Painted Desert Chili Mix is a hearty dry soup mix you can stash in the pantry, gift in a jar, or keep on hand for a big pot of chili without measuring a dozen spices every time.
It leans on dried beans, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, onion, parsley, taco seasoning, and a little cornmeal for body. Once you add tomatoes, tomato juice, vinegar, brown sugar, onion, and browned ground beef or turkey, it simmers into a rich, old-school chili that feeds a crowd.
Stored in an airtight jar or vacuum-sealed bag in a cool, dry pantry, this dry mix keeps best for about 6 months for peak flavor because dried herbs and ground spices fade before the beans do. Once cooked, refrigerate the chili within 2 hours and use it within 3 to 4 days. If you like make-ahead pantry mixes, pair this one with Beef Chili Soup Mix or Vegetarian Black Bean Chili Mix. For leftover safety, the USDA recommends using refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
Painted Desert Chili Mix Recipe
You’ll Need:
- 1/4 cup dried parsley
- 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons white cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 cup dried pinto beans
- 1/4 cup small dried white beans
- 1/4 cup small dried black beans
- Approximately 1 cup dried kidney beans
Layer all ingredients in a large cone-shaped bag, jar, or vacuum-seal bag. Seal tightly and attach the cooking directions. If you’re giving it away, dress up the jar or bag for the occasion and let the ribbon do the showing off.
Expert Tip: Shake the mix gently before you pour it into the pot so the cornmeal and lighter seasonings don’t stay packed at the bottom of the jar. That tiny step helps the broth thicken evenly instead of leaving you with a gritty surprise.
To Use:
Pour the contents of the jar into a 12-quart pot. Add 1 medium diced onion, 4 cans diced tomatoes, 1 large can tomato paste, 1/2 cup cider vinegar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 49 ounces tomato juice, and 2 pounds browned ground beef or turkey. Fill the remainder of the pot with water, bring to a boil, then simmer 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
This mix makes a large batch of chili, roughly 24 one-cup servings as an estimate, depending on how much water you add to finish the pot. Serve it with cornbread, crackers, shredded cheese, diced onion, or a spoonful of sour cream if you’d like to tame the heat a bit.
Storage: Keep the dry mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months for best quality. After cooking, cool the chili promptly, refrigerate within 2 hours, and use it within 3 to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze cooled portions in airtight containers for up to 3 to 4 months for best quality.
Notes: This mix includes taco seasoning three separate times and granulated garlic and parsley twice, which appears intentional in the original formulation. For the smoothest pot of chili, sort the beans before cooking and discard any stones or damaged beans.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Painted Desert Chili Mix
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dried parsley |
$1.24 |
1/4 C. |
$0.52 |
|
Granulated garlic |
$0.68 |
2 T. ≈ 1 count ≈ 0.021 cup(s) |
$0.40 |
|
Taco seasoning |
$0.97 |
2 T. ≈ 1 count ≈ 0.125 cup(s) |
$0.97 |
|
Dried onion flakes |
$2.98 |
2 T. |
$0.20 |
|
Taco seasoning |
$0.97 |
2 T. ≈ 1 count ≈ 0.125 cup(s) |
$0.97 |
|
Cumin |
$1.24 |
2 T. |
$0.21 |
|
Paprika |
$1.24 |
2 T. |
$0.24 |
|
White cornmeal |
$3.16 |
2 T. |
$0.02 |
|
Taco seasoning |
$0.97 |
2 T. ≈ 1 count ≈ 0.125 cup(s) |
$0.97 |
|
Granulated garlic |
$0.68 |
2 T. ≈ 1 count ≈ 0.021 cup(s) |
$0.40 |
|
Chili powder |
$1.24 |
2 T. |
$0.28 |
|
Dried parsley |
$1.24 |
2 T. |
$0.26 |
|
Dried pinto beans |
$2.24 |
1 C. |
$0.48 |
|
Dried white beans |
$1.68 |
1/4 C. |
$0.08 |
|
Dried black beans |
$1.98 |
1/4 C. |
$0.21 |
|
Dried kidney beans |
$2.28 |
1 C. |
$0.96 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$7.17 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.30 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
Frequently Asked Questions about Painted Desert Chili Mix
Absolutely. Browned ground turkey works exactly as written, and you can also leave the meat out for a beanier pot if you want a budget stretch. If you skip the meat, keep the simmer time so the dried beans still soften properly and expect the finished chili to taste a little less rich.
No, not for this method. A 2 1/2 to 3 hour simmer gives the mixed dried beans enough time to soften in the tomato-rich broth, but older beans can take longer, so keep an eye on texture rather than the clock if your pantry staples have been hanging around awhile.
It acts as a light thickener. Two tablespoons is not enough to turn the chili into mush, but it does help the broth body up as it simmers, which is handy when you’re working with a very large pot.
You can, but only after the meat is browned first, and you’ll need a very large slow cooker because this is a serious batch. A safer workaround is to halve the mix, then cook it on low until the beans are tender, since stuffing a slow cooker past its practical limit is how dinner turns into a countertop science project.
Let it simmer longer before you fix anything. The vinegar, tomato products, and brown sugar balance out as the pot cooks, so the flavor usually rounds off by the end of the simmer instead of staying harsh and pointy.
Yes, and that’s a smart move if you don’t need a party-sized pot. Divide the dry mix as evenly as you can, then halve every add-in on the tag directions, including the tomatoes, tomato juice, vinegar, brown sugar, onion, and meat.
Start with reasonably fresh dried beans and give them the full simmer time. If the beans are still firm near the end, add more hot water and keep cooking because age matters more than attitude here, and older beans simply take longer to soften.
Cornbread is the obvious favorite, but baked potatoes, rice, crackers, or tortilla chips all work well too. Since this chili has beans, tomato, and a mildly sweet-tangy finish, simple sides are your best friend and don’t compete with the pot.
For the stored mix, stick with dried ingredients so it stays shelf stable. Once you’re cooking the batch, fresh onion is already part of the directions, and you can add fresh garlic then if you want a sharper flavor without shortening the pantry life of the dry mix.
It reads more savory than fiery. Chili powder, cumin, paprika, and taco seasoning build warmth and depth, but the beans, tomatoes, tomato juice, and brown sugar mellow the heat, so it’s usually crowd-friendly unless your taco seasoning runs unusually hot.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Painted Desert Chili Mix
Painted Desert Chili Mix
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dried parsley
- 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons white cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 cup dried pinto beans
- ¼ cup dried white beans
- ¼ cup dried black beans
- 1 cup dried kidney beans
Equipment
Instructions
- Layer all ingredients in a large cone-shaped bag, jar, or vacuum-seal bag.
- Seal tightly and attach the following directions.
- Pour contents of jar into a 12-quart pot.
- Add 1 medium diced onion, 4 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, 1 large can tomato paste, 1/2 cup cider vinegar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 49 ounces tomato juice, and 2 pounds ground beef or turkey, browned.
- Fill the remainder of the pot with water.
- Bring to a boil.
- Simmer 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
