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The Best Chili Recipe

The Best Chili Recipe

The Best Chili Recipe is a comforting dish made with bacon and ground beef, perfect for cold weather meals.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 611 kcal

Equipment

  • large pot
  • dutch oven

Ingredients
  

Meat and Vegetables

  • 5 strips uncooked bacon chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium red bell pepper diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced (about 1 Tablespoon)
  • 1 lb ground beef (455g, I use 90% but any will work)

Spices and Broth

  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 0.75 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.125 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1.25 cups beef broth (295ml)

Beans and Tomatoes

  • 15 oz can dark red kidney beans lightly rinsed and drained (425g)
  • 15 oz can black beans lightly rinsed and drained (425g)
  • 14.5 oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes undrained (411g)
  • 7 oz can fire roasted green chilis (198g)
  • 0.25 cup tomato paste (66g)
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Toppings

  • sour cream preferred topping
  • shredded cheddar cheese preferred topping
  • corn chips preferred topping

Instructions
 

Cooking Instructions

  • Place chopped (uncooked) bacon in a large pot or Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until crisp and cooked through. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate and drain all but 1 ½ Tablespoons of grease.
  • Add onion and pepper and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
  • Add beef, breaking apart with a spatula as you cook. Once meat is partially (about 50%) browned, add sugar and all spices (chili powders, paprika, cumin, onion powder, black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper) and stir well.
  • Add all remaining ingredients -- beef broth, beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, chilis, and Worcestershire sauce -- and your cooked bacon and stir well.
  • Bring to a boil and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
  • Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 30 minutes to allow flavor to really develop.
  • Serve with preferred toppings (sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and corn chips are a must!).

Notes

For best flavor, DO NOT OMIT THE BACON. However, you can make this recipe without bacon by skipping the first step and using oil. You can substitute chili powders as per your preference for heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (not including toppings)Calories: 611kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 40gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 1315mgPotassium: 758mgFiber: 11gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 30IUVitamin C: 72mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 20mg
Keyword chili, cold weather recipe, Comfort Food, hearty meal, The Best Chili Recipe
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