
Crock Pot Chili Poor Man Style
I was getting low on groceries. The next pickup slot was 4 days away, so I had to get creative. I guess in these days of having to stay at home are making it hard to get items you need for your pantry.
In the pantry I only had 1 can each of kidney beans and stewed tomatoes. That wasn’t enough for 5 of us so I scrummaged deep to the back.
I found all the different beans and a small can of tomato paste.

These are the INGREDIENTS You will need:
- 1 Can Dark Red Kidney beans
- 1 Can White Chili Beans
- 1 Can Pork and beans
- 1 Can Stewed Tomatoes
- 1 Can Tomato Paste
- 2 Small Zucchini, chopped
- 1 Packet Chili Seasoning
- 1 Can Water
- 1 Small Yellow onion, chopped
These are the INSTRUCTIONS For preparation:
- Prepare crock pot with liner.
- Add all ingredients into crock pot.
- Cook on low 6-8 hours
- Stir and serve.
So I crossed my fingers and fired up the crock pot. It was only a few hours into the cook time when I could smell the delicious aroma of all the beans marinating together with the tomatoes.
Eventually the family could smell it too. My husband found a bag Frito scoops corn chips to add to the meal.
We divided up the chili into our 5 bowls pouring it over a layer of the corn chips. My son sprinkled a bit of cheese and a dollop of sour cream on his portion.
This was the best chili I have ever made. It sounds a bit unconventional though. Each of the beans brought out their flavor and didn’t compete with each other. The additional seasonings added a subtle heat to the chili.
This recipe is a keeper for sure. And it is a great use of those leftover ingredients that alone isn’t enough for another dish.
When you don’t have all the ingredients you need you need to raid the pantry. That means you just have to throw ingredients together and cross your fingers. This Chili is better than any cookbook recipe I have tried!
Crock Pot Chili Poor Man Style
Ingredients
- 1 Can Dark Red Kidney beans
- 1 Can White Chili Beans
- 1 Can Pork and beans
- 1 Can Stewed Tomatoes
- 1 Can Tomato Paste
- 2 Small Zucchini, chopped
- 1 Packet Chili Seasoning
- 1 Can Water
- 1 Small Yellow onion, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare crock pot with liner.
- Add all ingredients into crock pot.
- Cook on low 6-8 hours
- Stir and serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Disclaimer Unless indicated recipes influenced by cookbooks, magazines or family traditions.
Your Crock Pot Chili Poor Many Style will be delicious! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday, 485!
Miz Helen
Thank you Miz Helen. I look forward to the party. Thank you so much for sharing and enjoy your week!
I had to smile when I read your recipe. Using all kinds of “weird” beans (including chickpeas!) is how I always make my chili, albeit with hamburg or ground turkey! Whenever I find beans on sale, I pick up a few cans for my stash. That’s probably how my “3 bean salad” became 5 bean salad, too! Never would have thot of zukes, but that lowers the carb ratio a bit! I now put all kinds of veggies in my spaghetti sauce in small ratios. Carrots (which I now blend as they can stay tough and they sweeten the sauce!), zukes, summer squash, onions, peppers, mushrooms, black olives, etc. I figure if we are eating veggies, we’re not eating carbs; wish I’d known this when kids were little! Leftover chili and s. sauce have found their ways into my “mystery soups”, too. A friend used to call his soup, “enthusiasm stew” caz he threw everything he had into it!
I love it Kathy!! I am not supposed to have many carbs, and I am learning the same lesson as you. More veggies make your dish heartier and I dont miss the noodles or sugars. You gave some good ides there. I am takng notes!! Venjoy your week.
Love this chili recipe – can’t wait to make it. Thanks for sharing
I was hoping it is something you can eat. Enjoy your day!
Using the canned beans makes it really simple. Good idea. – Margy
Thank you Margy. It really was quite simple to prepare this chili. And it was well worth the the experiement to find the different beans. Enjoy your day!
Looks so good. And easy to make, too!
Thank you Angie. This chili was indeed just an open the the can, dump and go! Thank you for sharing at the party. Have a nice week!
Ms. Marilyn, you are AWESOME!!
You remind me so much of myself, and both of my Grandmas.
I was taught how to cook with anything that you have even if it is just throwing things together and both Grandmoms would say the same thing…”Taste, Taste, and Taste again!” Both of them lived through rationing coupons and I still have the little booklets that they would give out to help people use their rations to the fullest.
This recipe just made me Happy! Happy to read it and also happy for the memories that it brought back. I really can’t wait to try it. I will be making it this afternoon. I have all of the ingredients.
Oh wow Paula!! It is times like this I blog for. To bring back wonderful and warm memories. And to relive those times with your eyes closed. How powerful that is!! These times are exactly like coupon rationing and working together to put little things on the plate and make them special. Our grandmothers are the original recipe creators for sure.
You have made me smile so wide! Even though I am in a very bad thunder and lightening storm right now you have brightened my day!!
Please let me know what you think of the recipe. Hugz.
That sounds really good! I often use red, white, and black beans in ours but have never actually tried pork and beans (in life; not just in my chili).
The pork and beans was the can that made me be quiet. But I was so surprised how Well they mixed the flavors. It added a bit of bacon flavor. Thanks for dropping by and enjoy your week.
I know!! That is where i had to bite my Tongue. But it was great! Added a touch of sweetness to the heat. What a girl! Have a great week.
Pork n Beans in chili? Now that is creative and I’ll be very tasty. TFS
This sounds great! I know that feeling when the pantry is low, yet the first grocery pick up slot is several days away!
It is getting better here. It was 7-10 days and now 3 if you want at 10pm and 5 if you want morning.