• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1/4 lb. bacon, chopped
  • 2 lbs. Lean ground turkey or beef, you can also buy stewed beef
  • 2 cloves, garlic, minced
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 (14.5 oz) cans kidney beans, drained
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can black beans
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes and the juice
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 2 bay leaves, dry or fresh
  • 3 tbsp. chipotle chili powder
  • 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tbsp. light brown sugar
  • ½ tsp. ground allspice
  • ½ tsp. ground cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. hot sauce (I love Slap Ya Mama hot sauce)
  • 1 tsp. each garlic and onion powder
  • 1 (12 oz) bottle of beer- not dark
  • Juice of one lime
  • Grated cheddar cheese for serving
  • Sour Cream, for serving
  • Chopped scallions or chives, for serving

Chili con Carne means “chili with meat” in Spanish. The history of chili goes way back, and although Texans often take credit for this dish, no one really knows where it originated from; some believe it started in Mexico and others in Spain! What we do know is that this dish serves up many and is very economical. Who can count the number of chili recipes? Let’s see, there’s Chili con Carne, White Chili, Beef, turkey, vegetable…and on it goes! This is my “go-to” recipe when I need a hearty dish, especially for the crock pot on those chilly nights.

A great addition to any tailgating party, this will warm up your family and friends and get them ready for the game! If adding to the crock pot, simply brown the beef, onions and garlic and throw it in a the pot with all the rest of the ingredients! Cook on low for about 4 hours or on high for about 8 hours; simple and delicious!

In addition to the cocoa powder, allspice, often used in jerk seasonings, is one of the key ingredients in this chili.

Cook bacon and oil in a large soup pan. Once the bacon is crispy, remove from the pan and set aside. Leave the fat rendered from the bacon in the pan and add the ground beef, onions and sauté until browned, about 10 minutes. This adds a tremendous amount of flavor! Add the garlic and peppers, and cook until the vegetables have softened a bit. Add the beans, tomatoes (and their juices), tomato sauce, bay leaf, chili powder, cocoa powder, sugar, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and hot sauce and stir well. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1.5 hours. Add the beer and cook another 30 minutes. Adjust seasonings before serving. Serve bowls of chili with grated cheese, a dollop of sour cream and green onions.

Like other recipes, this Chili can be made in your slow cooker. Cook the beef and vegetables first then add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker and simmer on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.

Cooking Segment from My Carolina Today