Added about a cup of sharp cheddar cheese at the end, also sauteed onions and garlic at beginning. Also added about a TBLS of tomato paste during the saute. For spices just eyeballed a bunch of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, bit of oregano, seasoned salt and cayenne pepper. Cooked everything on the stove for about 2 hrs (don't have a slow cooker), came out great. Added final bit of salt that it needed at the end. Even super picky son liked it and ate a large bowl. This is fantastic topped with broken up tortilla chips.