From Wikibooks: A bowl of chili con carne with beans and tortilla chips Chili con carne (in America shortened to chili) is a spicy stew-like dish, the essential ingredients of which are beef, pork, venison, or other mature meat, and chili peppers.
 
Variations, either geographic or by personal preference, include the addition of tomatoes, onions, beans, and other ingredients. (Brown sugar is often a favorite condiment). There are also many versions of vegetarian chili, also known as chili sin carne, made without meat (sometimes with a meat substitute). The name "chili con carne" is a slight corruption of the Spanish chile con carne, "chili with meat". Chili con carne is the official dish of the U.S. state of Texas.
To read more: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Chili_con_carne