Five-Ingredient Emergency Vegetarian Chili

Every cook needs one recipe like this in their back pocket: the one you can make with your eyes closed when people turn up unannounced and the fridge is bare. Five pantry cans and a packet, fifteen minutes, zero prep, one pot — and somehow it comes out tasting like you tried. Mixed beans, tomatoes with green chiles, and a good chili seasoning do all the heavy lifting, with a handful of frozen corn for sweetness and texture. It is not going to win a cook-off, and it doesn't care. It's the honest, unpretentious emergency dinner that saves the night, and once you doctor it a little it's better than it has any right to be.

This is a base to build on — the toppings are half the meal, so pile them on.

A splash of hot sauce, a squeeze of lime, or a chopped chipotle instantly makes it taste more homemade. Any canned beans work; a can of corn subs for frozen. Add browned ground beef, turkey, or a plant crumble if it's a hungrier crowd. The whole point is no rules and no stress.