Hey all you Texan's. I'm in New Zealand, shot my first deer a couple of weeks ago and making Chili this weekend. Loving the debate, you lot are classic. Down in this part of the world your not a Kiwi unless you can dive for a Crayfish, Shear 300 sheep in a day and drink 12 pints of beer before driving home. I'm sending everyone who cant over to Texas! Cheers

TEXAS SOY YO.
REAL CHILI, ALso called cowboy chili, what you would get at the chuckwagon, does NOT have beans in it. and it don't have tomatoes either.
it's the meat, off a whack't steer or cow, and lots of chili peppers, that makes it red in the ole days way of making it.
the rest is greenhorn recipin', like sarsaparilla in stead of beer or a drink. pilgrim stuff, like mtha stoowart.

Ok... Personally, I'm not from Texas but I love all kinds of chili :) and chili just isn't chili without beans! It's kinda like saying don't put tomato's in spaghetti sauce.

As someone whose family has been in this state before it was a state, I can assure you that the debate over beans in chili will never die. Many of the cooks in the old times used whatever was available at the time, and beans were always available. At the start of whatever voyage people where on, food was plentiful, not so much near the end. So I'm quite sure that the same cooks who did not use beans in their first pot of chili were using them in their last few pots.

My grandfather had several recipes for chili, and some called for beans and some not. One thing is for certain, the only chili that ain't chili is that junk that people call "chicken chili".

Beans or no beans have a beer and ENJOY

The debate is over, if you put beans your not a true Texan and should probably move ASAP.

Born in Dallas, kin to Sam Houston, live in the oldest town in Texas: real chili ain't got no beans!

Y'all are funny. One person says yes to beans, the next says no. several have given the proper reply that either way is authentic. History proves (as on fella rightly said) that the camp cooks added whatever was on hand to their chilis, stews and soups. Beans are an amazing source of protein besides being a filler when resources are low. 'Nuff said.

"Texas" chili does NOT have beans!!!

This chili was phenomenal, it's easy and quick to cook.

Most of south Texas is more like city. Don't try and explain how or why chili was made in the olden days or even now. You make it how you want it and leave it at that. Like the post was made about witnessing it's evolution, some camp cooks use beans and some did not. All that I am saying is, if you like beans then use it. If you don't then try not to make the lone star state something that it isn't. We are an independent state and we kinda what we think is right, so do the same with this darn recipe and don't criticize others.

It's a fine recipe. The beans are a must. We use pintos, but we are also in the country. If you are not using beans, add noodles and call it home made hamburger helper, cause it ain't chili.

Beans are a must have in chili, unless you are making hot dogs , then buy a can of Wolf chili. I have lived in the country in east Texas, not a city person and beans are a for sure in chili. I look forward to trying this recipe, probably going to swap for some good ol pinto beans.

Beans? No beans? Who cares as long as it tastes like you like it! However; I did have a Texan (in North Dakota) tell me it was okay to drive in a blizzard that closed the state of N.D. Always consider the source (-:

Texas Chili does not have beans in it. Period. Call it goulash, call is stew, but it's not Texas Chili.