This chili recipe will be a hit at any gathering. I have tried several different approaches over the years, and this has been the best. Not only does chili taste amazing, but it’s also simple to make. With about only 30 minutes of simmering and prep work you can yield complex and rich combinations of flavors.
The recipe is made with bacon. You can choose not to use bacon, but I have found it provides the best flavor. If you wish to make this recipe without bacon you can just skip the first step and heat 1 ½ tablespoons of oil over medium heat, then move on to the next step.
With any chili recipe you have tons of options. This chili recipe uses 90% ground beef, but you can also use ground chuck. I prefer a 90% lean ground beef or higher to limit the amount of grease in the final mixture. You don’t have to use ground meat. In some recipes I have included chopped chuck meat. You can also substitute ground turkey, shredded turkey, chicken, or venison. It’s your chili, make it yours. I do highly recommend including spicy Italian pork sausage but have also used regular or spicy breakfast sausage, it’s really your preference.
In this recipe I use both chili powder and ancho chili powder. You can substitute one chili powder for the other and then use just traditional chili powder or just ancho chili powder. It’s really your preference but I personally like the blend of the two. In some recipes you can also add different kinds of peppers, such as poblano, Anaheim and/or jalapeños which can also provide excellent flavor, texture and heat.
You will notice in the list of ingredients that I am adding cayenne pepper. ⅛ teaspoon will give the chili a mild spice, if you like more heat increase to ¼ teaspoon for a moderate spice. Add additional cayenne pepper to increase the heat at your own risk! Be sure to keep in mind if you are adding spicy peppers into your chili and then increasing the amount of cayenne peppers, you would be well on your way to an extremely spicy chili.
Chili
Short description
| Course Main Course | Prep Time 2 hours, 10 min | Total Time 4 | Servings Any |
| Cuisine American | Cook Time 2 hours, 10 min | Experience Level 4 | Calories Any |
INGREDIENTS
- 5 strips uncooked bacon chopped
- 1 large yellow onion diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tablespoon)
- 1 lb. ground beef or ground chuck (90% beef)
- 1 lb. of ground spicy Italian pork sausage
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoons ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 ¼ cup beef broth
- 1 can (15 oz) dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) diced fire roasted tomatoes undrained
- 7- oz can fire roasted green chilis
- 7- oz can corn
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
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 bacon grease. If you want additional bacon for garnishing, cook it now and reserve.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
- Add onion and pepper and cook until softened, for about 3-5 minutes.
- Add beef, breaking apart with a spatula as you cook. Once the meat is partially browned to about 50%, add sugar and all spices 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 for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 60 minutes to allow flavor to really develop.
- Serve with preferred toppings which can include sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, raw diced white onions, cornbread, and maybe some corn chips.
enjoy!
Dad's Backyard Cooking 
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