Whether it’s savory or sweet, most families have a recipe that’s a go-to for the entire crew, and Willie Geist’s family is no exception.
The Sunday Today with Willie Geist host wrote in a story for Today that his dad’s Gonzo Chili “reminds me of spending a long day at home with my family.” The dish “simmers on the stove and everyone gets up for more until it’s gone,” he added.
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Ten years ago, Geist made the chili on national television for his Today Show pals in honor of Father’s Day. While in the studio kitchen, Geist shared that he’d never created it on his own until he was asked to demo it for the show. “My dad says two things about his chili: 1) Whatever you throw in from the fridge and the cabinet at home, it always turns out good. And 2) Properly prepared, it should make you perspire,” Geist wrote.
So, who is the man behind this iconic chili? That would be Bill Geist, Willie’s dad and a longtime journalist and humorist best known for his work on CBS Sunday Morning. The chili’s name, Gonzo Chili, is a nod to Bill’s style of playful, irreverent storytelling.
“I’ve eaten drums of it,” Geist shared on the show, noting that this is a spicy dish. Here’s why this chili recipe is such a hit with Geist’s family and his co-hosts.
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What Makes Willie Geist’s Family Chili Recipe So Great?
Geist’s family chili recipe doesn’t use fancy ingredients, making this dish something you can throw together quickly. “A lot of this stuff you probably have in your cabinet somewhere,” the now 50-year-old said on Today.
Beyond that, the dish features peppers, ground sirloin, kidney beans, garlic and onions—the building blocks of a super-flavorful chili. “You cook this in the morning and you leave it on the stove all day,” Geist revealed. But Geist explained his dad deliberately leaves the recipe open to different ingredients, so you can modify it to suit the tastes of your family.
As is the case with most chili recipes, this dish tastes even better after the flavors have melded overnight, so don’t hesitate to make it the day before serving and stash it in the fridge.
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How To Make Willie Geist’s Dad’s Chili Recipe
The Geist family chili recipe is easy to follow. To start, cook the onions and sirloin steak, before straining off the grease. Add chopped bell peppers and canned tomatoes.
After that, Geist said his dad adds a whole can of beer to the mix, along with plenty of water. If you have little ones to feed, don’t worry, the alcohol will cook off and leave a rich flavor behind. That’s followed with a squeeze of lemon, along with a dash of red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. “You’re basically just dumping stuff in here,” Geist said.
Next, stir in chili powder, sugar, a beef bouillon cube, ground mustard and salt. Let it simmer for two hours before adding the beans and letting it cook for another 30 minutes.
“My dad likes to put it over macaroni,” Geist said. “It gives it a little something.”
Geist recommends topping the dish off with sour cream, jalapeños, crumbled corn chips…whatever you learned to like from your own old man. To Willie and Bill Geist and all the dads out there, Happy Father’s Day!
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