lover? No worries- just add 1 lb. of pre-cooked ground
beef or turkey.   I like to pre-cook several pounds and keep it in the freezer in 1
lb bags.   
Tip 2- I also pre-cook beans by the bag and keep them in 1 cup bags in my
freezer.  
Tip 3- Do you have a long day ahead of you and little to no time to make
dinner.  This meal can also be cooked in the slow cooker on low for 6 hours.  
~ Savings ~
Cost Breakdown: 
INGREDIENTS: 
1 Tablespoon Oil= $0.02
1 Small-Medium Chopped Onion= $0.10
1 Large Clove of Garlic= $0.08
1 Green Bell Pepper, Coarsely Chopped=$0.79
1 Can (15 oz) or 1 cup of Black Beans, drained and rinsed= $0.55
1 Can (15 oz) or 1 cup of Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed= $0.55
1 Can (15 oz) or 1 cup of Northern or Pinto  Beans, drained and rinsed= $0.55
1 Can (14 ½ oz) Crushed Tomatoes= $0.40
½ Cup Water= FREE
2 teaspoons Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin, Ground
1 Teaspoon Basil Leaves
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder 
1 Teaspoon Oregano Leaves
½ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper, Ground
** Estimated spices= $0.14
Total Cost: $3.18
Per Serving: $0.53
Meat Lovers: 
1 lb. Ground Turkey= $1.00
Per Serving: $0.70
The Contender: 
Panera’s Turkey Chili
Per Serving: $7.49
Savings:
I used the meat chili prices because at the time of this post, I was unable to
find a vegetarian chili readily available. 
Savings= 90%
“Over the Year Scenario”
Homemade California Chili: 12 x $3.18 = $38.16
Homemade California Chili w/ Meat: 12 x $4.18= $50.16
Panera Turkey Chili:  
  • Pot equivalent= 6 x $7.49 = $44.94
  • 12 x 44.94= $539.28

* Money Saved= $489.12
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