The canned pantry staple that pairs with salsa for the easiest chili ever

A bowl of hot chili is one of my favorite meals as the temperature outside begins to drop. While some might have a penchant for their own homemade version that they make over and over again, others may opt to get a cup of Wendy’s legendary chili instead. However, if you don’t have that recipe that works for you and you’re not in the mood to head to your favorite fast food restaurant, “lazy chili” is the trick for you.

Invented by food blogger Jessie May, lazy chili is an easy-to-make meal that technically only has two ingredients, one of which is a canned pantry staple. Despite its simplicity, this easy chili recipe produces delicious results. The base is none other than salsa, which contains many of the ingredients needed to make chili. Although it’s not as filling as salsa, the second ingredient in lazy chili is just as essential to the final product: canned beans can help turn salsa into a delicious bowl of chili in just a few minutes.

Read more: 10 weeknight meals to make with a roast chicken

Lazy Chili Is As Easy As It Sounds

Aside from combining salsa and canned black or pinto beans, lazy chili is as simple as simmering the two ingredients in a pot or pan and stirring as needed. Once heated, you can eat it on its own or pour it over hot dogs or potatoes.

The beauty of this chili is that it is not only easy but also customizable. While salsa accounts for many of the seemingly endless amounts of single ingredients in a chili recipe, the lack of other elements in lazy chili allows you to focus only on the quality of the two ingredients you need. This means you can choose your favorite salsa brand, flavor, or spice level to make the chili taste the way you want. Additionally, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try experimenting with fancier beans to see if they also improve the taste of your chili.

Additionally, if you have more ingredients, you can use the lazy chili base to create slightly more complex recipes. Introducing additional seasonings, peppers, or even ground beef to your canned salsa and bean combination can add more to the meal without compromising ease of preparation. Using canned beans and salsa to make your chili could be the game changer you’re looking for on a cold winter night.

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