Mom's Perfect Chili

Smoky tomato flavors lead the way in this comforting classic. This is the perfect chili recipe in my opinion--it's not so fancy that it's intimidating at all, but it's definitely a step above chili packet recipes and chili beans. Serve topped with desired garnishes, such as jalapeno, green or white white onion, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, and hot sauce.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 3 hr
• Total Time: 3 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 296 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 large onion, diced
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• ¼ cup chili powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1 teaspoon ground paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
• 1 medium jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 medium orange bell pepper, diced
• 2 pounds ground beef sirloin
• 1 tablespoon adobo sauce from chipotle peppers
• 2 medium poblano peppers, diced
• ½ (28 ounce) can tomato puree
• 3 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, crumbling with a spoon until evenly browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

Add remaining oil to the pot and return to medium-high heat. Add onion and saute, stirring often, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add poblano, bell, and jalapeno peppers and garlic; cook, stirring frequently until softened, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, and oregano; cook for 1 minute. Add beer and stir, scraping any small brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add crushed and fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato puree, beef stock, chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce; stir until well combined. Bring to a simmer, stirring often.

Step 4

Stir in beef and kidney beans; return to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 3 hours.