Name: Walt's Chili Recipe (Inspired by Carnation Cafe, Main Street, U.S.A.)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 large green bell pepper (diced); 1 large white onion (coarsely diced); 2 tablespoons minced garlic; 2 large jalapeños (minced); 2 15 ounce cans pinto beans; 2 15 ounce cans diced tomatoes in juice; 1 cup parsley (chopped); 2 cups water; 1 1/2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth; 1 stick salted butter; 2 1/2 pounds ground beef; 1 pound ground sausage (I used Jimmy Dean in roll); 1 tablespoon kosher salt; 2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper; 1/3 cup chili powder; 2 tablespoons ground cumin; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 1/2 cup chopped fresh tomatoes; 1/4 cup chopped green onions (chives or parsley (I had parsley on hand so used that))

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Sharing Walt’s Chili recipe today inspired from Disneyland! The best chili recipe I’ve made! So delicious for chilly nights at home.

If you love Disney inspired recipes like we do, be sure to also try Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Disneyland too!

Best Chili Recipe

If you ask me, Walt’s Chili is absolutely an award winning chili! This is a version inspired by Carnation Cafe on Main Street, U.S.A. I tested it today and let me tell you, it’s perfect! In all honesty, I probably won’t ever need to make another chili recipe. It’s that good! I love to enjoy Walt’s Chili from Carnation Cafe on Main Street, U.S.A. The best!

Why We Love This Recipe

Disney Magic At Home. There’s nothing like bringing a little Disney magic home with a comforting recipe! We love it.
Flavor Packed. This chili recipe has so much great flavor, it’s a hit for just about any occasion!
Great Leftovers. It’s just as good the next day! We love warming up leftover chili the next day and love it just as much.

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What You’ll Need

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make Walt’s Chili recipe at home. See the recipe card located at the bottom of the post for full details and instructions.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil– You’ll use the olive oil for sautéing vegetables.
Onion– Finely chop the onion before adding to chili.
Green Bell Pepper– Finely chop and de-seed green bell peppers in advance.
Jalapeños– Optional, but adds a nice kick. Mince jalapenos.
Garlic– Mince fresh garlic for the chili.
Parsley– Fresh chopped parsley adds a nice freshness to the chili.
Pinto Beans– Rinse beans before adding to chili.
Diced Tomatoes– Any diced tomato brand you prefer works great.
Water– Water gets added to chili.
Chicken Broth– Use reduced sodium chicken broth.
Butter– I generally use salted butter for my recipes, but unsalted works fine too.
Ground Beef- Use a 80% lean or higher beef.
Ground Sausage– Jimmy Dean mild or regular sausage works great here.
Kosher Salt– Kosher salt is a coarse salt commonly used in cooking and baking.
Black Pepper– For best tasting results, use fresh cracked black pepper.
Ground Cumin– Cumin adds a nice smoky flavor, just a touch.
Chili Powder– Gives the chili it’s traditional chili flavor.
Sour Cream– Use full-fat sour cream for best results.
Diced Fresh Tomatoes– Adds a nice garnish for top of chili.
Green Onion, Chives or Chopped Parsley– Options for garnishing each bowl of chili.

vegetables in pot to saute for chili recipe

How To Make The Best Chili

Heat Oil And Cook Vegetables. Heat oil in large soup pot over medium heat. When hot, saute onions, green bell pepper, and minced jalapeno. Cook for about 10 minutes until tender.

add beans tomatoes and parsley to pot for chili recipe

Beans and Tomatoes. Add pinto beans, diced tomatoes and 3/4 cup parsley.

Pour In Water. Carefully add water.

Cook Beef and Sausage. In a separate medium pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add ground beef and sausage. Season with salt and pepper, cooking until browned. Drain most of fat, leaving a little still in meat.

adding cumin and chili powder to pot of chili

Add Seasonings. Season with chili powder and cumin, stirring to combine.

Combine Chili Ingredients In Pot. Transfer cooked beef/sausage to vegetable pot, carefully stirring. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Serve With Toppings. Place chili into soup bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese, fresh diced tomatoes and sour cream drizzles.

For each bowl of chili, top with shredded cheese, fresh chopped tomatoes…and to get the sour cream drizzle, I put a scoop of sour cream into a ziplock baggie, snip an end and drizzle over soup.

Parsley. Garnish with either chopped green onion, chives or chopped parsley.

Recipe Tips For Success

Use Quality Ingredients. When making this chili recipe, use the best quality ingredients for best tasting results.
Chop Vegetables Ahead of Time. To save time when preparing the chili, cut your vegetables ahead of time. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days in advance.
Simmer. For best tasting results let the chili simmer on low for a couple hours before serving. This gives the chili time to soak in the ingredients.

How To Serve Walt’s Chili

Enjoy this bowl of chili with a side of saltine crackers just like it’s served at Carnation Cafe. A soft roll is another great option. We also serve our chili with a big chopped salad.

Leftovers And Reheating Instructions

To store leftover chili, let it cool to room temperature then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

To reheat chili, place desired amount in a heat proof bowl. loosely covered and microwave for 70-95 seconds, or until hot. You can also place chili in a soup pot over the stovetop on medium-low heat until warm.

Try More Disney Inspired Recipes

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