Slow Cooker Beef and Refried Bean Chili

Directions

Heat two tsp. olive oil in a large heavy frying pan; add the ground beef and saute about 10 minutes or until beef is well-browned, breaking it apart with the turner as it cooks. Remove beef and place in slow cooker.   Add the other tsp. of oil to the pan, add onions, and saute until they’re starting to brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook a minute or two more; then add the chili powder, ground Ancho chili pepper, ground cumin, and Mexican Oregano and saute about 2 more minutes. Scrape the onions and spices into the slow cooker, along with the salsa. Dump both cans of beans into a colander placed in the sink and rinse with cold water until no more foam appears. Let beans drain a minute while you add the beef broth and refried beans to the pan where you sauteed the onions and spices. Mix with a whisk or fork until the refried beans are well mixed into the broth; then add that to the slow cooker. Add the drained beans to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.     When chili is done, stir in the lime juice and serve hot.