Sweet Heat Chili
A hearty dish that beautifully blends savory spices with sweet flavor notes, this Sweet Heat Chili is a quick & easy Winter meal by the bowlful. One pot is all you need making it perfect for any crowd, be it a family dinner or feeding hungry fans on game day.
The holidays, at least the two main events in our house- Thanksgiving & Christmas, are over. Whew. The hostess & chef version of me are both letting out a sigh of relief.
I can take a break, for the most part. No more cooking marathons for me! At least until the next major family event.
While I love our traditional ham and turkey, I am looking forward to several meals in between before I defrost my leftovers and can get excited to enjoy them again.
With that in mind, we’ll be switching things up and going with a meaty, beefy dish for dinner tonight. Namely this Sweet Heat Chili.
It’s a dish best served piping hot, especially on a cold Wintery day, or night.
With the high here today hoping to reach in the low 20’s, I’d say that it’s exactly the thing the local meteorologists would order!
Also, in lou of needing a break after the hefty, marathon meals of the past couple weeks- this one dish dinner is quick & easy to whip up.
Then just set your stew pot to simmer, and let time do it’s work as the flavors marry and blend in a beautiful, flavorful union.
Chock full of hearty bits of ground beef and savory beans, each bowl of this Sweet Heat Chili features a blend of sweet & spicy flavor that is magic by the mouthful.
More Chili Recipes To Try
Whether as a delicious dinner the whole family can warm up and fuel up to, or as a Game Day favorite that’ll keep even the coldest of tailgaters warm- ladle yourself a big ol’ bowl, because this sweet heat chili never disappoints.
- Instant Pot Cincinnati Chili
- Bacon Cheeseburger Chili
- Dad’s Famous Secret Ingredient Chili
- Chili Cheese Dog Chili
- Creamy White Chicken Chili
If you’ve tried this SWEET HEAT CHILI, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Sweet Heat Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 white onion, diced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1-2 cups beef broth
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 15 oz can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 15 oz can pork and beans
- 1 15 oz can dark red kidney beans, rinsed & drained
- 2-3 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a dutch oven, or other large soup pot, add the ground beef, onions, and garlic. Brown them over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat's cooked through.
- Stir in the rest of the ingredients until evenly combined. Bring the chili to a full boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and stirring occasionally- let the mixture continue to cook for 30 minutes.
- Ladle into bowls, top with your favorite fixin's (we like shredded cheddar, sour cream, and crackers or cornbread), and enjoy!
Notes
oh my gosh, this looks so good! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks, Jennifer!
I am a sophomore in highschool, and in my Nutrition and Wellness class we had to have a Chili Contest, me and my group used this recipe and we WON, it was the best chili I’ve ever tasted as well, especially with the brown round crackers, planning on making this at home too !
That’s awesome, Angel!! This is one of our favorite chili recipes, and so glad it came through for your group too 🙂
This looks yummy – perf for the cold temps!
Thanks, and yes!
So if I make this for the crock pot all I have to do is mix it up after the hamburger is browned and let it cook for a few hours on low to heat through and combine flavors right.
Cook the beef mixture as directed, and then when you’d throw everything in the soup pot- just throw it all in the crock pot instead. Let it cook for a few hours to merry the flavors and you’re good to go!
Your post is making me hungry for sure. The chili looks amazing!
Thanks!
I am in the process of making this and just realized I do not have turmeric. Is it that big of a deal if I leave it out?
No, you can omit it. It’s not essential, just something I always add to chili since it adds a bit of color.
Best chili ever! could use more meat and beans though.
Thanks, and luckily it’s easily adaptable!
I cook chili for my family at least once a month or so. This one is now in the top two. I used the recipe as it called for. I cooked it in the Instant Pot so there is less cleanup, like I always do, lol. I’m gonna add breakfast sausage to it the next time that I make it.
Ground sausage would be an excellent addition! So glad you enjoyed it as much as we do 🙂 Any IP tips such as setting/time/type of release for other readers who may be interested?
Absolutely love this chili!! Thank you for sharing!!