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Smoky Beef and Bacon Chili
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Smoky Beef and Bacon Chili

Course Main
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8
Author Adapted by Pam - For the Love of Cooking / Original by Sugar Spun Run

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven

Ingredients

Chili:

  • 5 strips bacon
  • 1 large yellow onion diced
  • 1 red pepper diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lb ground beef (I used 85% but any will work)
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp ancho chili powder
  • 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
  • Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
  • 1 ¼ cups beef broth
  • 1 15 oz can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 7 oz can fire roasted green chilis, chopped
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Toppings:

  • Sour cream
  • Cheddar cheese shredded
  • Green onion sliced
  • Fresh cilantro chopped
  • Jalapeno pepper sliced
  • Hot Sauce
  • Saltine crackers or Tortilla Chips

Instructions

  • Cook the bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat and cook, until browned, about 8 minutes. Set the bacon aside on paper towels to drain. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease.
  • Add the onion and bell pepper to the Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  • Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until no longer pink and starting to brown, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the minced garlic, brown sugar, chili powder, ancho chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, onion powder, cayenne pepper, seas salt, and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, and cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the beef broth, kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, diced green chiles, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, and stirring occasionally, for 1-2 hours, depending on how much time you have.
  • Taste and re-season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, if needed.
  • Ladle into bowls and serve with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, cilantro, sliced jalapenos and serve with crackers or tortilla chips. Enjoy.