Make a delicious homemade, no-waste bean chilli

Put your cooking skills to the test with this week's Activity Packs and cook a delicious homemade bean chilli with your flatmates 🫘

Order a Halls Life Activity Pack for Wednesday 22nd April and receive the ingredients needed - click here to book an Activity Pack! If you don't manage to get your hands on a pack this week, no problem you can catch the recipe below ⬇️

This recipe is a great base for adding your own twist and using up ingredients that you might have hanging around! You can add extra veggies and beans to bulk it out, add extra flavour and save your cupboard essentials from going to waste.

Halls Life Bean Chilli tips:

✅ want to turn up the heat? add chilli flakes! chipotle chilli flakes will add a smokey flavour

✅ check the freezer - have you got any frozen veg or mince to add to the recipe?

✅ want to make this chilli non-veggie? try turkey mince for a cheaper alternative to beef mince 

✅ got spare veggies to add? chopped peppers, carrots, celery, and courgette always go well with chilli

✅ got leftovers? save a portion and freeze it ready for a busy exam season coming up

✅ dig around the back of your cupboards and use up items like:

• paprika (good for a smokey flavour)

• worcesteshire sauce or soy sauce (for more depth)

• tomato puree or a tablespoon of sugar (for a sweetness)

• more beans (for protein) 

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp oil

• 2 onions

• 4 cloves garlic or 2 tsp garlic powder

• 2 cans chopped tomatoes

• 2 cans of beans (kidney, mixed, black beans)

• 2–4 tsp chilli powder (adjust to heat preference)

• 2 tsp ground cumin

• Salt + pepper to taste

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over a low-medium heat.

2. Add chopped onions and cook for 5 minutes until soft.

3. Add garlic (fresh or powdered) and cook 1 minute.

4. Pour in chopped tomatoes and stir.

5. Add drained beans.

6. Stir in chilli powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.

7. Simmer gently for 15–20 minutes until thickened.

8. Taste and adjust spices as needed.

What to pair your chilli with

Chilli is one of those recipes that go with pretty much anything meaning you can pair it with whatever you already have in. Take a look what you have going spare and you might surprise yourself on what you can use:

• Rice - classic side that works well with chilli, especially if you've added heat to your chilli
• Jacket potato - got a spare spud hanging about? Top your baked potato with chilli and cheese
• Potato skins - rather than throwing your potato skins away, bake or pop them in an air fryer for a quick, crispy and nutritious side 
• Tortilla chips - you don't need fancy chips to make tasty tortilla chips! Got leftover wraps? Place on a baking tray and bake for just a few minutes for homemade chips
• Pasta - if you don't have any other sides in, pasta will do the trick too!
• Fries - got leftover chips in the freezer? Turn them into chilli loaded fries and top with cheese!

Check out what Activity Packs are coming up next 🔗