Chile Verde, usually a slow-cooked stew of pork, jalapeños and tomatillos, becomes an easy weeknight meal with quick-cooking ground beef and store-bought green salsa. Make it a Meal: Serve with fresh cilantro, red onion and Monterey Jack. Add cornbread on the side and your favorite hot sauce.

Makes 4 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1 pound 93%-lean ground beef
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 16-ounce jar green salsa, green enchilada sauce or taco sauce
1/4 cup water
1 15-ounce can pinto or kidney beans, rinsed

Cook beef, bell pepper and onion in a large saucepan over medium heat, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin and cayenne; cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Stir in salsa (or sauce) and water; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in beans and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 307 calories; 8 g fat (3 g sat, 3 g mono); 64 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrate; 27 g protein; 6 g fiber; 516 mg sodium; 641 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (100% daily value), Vitamin A & Zinc (40% dv), Folate (20% dv), Potassium (18% dv).
1 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 vegetable, 3 lean meat

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat just before serving.

I thought this dish sounded good when I read the recipe, and liking chili I decided to give it a try. All of the ingredients were easy to find at the local Wal Mart and it was just as easy to prepare. The only struggle I had was preparing the garlic. I made two pots. One using salsa verde, and the other using a medium chunky salsa. Both were good, but the one with the salsa verde was easily the better of the two. It has a more "seasoned" flavor. Oh, if you don't like "hot" food, don't let the use of cayenne scare you. The spicy taste is just right.

Dan, Wayne, OH

The description said it was slow cooked pork, the ingredients said groung beef?? I'm confused.

Peter, Ann Arbor, MI

I love when healthy recipes are delicious, and this one was! Very easy and quick. Under 40 minutes from start to finish including a quick healthy cornbread from scratch. The nutritional analysis states a serving has 516 mg sodium, but if sodium intake isn't an issue for you, I would suggest a bit of salt to season the ground beef.

Dawn, Richmond, VA

This is fantastic, quick and easy to do after work or anytime. I kicked it a notch a 4 oz. can of diced jalapenos and two cans of beans, pinto and black. Mmmmmmm, and it's lo-Cal.

Doug, Torrance, CA

Loved this!!! Very easy to make & had a great spicy flavor. I added some crushed tortilla chips to each bowl. Will definitely make this again!

Dawn, Charlotte, NC