DJ Thoma's Chili

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 lb maple breakfast sausage
• 1 lb thick-cut smoked bacon (Chopped)
• 1 red onion (Diced)
• 1 red bell pepper (Diced)
• 2 jalapeños (Minced; use more if desired)
• 6 cloves garlic (Minced)
• 4 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (Optional, for additional spice)
• 6 oz tomato paste
• 15 oz tomato sauce
• 14 oz fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp hot sauce (Optional, for additional heat)
• 15 oz black beans
• 15 oz pinto beans
• 3 cups beef bone broth (Use more or less depending on preferred consistency)
• Serrano pepper (Optional; add for more heat)
• sour cream (For topping)
• shredded cheddar cheese (For topping)
• green onions (Chopped, for topping)
• cornbread (For serving)

Steps

1. 1

   Place a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until cooked through. Remove the bacon from the pot and set it aside, leaving the bacon grease in the pot.

2. 2

   Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the diced onion, diced bell pepper, minced jalapeños, and minced garlic to the bacon grease. Cook for about 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent and beginning to caramelize.

3. 3

   Push the cooked vegetables to one side of the pot and drain the excess bacon grease.

4. 4

   Add the ground beef and maple breakfast sausage to the pot with the cooked vegetables. Cook until the meat is browned and no pink remains.

5. 5

   Push the meat mixture to one side of the pot and drain the excess grease.

6. 6

   Add the tomato paste to the pot. Stir it into the meat and vegetables and cook for about 3 minutes.

7. 7

   Add the chili powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and optional cayenne pepper. Stir well to combine the spices throughout the mixture.

8. 8

   Add the reserved cooked bacon, tomato sauce, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, black beans, pinto beans, and beef bone broth. Stir well to combine.

9. 9

   Cover the pot and simmer the chili for 45 minutes. It may be simmered longer for additional flavor. If the chili is too runny, continue cooking it uncovered until it reaches the preferred consistency.

10. 10

    Serve the chili in bowls with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, and cornbread as preferred. Add additional jalapeño, a Serrano pepper, cayenne, or hot sauce for more heat if desired.

Notes

The source does not specify an exact final simmer time beyond 45 minutes or a serving quantity for the toppings. The author notes that the chili can simmer longer for better flavor and that broth quantity may be adjusted to achieve the preferred consistency.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• chili
• one-pot
• simmered
• beef
• pork
• bacon
• spicy