Not Quite Jimmy Fallon's Crock-Pot Chili

I've been making Chili for years and I've tried out a lot of recipes, but the one I've settled on is a modified version of Jimmy Fallon's Crock-Pot Chili recipe. To be fair, I've never made this recipe as written, partly because I needed to make more than this recipe calls for and partly because I don't like using beans in my chili.

I tried it out initially as the "spicy, grown-up" chili that I offered at my daughter's November birthday party. I leave out the jalapeno and don't use as much cayenne pepper in my "chili powder" when making a not so spicy version of this chili.

If you don't do well improvising when you cook, please use Jimmy's recipe.  I tend to season to taste and amounts are merely suggestions. 

Ingredients:

• Olive Oil
• Ground beef (use whichever leanness you prefer - I usually go with 85/15)
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 large white onion
• garlic, finely chopped (I use a lot!)
• 1 Jalapeno (Jimmy used habanero)
• Chili Powder (I usually make my own, which means I add:
• paprika
• garlic powder
• cayenne pepper
• onion powder
• oregano and
• cumin
• 28 ozs or so of petite diced tomatoes.  If I'm in a rush I use canned otherwise, I try to dice and season my own (less salt and preservatives).
• 1/3 cup of fresh cilantro, plus more for serving
• 1 bottle of beer - I prefer Sam Adams Oktoberfest, but any amber beer will also work.
• Lime juice - I like to add some lime to the crock pot
• For serving
• Tortilla chips for serving
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Diced tomatoes
• Diced onion
• Sour cream
• lime wedges

Directions:

1. Finely chop the onion, jalapeno and garlic. I like to make it small enough so my kids can't pick it out.
2. In a large skillet lightly saute the onion, jalapeno and garlic with olive oil with some chili powder and a smidgen of salt and pepper. 
3. Leave 1/2 of the onion mixture in the skillet and add 1/2 of the ground beef.  Cook until only slightly pink. Repeat with the 2nd 1/2 of the onion, garlic and ground beef. I like to season the meat even during the browning, not just in the crock pot. I like to use a slotted spoon to move the beef mixture to the crock pot, draining off some of the excess fat, but not all.
4. Combine the ground beef and onion mixture to the crock pot, with the diced tomatoes, the rest of the chili powder, cilantro and beer.
5. Stir everything together, cover and cook on high for 5 hrs.
6. Stir occasionally
7. Serve with toppings and corn bread.