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PresidentialHistoricTexas RedBeanlessTraditionalEasy

Pedernales River Chili (LBJ's Presidential Chili)

Named after the river running through President Lyndon B. Johnson's Texas ranch, this recipe was created by family cook Zephyr Wright and became so famous that the White House mailed recipe cards to admirers. After LBJ's heart attack, Lady Bird Johnson had it modified to be healthier — less suet, more flavor.

★★★★☆4.5 · 0 reviews
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By Zephyr Wright · LBJ Ranch / White House ↗
⏱
1h
Cook Time
🥩
Ground Beef
Protein
📍
Texas
Region
Heat Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Medium Burn
Community Score
4.5
★★★★☆
0 reviews
Nutrition Per Serving
414
calories
per serving
35g
Protein
30g
Fat
3g
Carbs
1g
Fiber
Net carbs2g
Sodium800mg
Sugar2g
Sat. fat12g
Iron4mg
Potassium520mg
Macros: protein 34% · fat 65% · carbs 1%

High protein, very low carb (keto-friendly). Sodium is elevated due to Rotel tomatoes. Iron content high from beef. Based on 80/20 ground beef; leaner beef reduces fat/calories.

Estimates per serving (8 servings total) · Manually verified estimate
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Ingredients
4 lbs coarse-ground beef (or venison)Amazon ↗
1 large onion, choppedAmazon ↗
2 cloves garlic, mincedAmazon ↗
1 tsp oreganoAmazon ↗
1 tsp cuminAmazon ↗
6 tsp chili powderAmazon ↗
1.5 cups Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies (the "secret")Amazon ↗
2–6 dashes hot sauceAmazon ↗
2 cups hot waterAmazon ↗
Steps
1
Brown the beef in a large pot.
2
Add onions and garlic; cook until soft.
3
Add spices, tomatoes, and hot water.
4
Bring to a boil, then simmer 1 hour.
5
Adjust seasoning and heat to taste.
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