Wayne's Sweet and Spicy Beef Chili

Full of sweet and spicy flavors, this beef chili recipe is a thickened, delicious upgrade to the classic dish.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 758 Calories

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large red bell peppers, chopped
• 2 serrano chile peppers, diced
• 3 large onions, diced
• 1 habanero pepper, diced
• 1 pound 80% lean ground beef
• 2 large yellow bell peppers, chopped
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package hot chili seasoning (such as McCormick®)
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato puree (such as Contadina™)
• 2 (16 ounce) cans light red kidney beans (such as Bush's®), rinsed and drained
• 1 (16 ounce) can great Northern beans (such as Bush's®), rinsed and drained
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (such as Hunt's®)
• 2 cups ketchup (such as Hunt's®), or as needed
• 4 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (such as Sargento® Authentic Mexican)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute until translucent, 6 to 9 minutes. Add bell peppers. Saute until soft, stirring occasionally, 6 to 9 minutes. Stir in serrano peppers and hot chili seasoning; continue mixing for another 3 to 6 minutes. Transfer onions and peppers to a large pot.

Step 2

Heat the same skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 6 to 9 minutes. Transfer to the large pot.

Step 3

Pour kidney beans, Northern beans, tomato puree, and diced tomatoes into the pot. Add ketchup in order to achieve desired consistency. Stir in habanero pepper and sugar. Simmer chili over medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 36 minutes. Top with Mexican cheese blend.