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
[…] iowagirleats […]
After cooking the beef with the onions and garlic, do you drain the grease?
You can if there is a lot of excess grease!
Hi Kristin: I loved this Chili recipe and made your Grandmother’s Healthified Cornbread to go with it. I modified the recipe by using ground turkey and added fresh corn to it. The seasoning was perfect. Definitely a winner!!
Not sure why so many people leave comments about how they will be tryING this recipe. Try it and THEN comment.
We made this tonight and it was delicious! Loved the baked beans and black beans. My 4 year old ate two bowls (huge win when he will eat without a struggle). My 11 year old said it was too sweet for him – I went with 2 heaping (reaaaaally heaping) tablespoons so next time I’ll go with 1. I skipped the cayenne because of our 4 year old – so that probably would have helped too! This will be my new go-to chili recipe!!
SO glad to hear this, Tara!! Thank you for your review and star rating, too!
This is our favorite chili. My husband has asked that I stop making any other chili recipe and only make this one. Five stars– DELISH!
Add another WINNER of a chili cookoff to this recipe! I was thrilled to beat 14 other very good chili entries in a Chili Cookoff tonight! This chili is DELICIOUS! I did add some bacon to it and then sautee about half a red pepper in the bacon grease and added it to the chili.
Since I’ve made this receipe like 10 times I probably should leave a comment to say thanks haha. Great recipe, I make a bunch of it and freeze them into lunch-ready containers.
Have you ever made this in an instant pot? Curious how long you’d pressure cool this. I love this chili recipe!!!
[…] girlfriend, Diana, got me hooked on this chili! I made it for our family and Paul couldn’t stop raving about it. Then, I made it for my […]
This chili is THE BEST! I’ve made it at least 3 times and it’s become my go-to chili recipe. I love the smoky and spicy flavors. Since it’s supposed to be a cold week, I’ve put it on the menu to make this weekend!!
Seriously… THEE BEST CHILI EVER!! Even better than Grandma’s chili. I will never cook another chili recipe again. It’s a no fail, no brainier, scrumptious meal in a bowl! Every person we serve it to says it’s the best they’ve ever had. Yum yum! (We make one revision but it doesn’t change the integrity of the recipe: or own homemade baked beans not from the can) thanks so much! PS… Your brown butter cookie chip oatmeal cookies are A-MA-ZING!
This was wonderful. I loved every bite. I fed it to my REALLY picky son-in-law and he took a small bite for his thumbs up or down and then ask for a whole bowlful. He was even stealing some from my daughter’s bowl.
[…] Pot Cooking Instructions: visit Signature Spicy, Smoky, Sweet Chili @ iowagirleats.com for full […]
I’ve seen this recipe pop up a couple times and decided to try it to see if I could use it for the family Christmas chili competition…my household decided it’s a definite go! I left out the cayenne since my house is spice averse…I hope this will be a cook-off winner yet again!
Love love LOVE this chili! So much so that my husband and I made a batch and submitted it in his hospital’s chili cook off and we won third place! From one fellow Iowan to another, thanks for this recipe! :-)
I can’t have paprika -since I had a scratch and afraid to try these many years later what would you sub for it.
I did take some liberty with the ingredients I used because, well, every cook’s ‘signature’ is just a little different, but that aside, this is an excellent chili with a great balance of flavors! Thank you for sharing!
Delicious!!
[…] pictures for this Spicy Smoky Sweet Chili from Iowa Girl Eats make me hungry and it sounds simple and […]