Happy first day of fall, y’all! Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
Mother Nature hasn’t gotten the memo that it’s no longer summer and, according to the weather woman, will be cranking out mid 70s for the foreseeable future. I’m not complaining, but after experiencing the frigid 50s a few weeks ago I’ve made the mental shift and no longer feel right wearing short sleeves. Thus, I have been LIV-ING in jeans and The Black Fleece. You know the one!
Anyway, my taste buds are also craving a cozy yet casual experience so, despite the summery temps, I broke out my go-to Signature Spicy, Smoky, Sweet Chili recipe last weekend and gave it an updated twist to share with you today!
Watch How to Make It!
Growing up I never liked chili. It was always too…I don’t know, tomato-y? My Dad, the chief chili cooker in my house, always made it with huge hunks of tomato which – gagsville. Not to knock on my Dad’s cooking but he likes chunks and, well, I don’t.
It wasn’t until my early 20s that I finally fell in love with chili. I was living in the frigid tundra otherwise known as Minneapolis in the wintertime when one of my best girlfriends made a big pot for us to warm up with one dark and freezing night. The chili immediately won me over and I wrote the recipe down as soon as I scraped up the last bits from my bowl.
What was so great about Lindsey’s recipe that could erase 20+ years of chili avoidance? Surprise, surprise, it’s a tad sweet, plus it’s got some heat. Normally I’m not a huge fan of spicy food, but with the touch of sweet it totally works.
Over the years I’ve fine-tuned her recipe to fit our tastes to a T and it’s become my go-to signature chili. I have the recipe memorized and make it over and over again in the fall and wintertime. It’s awesome for making on a Sunday afternoon then eating for lunch all week long. Add some Gluten Free Cornbread and I’m set!
How to Make This Recipe
Start by browning 1lb ground beef with 1 large chopped shallot or 1 small onion, 2 cloves garlic, salt, and pepper in a large soup pot or Dutch Oven.
Next add 28oz can tomato sauce, 15oz can baked beans, and 15oz can black beans that have been drained and rinsed. For whatever reason I’ve always used Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans in my signature chili, but you can use whatever kind you like best. I just love how the baked beans add a touch of sweetness!
Now add all the spices that turn tomato sauce and beans into Signature Spicy, Smoky, Sweet Chili! You’ll need 3 Tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon each salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon (or more or less) cayenne pepper.
The smoked paprika gives this chili a totally unique flavor and plays well off the smoky/spicy chili and cayenne powders. Mmm!
Now for the piece de resistance: 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar. The chili tastes completely different without the brown sugar so if you like a subtle sweetness in your chili then you’ve just got to go for it! Trust me, it will not make your chili taste like candy. It’s all about balance between spicy, smoky, and sweet.
Place a lid on top then simmer for 30 minutes, stirring two or three times.
FYI – This chili also freezes PERFECTLY. Let it cool completely then scoop into a freezer bag and freeze flat. To reheat, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat on the stove.
When it’s time to eat, scoop the chili into bowls then top with melted cheese, chopped green onions, and tortilla chips for crunch, plus Gluten Free Cornbread. I could not love this chili more – me + Signature Spicy, Smoky, Sweet Chili = always and forever!
More Chili Recipes to Love
- Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
- No Bean Chili
- Taco Chili
- Fiesta Pork, Bean and Green Chili Chili
- Sweet Potato, Poblano and Chorizo Chili
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Signature Spicy, Smoky, Sweet Chili
Description
Signature Spicy, Smoky, Sweet Chili is my signature chili recipe. Slightly spicy, smoky, and sweet, it’s crock pot and freezer-friendly, too!
Ingredients
- 1lb ground beef
- 1 large shallot or 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- salt and pepper
- 29oz can tomato sauce
- 15oz can Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans
- 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1-2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more or less)
- Toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, tortilla chips, sour cream
Directions
- Heat a large soup pot or Dutch Oven over medium-high heat then add ground beef, shallot or onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper then brown and drain if necessary. Return the beef to the pot then add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Turn heat down to medium-low then simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Scoop into bowls then serve with toppings.
- Crock Pot Cooking Instructions: Transfer ground beef mixture to a 5 or 6 quart crock pot then add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine (can be done ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator until ready to start cooking.) Place a lid on top then cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Leave a comment and star rating if you loved the recipe! Thank you for considering!
Notes
- Serve with Gluten-Free Cornbread!
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Video
My daughter and I made this recipe for a chili cook-off at her school and she won. Making it again this weekend. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe.
Hi! I’m not a great cook but this seems easy enough for me to follow. If I want to serve a larger group can I just double or triple the recipe or would that require additional changes? Thanks in advance! I can’t wait to try it!
Love this chili! What would you recommend substituting for the tomato sauce for less sodium? I didn’t realize how much sodium was in tomato sauce until I was logging the recipe. Thank you!
You could use a low-sodium tomato sauce. I believe there are several brands that offer that variation!
I’m always looking for a new chili recipe! In my opinion, you can never have too many. This one looks delicious and I love the sweet and smoky flavors.
I have made this chili a million times in both meaty and vegetarian versions. It is perfection!
Woo! So happy to hear it’s become a staple for you, Tara!
This sweat chili is my favorite dish. It is very spicy and tasty. Your all dishes are good but this dish is my favorite . your all information is very helpful for me keep it.
Hi! I recently picked up hot smoked paprika for a recipe; before I only knew of sweet smoked paprika. Which are you calling for in this recipe?
This was amazing! Super easy to make and so flavourful. I love the choice of beans as I don’t like kidney beans. My 5 year old son and husband loved it! I prefer this to regular chilli that isn’t sweet. It’s definitely going in the rotation!
This chili was outstanding!!! The vegetarian beans didn’t appeal to me, so I subbed with Bush’s Southwestern Style white beans. Followed everything else to the letter and it was just fantastic!!!
I just wanted to stop by and thank you for this recipe!! It has been my go-to recipe for a year now in all seasons. I live in NYC, and right when things started locking down I made a double batch of this chili one night to freeze – I ended up getting sick later that week and having this in the freezer was so helpful when I knew I wanted to eat something delicious for the next month but couldn’t expend the effort. I’ve been eating it as a baked potato topping, with rice, even as sloppy joes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this delicious recipe!!
I just won a chili cook-off competition at my work and I used this recipe. Everyone loved it! Thanks for posting it ?
My go-to chili recipe. Top with Fritos, shredded cheese, and sour cream. So good!
Gotta have Fritos! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating, Lacey!
This is easily one of my favorite chili recipes. I love the subtle smoky and sweet flavors paired with the chili spice! My family loves to eat this served with warmed, buttered corn tortillas.
Umm, definitely going to need to try the warm buttered corn tortillas. I’ve never heard of that – sounds incredibly good!
This is the chili recipe I’ve been looking for! Absolutely delicious. I am sensitive to fresh onion, so I substituted one tablespoon dried minced onion for the fresh onion, and it worked fine.
Thank you so much for this, Kristin! I came in a very close second at a chili-cook-off using this recipe. I will definitely make it again soon. Everyone raved about and left happy. :)
Sorry it’s taken me so long to comment, but I’ve been making this recipe since you posted it. My husband and I love it, and we will never try another chili recipe again. This is the best!!
I made a double batch of this yesterday (12.28.19) to watch the college football playoffs & it is AMAZING! The smoky paprika and the brown sugar make the flavor simply delicious!! Topped it with diced green onion, shredded cheddar & sour cream. Since I’m from Nebraska (Go Big Red!) we had Rhode’s cinnamon rolls to go with it instead of cornbread. Can’t tell you how flavorful this recipe is! Enjoy every spoonful!
Still my all-time fave chili recipe. Making it again tonight! The addition of baked beans is genius
So I used your recipe for a chili competition at church last night. I was up against 20 other chili recipes. Your recipe won me 1st place. My pot was empty very quickly. I did add an extra pound of ground beef because hey! It couldn’t hurt with the judges. Great tasting chili.
This is seriously the best chili I have ever made or eaten! The smoked paprika is the secret ingredient.