This sweet chili is a rich, hearty chili recipe with sweet undertones and a small kick (optional), all cooked in the slow cooker, making it the most simple chili you’ll ever prepare. Ground beef (or turkey) serves as the foundation for this chili, which then enhances with a variety of beans, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Its distinctive sweetness is achieved by balancing spicy spices like paprika, cumin, and chili powder with a hint of brown sugar. A dash of ketchup and soy sauce gives it texture and depth.
The long cooking technique lets the flavors meld together, making it a crowd-pleaser or the perfect comfort food for a cold evening. With only a few ingredients needed, it’s simple to make and can be personalized with your own chili toppings, such as cheese, sour cream, or green onions.
Ingredients:
- One pound of ground beef
- 1 chopped onion
- One sliced bell pepper
- One can (15 oz) of washed and drained kidney beans
- Two minced garlic cloves
- One fifteen-ounce can of diced tomatoes
- One 8-ounce can of tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- Two tablespoons of chili powder
- One teaspoon of each paprika and cumin
- Half a teaspoon of optional cayenne pepper (for heat)
- 1/4 cup of ketchup
- One-fourth cup of soy sauce
- To taste, add salt and pepper.
Instructions:
- Brown the ground beef (or turkey) over medium heat in a pan. As it cooks, break it up and drain the extra fat. After cooking, move it to the slow cooker.
- Add the diced onion, bell pepper, garlic, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar, cumin, paprika, chili powder, ketchup, soy sauce, and cayenne (if using) to the slow cooker. Mix all the ingredients until they are properly blended.
- Cover the crock pot and simmer for 6–8 hours on low or 3–4 hours on high. If you can, stir from time to time.
- Taste the chili about half an hour before serving, and if necessary, adjust the seasoning with more chili or pepper.
- Serve: When the chili is done, serve it hot with your preferred toppings, like chopped green onions, sour cream, shredded cheese, or cornbread on the side.
You May Also Like… Seared Ahi Tuna Kale Salad Recipe
