John Madden'S Mess Recipe

Name: John Madden'S Mess
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup dried red kidney beans; water, as needed; 1/4 lb bacon, diced; 1 lb ground beef; 1 large onion, sliced; 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 1 (16 ounce) can whole tomatoes; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon leaf oregano, crumbled; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/2 lb spaghetti or 1/2 lb fettuccine, cooked according to package directions and drained; 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tamales, heated; 1 small onion, sliced (for garnish); dried red pepper, for garnish

Servings: persons

1 cup dried red kidney beans
water, as needed
1/4 lb bacon, diced
1 lb ground beef
1 large onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 (16 ounce) can whole tomatoes
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon leaf oregano, crumbled
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 lb spaghetti or 1/2 lb fettuccine, cooked according to package directions and drained
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tamales, heated
1 small onion, sliced (for garnish)
dried red pepper, for garnish

1
Rinse and pick over beans; place in a medium-sized bowl and cover with water; let soak overnight.
2
The next day, drain beans and place in a medium-size saucepan and add one quart of water.
3
Bring to a boil over high heat, lower heat, cover; let simmer until beans are tender, 60 to 90 minutes.
4
Meanwhile, cook bacon in a Dutch oven or large skillet until crisp; remove with slotted spoon onto paper towels to drain.
5
Pour off all but two tablespoons of the bacon fat; saute ground beef, large onion and garlic in bacon fat over high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often.
6
Add cooked bacon, undrained tomatoes, chili powder, salt, oregano and cayenne; stir well and bring to a boil.
7
Lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 60 minutes, stirring every so often; steal some liquid from the beans and stir it in if mixture gets too thick.
8
Now would be a good time to cook that spaghetti.
9
Drain beans, add to meat/tomato mixture, and heat just to serving temperature.
10
To serve, place hot drained spaghetti on a large platter and spoon all the chili on top.
11
Cut tamales into pieces and arrange over chili.
12
Finally, scatter raw onion and dried red peppers over top, and serve.

522

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Feel free to swap in similar ingredients you already have on hand and adjust seasoning to taste.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

Saved locally in your browser — visible only to you.

How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 15 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 1 cup dried red kidney beans, water, as needed, 1/4 lb bacon, diced, 1 lb ground beef, and more.

Yes, John Madden'S Mess falls under the Soups & Stews category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

John Madden'S Mess

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions