Apparently there really is a big controversy on the whole enchilada.http://lifehacker.com/beans-vs-no-beans-your-arguments-for-the-best-chili-510532114Excerpts:Beans Belong in Chili Up North, But Not Down South
Some chili recipes change based on your location. Reader beowulf7777 explains that beans never belong in Texas chili:
Not in Texas chili. Take that bean stew up north, yankee.Chili Without Beans Is an AbominationChili Without Beans Is Meat Sauce
Many readers felt chili wasn't chili without meat or beans. Wolftech provides a simple argument for beans:
Chili without beans is not chili. It is meat sauce.
Jas0n_Myers argues the opposite, on behalf of the meat lovers:
Chili is short for CHILI CON CARNE...which is spanish for meat with chilis. Does it say Chili con carne con frijoles? NO. Beans do not belong in true chili. If you add beans, it's no longer chili, it's stew. 4951