Chili - Base

Ingredients

• 5 strips uncooked bacon chopped

• 1 large yellow onion diced (about 1 cup)

• 1 red bell pepper diced

• 1 Habanero Pepper
• 3 cloves garlic minced (about 1 Tablespoon)

• 1 lb ground beef (Sub: ground Turkey, shredded Chicken, pulled Pork) 

• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar

• 1 Tablespoon chili powder

• 1 Tablespoon ancho chili powder

• 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• ¾ teaspoons ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1 ¼ cup beef broth 

• 15 oz can dark red kidney bean slightly rinsed and drained 

• 15 oz can black beans lightly rinsed and drained 

• 14.5 oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes undrained 


• 7- oz can fire roasted green chilis


• ¼ cup tomato paste 


• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions

1. Place chopped (uncooked) bacon in a large pot or Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until crisp and cooked through. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate and drain all but 1 ½ Tablespoons of grease.

2. Add onion and pepper and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.

3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
4. Add beef, breaking apart with a spatula as you cook. Once meat is partially (about 50%) browned, add sugar and all spices (chili powders, paprika, cumin, onion powder, black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper) and stir well.

5. Add all remaining ingredients — beef broth, beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, chilis, habanero, and Worcestershire sauce — and your cooked bacon and stir well.

6. Bring to a boil and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
7. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Simmer for 30 minutes to allow flavor to really develop. 


Notes

• Add diced / sliced bell pepper in the last 10-15mins of simmering for added 'crunch'