A State-by-State Guide to America's Most Famous Foods

Chili con carne, or simply beef chili, is a thick, spicy, tomato-based stew that has been around Texas since the early 1500s, when the recipe was first documented by conquistador Captain Bernal Díaz Del Castillo. He grimly documented that the Cholula Indians were so confident about winning the battle that they were already boiling the cauldrons of chili. People in Texas are serious about the ingredients in their chili, especially as to whether or not it should contain beans.