Trisha’s Sweet & Spicy Chipotle Chili
Thick, cozy, and packed with bold, elevated flavors—this is the kind of chili that makes staying in feel like a treat. The smoky chipotle brings the heat, a hint of sweetness balances it out, and a splash of soy sauce adds that deep umami richness that’ll have everyone wondering what your secret ingredient is.
Perfect for chilly nights, meal prep, or impressing your chili-loving friends.
Feel free to mix it up—add or swap out any veggies you like, or skip them entirely and load up on extra meat and beans instead!
What you need:
• 1.5 lbs of ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic chopped
• 1 can red kidney beans
• 1 can of pinto beans
• 1 can (14 oz) fire roasted tomatoes
• 1 Tbs tomato paste
• 2 cups beef broth, divided
• 1/4- 1/2 can of (7 oz) chipotles in adobo sauce (use less for a milder chipotle flavor and less spice)
• 3 Tbs chili powder, divided
• 2 Tbs smoked paprika, divided
• 2 Tbs ground cumin
• 1 Tbs brown sugar
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2.5 Tbs soy sauce, divided (trust me)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Handful of chopped cilantro
**add or remove any veggie**
What you do:
1.) In a hot saucepan, brown your beef or turkey with 1 Tbs chili powder and 1 Tbs paprika.
2.) Add tomato paste and 1 Tbs soy sauce and cook until incorporated into meat. Add garlic, onions, carrots, sweet potato, bell peppers, and ground black pepper until onions are translucent. About 2 minutes.
3.) Add 1- 1 1/2 cup of beef broth and remaining ingredients. No need to drain and rinse the beans. Reduce heat to low and cook covered for about 45 minutes. Stir frequently so that nothing sticks or burns. Check the consistency and stir in more broth when and if it gets too thick.
4.) After veggies have completely softened and your house smells amazing, take out one ladle full or a 1/4 cup of the chili and blend or puree it. Add back to the pot and cook uncovered for an extra minute or two. This gives your chili a smooth texture and thickens it. Add more brown sugar or chipotles in adobo sauce to alter how sweet or spicy you want it.
5.) Garnish as you see fit. Best served with sweet honey corn bread and/or over pasta for chili Mac
