Sweet And Spicy Chili
A slow cooker beef chili that balances brown sugar and smoky piquillo peppers against jalapeños, crushed red pepper and cayenne.
Servings 8 servings
Calories 433kcal
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground chuck
- 2 jalapeño peppers minced*
- 2 bell peppers 1 red/1 green, chopped
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can tomato sauce 28 ounces
- 1 can crushed fire roasted tomatoes 28 ounces
- 1/2 jar piquillo peppers 6 ounces total, chopped **
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup chili powder dark chili powder preferred
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
- 3 tablespoons cumin
- 2 tablespoons crushed red pepper
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
- Brown the ground chuck over medium heat, then spoon the beef into the slow cooker, keeping the majority of fat in the pan to cook the onions.
- Cook the onions in the beef pan, until they become close to soft and translucent.
- Add the bell peppers to the onions and stir until all vegetables have softened.
- Add the jalapeño peppers and minced garlic, stirring frequently for one minute. Then transfer the vegetables into the slow cooker with the beef.
- Add the tomato sauce, roasted tomatoes, piquillo peppers, brown sugar, chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, and crushed red pepper to the slow cooker. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Cover the slow cooker, then cook the chili on low for 5 hours.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, then serve.
Notes
*For a milder heat, remove the seeds and membrane from the jalapeño peppers. Leave the seeds and membrane in when chopping for a spicier chili.
**Piquillo peppers add a light smoky sweet flavor to the chili. If no piquillo peppers available, look for a jar of red sweet peppers at your local grocer (they won't have the smoky undertone). You can also substitute additional roasted red bell pepper (1/2 a red bell will work).
**Piquillo peppers add a light smoky sweet flavor to the chili. If no piquillo peppers available, look for a jar of red sweet peppers at your local grocer (they won't have the smoky undertone). You can also substitute additional roasted red bell pepper (1/2 a red bell will work).
Nutrition
Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 785mg | Potassium: 904mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 4673IU | Vitamin C: 64mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 7mg