Yeah, you gotta have kidney beans for chili. Light or dark, either one. Give the can a good shaking and drain well first, though.
I still like to start with the Carrol Shelby's Chili Mix and add a couple of things to it, like a large chopped and sauteed onion and some garlic powder or garlic salt. I like a meaty chili so I use about 50% more ground beef than the recipe calls for.
Tomato sauce and a can of diced tomatoes. I like the diced because they cook apart better than if you start with whole canned tomatoes.
The CS chili mix is mild enough that pretty much anyone can eat it, even with the cayenne pepper packet added. I add a little chopped, pickled jalapeno to my bowl to kick it up a bit.
Usually I'll crumble up a stack of saltines directly into the bowl, hillbilly-style, but I've also been known to throw a handful of shredded cheddar on top, let it melt and dip the whole mess up with tortilla chips.
