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I don’t know about you but I LOVE a good bowl of chili! And I don’t like funky chili variations. It just needs to be a great classic bowl of chili. And this classic chili is perfect to satisfy that craving!
I have to be honest, I have messed with a lot of chili recipes trying to find one that my husband liked. He is very picky traditional in his tastes. 🙂 So I’m happy to say, not only my husband, but my babies Coco and Ash love this one as well! I just make it mild for them. This chili isfull of flavor and so hearty. It’s perfect for leftovers too! I usually make a large batch and eat it all week long!
So if you want a bowl of chili that taste like chili SHOULD taste, here it is!
Ingredients:
(Note: I know this seems like a lot of ingredients but most of them are very inexpensive and this is super easy to make) 🙂
Okay, here we go!
First heatyour olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When you pan is hot, add in your meat and season it with 1 tsp of salt, and 1/2 tsp of black pepper. Cook until it’s browned throughout.
While you are waiting for the meat to cook, you can chop your onion, green pepper, and garlic. Just don’t forget that your meat is cooking. Stir it around every few minutes. Now if you don’t have one of these food scraper/chopper things. Get one now! It’sone of those kitchen items that doesn’t cost much but you’ll use it ALL the time!
By the way, can we talk about how gigantic my garlic cloves were?! I know therecipe calls for 4 cloves but I only used 2 of these mutants.
Ok so once your meat is browned, remove it from the pot and set it aside. I used lean beef and turkey so I didn’t need to drain it but if yours is too greasy, go ahead and drain it as well.
In the same pot, over medium heat, add in your chopped onion and green pepper and sauté until translucent (about 5 minutes). You can add another tablespoon of olive oil if your pan is too dry.
Once your onions and peppers are translucent, add in your garlic and sauté for only another 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add in 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp cumin, 3 tbsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper. (I didn’t add the cayenne this time since my kids were eating it)
Stir in your seasonings and then add your meat back in to the pot. Stir that together then add in all of your other ingredients which include: the cans of tomato sauce, both beans (drained), the fire roasted diced tomatoes, the cocoa powder, and oregano. I know cocoa powder seems like something super funky to put in here but you won’t taste any “chocolate”. It just gives the whole dish a rounded richness that takes this chili over the top! I also put a picture of the fire roasted tomatoes in here so you can know what to look for. 🙂 They have such a good charred flavor to them and they’re not spicy at all.
So now everything should be in your pot!
Cover the pot, put it on low, and let it simmer for 2 hours. You could also make this ahead the night before and just don’t simmer it that night. Insteadpop it in the crockpot in the morning on low for about 8 hours.
When your ready to enjoy it, serve it in a bowl and top it with shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream!
Classic Chili
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground meat I use 1 lb. lean beef and 1 lb. turkey but use what you prefer
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 4 cloves garlic
- Salt & pepper
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 3 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper Just leave this out if you're making it for little ones
- 29 oz can of tomato sauce
- Another 15oz can of tomato sauce
- 2 - 14.5 ounce cans of Hunt's fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 15.5 ounce can of red kidney beans drained
- 15.8 ounce can of great northern beans drained
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder 🙂 trust me
- 1 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
Heat a large pot over medium high heat and add in your olive oil and then your meat.
Season your meat with 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
While your meat is browning, chop your onion, green pepper, and garlic.
Once your meat is cooked through, drain it if necessary and remove it from the pan. I just set it aside in a bowl.
In your same heated pot, add in your chopped onions and green peppers and cook for about 5 minutes or until translucent.
Add in your garlic and cook for 2 more minutes then remove from heat.
Once your garlic is cooked, add in 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 black pepper, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne pepper and stir together.
Add your meat back to the pan and add in the rest of your ingredients: Tomato sauce cans, diced tomatoes, beans, cocoa powder, and oregano.
Stir everything together to combine, reduce your heat to low, cover the pot and simmer for 2 hours while stirring occasionally OR place in the crockpot on low for 7-8 hours.
Enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment!
FAQs
What does cocoa powder do for chili? Cocoa powder adds a rich depth of flavor to chili. There isn't a prominent chocolate taste, just extra deliciousness from something that you can't quite pinpoint. Use unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder so it doesn't make the finished dish sweet.
What does cocoa powder do to Chile? ›
Cocoa Powder and Chili Go Very Well Together
Adding chocolate to chili lends depth and richness to the spicy dish, making it both more savory and more satisfying. That's especially the case for vegetarian and vegan chilis, when the hearty flavors from meat aren't part of the equation.
When should I add chocolate to my chili? ›
Stir the chopped chocolate in after the chili has simmered for 20-25 minutes (or at the end of cooking if you're making this in your slow cooker). It'll give your chili an extra layer of flavor that will taste even better the day after it's made.
How much cocoa to put in chili? ›
The trick is to add only enough cocoa to make the chili taste better, not so much that it overwhelms the other ingredients or turns the chili into chocolate soup. You'll only need up to a tablespoon for a flavor boost.
Why do you put baking soda in chili? ›
According to the magazine's food experimenters, the baking soda treatment will definitely keep the meat tender and juicy when cooked.
What adds the most flavor to chili? ›
If you want more of a smoky flavor, add cumin, Spanish paprika, ancho chili powder, or a combination. If you are looking for more heat, add cayenne, crushed red pepper, or Hungarian paprika. If it's too spicy add a little brown sugar and some sweet paprika.
What is the most important spice in chili? ›
Most Common Chili Spices. Cumin, Chile Powders, and Paprika are the most common spices in chili followed by garlic, onion, coriander, Mexican oregano, and bay leaves. These ingredients can be combined to create a savory and well-balanced pot of top notch comfort food.
Do you put cocoa powder in chili? ›
You may associate chocolate with dessert, but rest assured, adding cocoa powder won't make your chili sickeningly sweet. Instead, it'll contribute a layer of richness and balance out the spiciness. Especially in plant-based chili where the savory quality of meat is absent, cocoa powder adds complexity of flavor.
Why use unsweetened cocoa powder? ›
When baking, you should always use unsweetened cocoa powder (rather than sweetened cocoa powder, often labeled "sweet ground chocolate") because it allows you to control the amount of sugar in the final product.
How do you make cocoa powder taste better? ›
Other than water, the most common to use are hot coffee, milk, oil, or melted butter. I wouldn't try it with buttermilk though, or it will curdle. Note that blooming cocoa won't work in recipes that don't have enough liquid ingredients to saturate the cocoa powder (at least 1:1 by volume, but there is some leeway).
The explanation is pretty simple to this phenomenon. Cocoa powder is hydrophobic which means it does not dissolve easily into water.
What does cinnamon do to chili? ›
Much like adding chili powder and other common chili spices, cinnamon is a super versatile spice that adds warmth without the heat to Firecracker chili.
What does coffee do for chili? ›
Though it may be an unusual choice, coffee adds an earthy richness to the existing flavors and plays well with spices like cumin and cayenne pepper. Plus, it's a flexible ingredient – while we typically reach for instant espresso powder, you can also add in brewed coffee, making this dish the perfect use for leftovers.
How do you make chili more exciting? ›
Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.
Can you add cacao to chili? ›
This made-from-scratch meal is a hearty cross between a traditional bean chili and a mole. The secret ingredient—Cacao Powder—gives it an earthy flavor that beautifully harmonizes with the spicy and savory elements.
What does cocoa do in cooking? ›
Since natural cocoa powder has all of its acid in tact, it is typically called for in recipes with baking soda. Natural cocoa powder is an acid, and baking soda is a base (science!), so the two react together to allow baked goods to rise properly.
Why do we add cocoa powder? ›
Cocoa powder is rich in theobromine, which helps to reduce inflammation and can protect you from diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Since cocoa is rich in phytonutrients but low in fat and sugar, the calories you get from cocoa powder will be packed with healthy chemicals.
What does cocoa do in a recipe? ›
Its acidity neutralizes baking soda's potentially strong, "soapy" flavor; and because natural cocoa is acidic, and baking soda is a "base" (remember your chemistry?), when the two get together they produce a reaction: CO2 bubbles, which make your cake, brownies, cookies, or whatever you're baking rise in the oven.
