BEANS: Traditionally you would use kidney beans in this chili. But you could also try another kind of beans such as black beans or pinto beans.
You can also increase the beans and reduce the amount of meat — or eliminate the meat altogether to make it a vegetarian option.
TOPPINGS: Add your favorite toppings to this perfect chili recipe. Grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onion, and fresh cilantro are all great choices.
SPICE: If you like spicy chili, you can adjust the spice level in this recipe with more cayenne pepper, or add hot sauce or red pepper flakes.
TOMATO SAUCE: If tomato sauce isn’t available, you can use crushed tomatoes or even tomato paste diluted with water. The latter will give a richer tomato flavor, so adjust according to your taste preference.
CHILI POWDER: No chili powder? Mix paprika with a pinch of cumin, oregano, and garlic powder for a similar flavor profile of homemade chili seasoning. Adjust the proportions to suit your taste.
ONIONS: Leeks or shallots can be used in place of onions. They offer a milder flavor, perfect for those who find onions too overpowering.
GARLIC: Instead of garlic powder, you could use minced jarred garlic, or even fresh garlic.
BROWN SUGAR: Try adding one tablespoon of brown sugar to this chili recipe for added depth of flavor.
CINNAMON: Adding ¼ to ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon is another popular option in chili.
COCOA POWDER: One to two teaspoons can add a delicious depth of taste to your finished meal.
MEAT: You can substitute ground turkey, ground pork, ground sausage, or ground chicken for ground beef. Another option is to use a pound of ground beef and a pound of another ground meat.
VEGETABLES: You can add any other vegetables you’d like to this ultimate chili recipe. Red pepper and mushrooms are two great options.
You can also substitute the green pepper with red, yellow, or orange pepper if you’d like.
WATER: For a richer flavor, substitute beef, chicken, or vegetable broth for water. This enhances the overall taste without changing the texture.
PRO TIP:
Ground beef can be cooked ahead of time in large batches and frozen until you need it. You could use pre-cooked beef in this recipe if you’d like.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CHILI
STEP ONE: In a large dutch oven or large pot, saute the diced bell pepper and onions in olive oil until they’re translucent and start to caramelize.
STEP TWO: Add in your seasoning, minus the baking soda. Cook for one to two minutes while stirring continuously.
PRO TIP:
You don’t want anything to burn, so make sure you keep stirring!
STEP THREE: Add your ground meat and brown until it’s just done. It’s okay if it still has some pink in it before you add the rest of your ingredients because you’re going to continue cooking it.
STEP FOUR: Pour in your tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and water.
STEP FIVE: Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook for about 15 minutes. Add the drained beans.
STEP SIX: Stir in the baking soda, if desired. This will cause the sauce to start to bubble up. Keep stirring over medium-high heat until the bubbles have gone away, then reduce the heat.
PRO TIP:
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