One of my most popular recipes and for good reason! This is the best chili I've ever tasted! Slow cooking it allows for the flavors to meld and the most tender beef. Try it tonight and see why everyone loves this! Recipe makes about 12 cups.
Servings: 8servings
Prep15minutes
Cook6hours10minutes
Ready in: 6hours25minutes
Ingredients
1Tbspolive oil
2lbslean ground beef
1large yellow onion,finely chopped
3clovesgarlic,finely minced
2(14.5 oz) cansdiced tomatoes with green chilies*
3(8 oz) canstomato sauce
1/2cupbeef broth
2Tbspchili powder
2 1/2tspground cumin
2tsppaprika
2tspunsweetened cocoa powder
1tspgranulated sugar
1/2tspground coriander
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1(15 oz) candark red kidney beans,drained and rinsed
1(15 oz) canlight red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
Optionally serve with:
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large and deep non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add onion and saute 3 minutes, then add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer. Pour onions into a 6 or 7 quart slow cooker.
Return skillet to medium-high eat, add beef and cook stirring occasionally until beef has browned.
Drain most of fat from beef, leaving about 2 Tbsp in with beef (this is optional, I think it ads flavor but you can drain it all if you'd prefer). Pour browned beef into slow cooker.
Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, paprika, cocoa powder, sugar, coriander and season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
Cover with lid and cook on low heat for 5 - 6 hours.
Stir in dark and light red kidney beans and allow to heat through, about 2 minutes. Serve warm with desired toppings.
Notes
Look for tomatoes with "mild" green chilies. You can also use 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes and 1 (4 oz) can green chilies, drained.
If you want beef to brown better then sear in two batches. Only crumble and stir occasionally.
To add even more depth of flavor you can bloom the spices by sautéing them with the aromatics, add them during the last minute of sautéing the onions.
If you want to thin the chili at the end you can add in another 1/2 cup beef broth. If you like a really thick chili you can omit the beef broth altogether.
Other topping ideas include sour cream, chopped red or green onions, roasted peppers, or hot sauce.