Secret Ingredient Beef Chili

You are going to love this chili recipe- filled with veggies, two kinds of meat (beef and sausage) and an abundant amount of seasonings for the perfect hearty bowl of chili.

The cold weather always makes me want to eat comforting hot foods, that's why you've seen a lot of soups and stews lately!

In this recipe I added jalapeños and red pepper flakes for some extra heat and of course, a secret ingredient--- cocoa powder!

Cocoa powder is an unexpected ingredient that provides depth to the chili. It's hard to describe... I highly recommend you try it and let me know what you think.

Secret Ingredient Beef Chili

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1 cup diced onion
• 2 cups diced green bell peppers
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• Optional: 3 jalapeño peppers, sliced
• 2 15 oz cans black beans
• 2 15 oz cans red kidney beans
• 15 oz can corn
• 2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups beef broth
• Chili Seasonings:
  • 2 tb chili powder
  • 1 tb oregano
  • 2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tb soy sauce

DIRECTIONS:

1. On medium high heat in a skillet, brown sausage and set aside. Then brown ground beef and set aside. Dice the sausage. Transfer the meat to a large pot or Dutch oven.
2. Reserve some fat in the pan and add onion, bell peppers, garlic cloves and jalapeño peppers. Sauté on medium high heat for 5 minutes. Add to Dutch oven.
3. Rinse beans and corn and add to the pot. Add crushed tomatoes, beef broth and chili seasonings. Mix until well combined. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.
4. Serve with cheese, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, lime, chips, Hawaiian rolls, corn bread, rice, whatever your heart desires. Happy nomming!

NOTES:

• Slow cooker high for 3 hrs or low for 5-6 hours.
• This recipe makes about 5 quarts of chili. I always freeze half and save it for lazy days!