Cook ground beef and minced onion until browned in 3 tablespoons hot butter or drippings. Add kidney beans and tomato soup; cook 10 minutes.
Make chili powder, flour, water and salt into a paste and blend into beef mixture. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, for 45 minutes. If chili dries out too much during cooking, add a bit of water.
Serve hot with crackers, hot fried cornmeal mush or corn fritters. Makes 8 servings.