- 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 pound of lean ground beef
- 1 cup of chopped onion
- 3 cloves of garlic, finely minced
- 1 envelope of ranch dressing mix
- 1 envelope of taco seasoning mix
- 1 can of diced tomatoes,undrained
- 1 can of Rotel diced tomatoes,undrained
- 1 can of green chilies,undrained
- 4 cups of beef broth or stock
- 1 can of chili beans, undrained
- 1 can of kidney beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 can of pinto beans, drained & rinsed
- 1 can of whole kernel corn,drained
- Finely shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese, for garnish, optional
- Chopped fresh tomato, for garnish, optional
- Diced avocado, for garnish,optional
- Shredded lettuce, for garnish,optional
- Homemade or commercial tortilla strips, for garnish,optional
- Sour cream, for garnish,optional
Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat, add the ground beef and onion and cook until beef is browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Add the garlic and cook another minute. Stir in the ranch dressing and taco seasoning packets and cook and stir for another minute. Add the un-drained, diced tomatoes, Rotel tomatoes, and green chilies; cook and stir for 5 minutes. Stir in the beef broth and the undrained chili beans. Drain and rinse the kidney beans and pinto beans; drain the corn and add all to the pot and bring up to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Can hold longer over low heat.
Serve with a sprinkle of cheese, chopped tomato, diced avocado, tortilla chips, green onion and a dollop of sour cream, or your own favorite toppings, if desired. 6 servings
Cook’s Notes: This is the mix of beans and veggies that I use, but with a well stocked pantry, you can vary the recipe according to your own tastes, using a variety of substitutes. I also like to add in 1/2 pound of raw sausage such as breakfast, Italian sausage or bratwurst along with the ground beef. Swap the beef for ground turkey or use cooked, shredded chicken for a different twist.
For the Crockpot: Brown the meat, drain and add it with remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 1 hour, reduce and hold on low until needed.