I was born and grew up in Wisconsin. SO, it is not an official chili place. BUT we ate a lot of chili that my mother made. I made it the same way as her only hotter. While living in Boston MA I made a big pot for an occasion at my place. ALL of the guys looked at me with a puzzled look. Every one of them agreed, "That's not Chili ...that is ...maybe chili soup?
Make it with macaroni and beans.
They ate and said BEST chili soup they ever had lol.
As far as Chili in Texas with no beans......As I recall there ain't a decent cook in that state.