Does Chili Have Beans In It? Here's What the Cowboys on 'Yellowstone' Think (2024)

FAQs

Did Cowboys have beans in their chili? ›

It was cowboys who brought beef to the dish, but those same cowboys also kept beans in it. According to the Chili Appreciation Society International, chili's spread throughout Texas and other parts of the country began with cattle drives in the mid 19th century.

As purists would have it, traditional red (chili con carne) hasn't changed much over the years. It still consists of meat, red chili peppers, and spices—no beans, rice, pasta, or other fillers, aside from vegetables, according to ICS criteria.

Along the way, chili became associated with cowboy culture, which is, after all, an extension of Spanish and Mexican vaquero traditions. Perhaps these Texans emphasized the "carne" part of chili because beans were already overemployed at the chuck wagon.

Beans in chili? Not if you're from Texas! While some people claim that chili can be made with a variety of ingredients—including beef and bean chili, chipotle chicken chili, or dare we say veggie chili—anyone from the Lone Star State would argue that traditional chili simply does not contain beans.

In a large saucepan, cook ground beef, garlic and onion over medium heat, stirring until beef is browned, about 10 minutes. Drain well. Stir tomatoes with liquid, broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper into beef mixture. Reduce heat to low.

No bean chili, also known as Texas chili or Chile con carne, is a spicy stew made without any beans. It traditionally contains meat (usually ground beef), tomatoes, peppers, onions, aromatics and flavorful spices.

"In Mexico, chili is made from vegetables, including various chili peppers, and seasonings. Chili con carne (with meat) has meat added, and chili beans have beans. We in the U.S. have generalized chili to mean almost anything with chili powder in it.

Local Chili Favorites

Meanwhile, when it comes to the bean debate, Louisiana residents feel even more strongly than Texans and are most likely to leave beans out of their chili altogether.

Can a true Texas chili have beans in it? In the true rebellious spirit of the Lone Star State I'd like to say: Yes, of course, a Texas chili can have beans! To learn more about the history of this “pro-beans” versus “no-beans” debate check out this great article from Texas Cooking and this one from Southern Living.

Chili Con Carne, a.k.a. Texas Red

The chili that was invented in San Antonio is said to be a bowl of "red": tender, individual stewed chunks of beef swaddled in a spicy, cumin-spiked sauce made from red chiles, which lend the dish an appealing russet hue.

What is the difference between Texas chili and regular chili? ›

What primarily distinguishes Texas chili from other chili recipes you might find is a lack of beans, but it also doesn't feature any tomatoes. It is, largely, a ground beef dish that's seasoned with a spicy chili paste made of dried peppers.

No-beans side argue that beans distract your mouth from the beef and spices that chili is supposed to showcase. Texans in particular are likely to reject beans; in fact, the no-bean version is often referred to as Texas chili.

But stories are spread that the beef was too valuable and was limited to be used as food on the cattle drive, so extra protein came from a pot of beans along side the chili pot.

The question of whether beans belong in chili has long been a matter of contention among chili cooks. While it is generally accepted that the earliest chilis did not include beans, proponents of their inclusion contend that chili with beans has a long enough history to be considered authentic.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma Chili

For example, one Tulsa institution known for coney dogs has served its signature no-tomatoes, no-beans chili since 1926.

But stories are spread that the beef was too valuable and was limited to be used as food on the cattle drive, so extra protein came from a pot of beans along side the chili pot. The cowboys then mixed the chili and beans together in a tin plate.

Full of protein and easy to transport without refrigeration, it's easy to see why camp cooks made dried beans a staple. Most modern cowboys and cowgirls are used to canned beans, but our posse… er, family… loves to cook up a pot of dried beans every now and then.

Cowboy Beans Ingredients

There are usually one or more varieties of beans, some smoked meat like bacon or ham, sometimes with ground beef, always with a sweet tangy barbecue sauce. What defines this scratch-cooking version, besides the beans, is a sweet barbecue sauce, smoked meat, and coffee. Yes, coffee.

Beans and potatoes were also by far the two most common vegetables in the old west. They could be cooked quickly and added to a number of dishes, like stews. Beans could also be dried and rehydrated months later.