Never used a recipe for chili.
Of course I would not recognize 'real' chili, if I saw it. At our house chili always has beef (usually ground), onions, garlic, sometimes celery, lots of seasonings, beans (whatever varieties I have in the cupboard) and tomato. Quantities vary. It is usually seasoned to a medium heat, served with corn bread, cheese and sour cream.
I love sweet and hot peppers, but the rest of the family do not like sweet peppers, so I usually leave them out.
When I was a kid, chili was:
1 lb ground beef browned.
1 can Campbell's tomato soup
1 can baked beans
1 tbsp chili powder.