Make your own chili seasoning mix in bulk to have on hand any time you want to whip up a quick pot of chili! Not only does it taste great, but since you control the ingredients, there are none of the icky preservatives that can be found in store-bought mix.

Are y’all ready for spring yet? Because I, for one, have had just about enough of this cold weather. I’m also ready to move on from all of the germs and viruses that have plagued my household all winter long. From croup to strep to colds to flu to stomach viruses to chicken pox, it’s been a rough few months around here.

Alas, Phil saw his shadow and Mr. Meteorologist is predicting more winter weather to come, so on the upside, that means that at least I can keep cranking out my favorite, comforting, warm-you-up type meals for a little while longer. One of our favorites — year-round, actually — is chili. Regardless of the season or the weather, it seems that we eat chili every month of the year. Right now we prefer to enjoy it straight-up in a bowl, with assorted toppings and a side of hot, buttered cornbread. But even as the temperatures begin to thaw, we’ll enjoy chili dogs and Frito pies right on through the summer.

So with all of that chili making and chili eating going on, it only makes sense that I would save myself a little bit of time by whipping up a homemade chili seasoning mix. Now I know that everyone has seen and possibly purchased the chili mix packets in the grocery store. And most of those are all well and good until you examine the ingredients. I try to avoid preservatives and artificial additives when possible, so when it comes to dry pantry staples, I like to take control over the ingredients that my family ingests by making my own mixes. From taco seasoning to chocolate chip cookie mix to chili seasoning to the numerous other mixes that I plan on sharing in the upcoming months, I’ve got you covered. 😉

Not only is this chili mix great for making, well, chili, but a sprinkle of it can also be used to season ground beef or turkey for a variety of other uses. When making actual chili, however, after you’ve mixed in your chili seasoning into your ground beef, you are empowered to add as much cayenne as you would like (or none at all for mild chili). And don’t leave out the last step of adding corn meal (or masa harina, if you can find it) to your chili towards the end of the cooking time. It really does contribute a depth of flavor that is otherwise sorely lacking.

Finally, this Texas girl knows better than to add beans to chili around these parts, but feel free to toss in a can of pintos if it’s not sacrilege to do so in your neck of the woods. 😉

So save yourself some time on busy weeknights (and simultaneously feel good about what you’re feeding your family) by stocking your pantry with a jar of this chili seasoning mix. I know you are probably thinking to yourself, well gee, it doesn’t take that long to measure out the spices to make chili! But just think of how much faster it would be not to have to get out all of those little spice bottles and different sized measuring spoons. There’s a reason that all of those pre-made mix packets at the grocery store are so popular…every minute counts when you’re trying to throw dinner together in a hurry while assisting one child with homework and helping another kid find a Lego, all with a screaming toddler clinging to your leg. Oh wait, is that just me? Regardless, do a little bit of measuring and mixing now, and make future meal prep faster and easier…because who wouldn’t appreciate that?

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And see all of our PRINTABLES <<< here!

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