Details
12 servings
30 minutes
60 minutes
620
Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 1 hr | Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins | Serves: 12
Imagine a Dutch oven simmering with a crimson-hued chili so thick it coats the spoon-a robust blend of smoky bacon, fiery sausage, and savory ground beef, all swimming in a tomato-based broth deepened by melted chocolate and kissed with barbecue sweetness. The aroma alone is a force of nature: Italian herbs tangled with chili powder’s warmth, the umami punch of three meats, and a faint, mysterious richness from dark chocolate that lingers like a well-kept secret. Each spoonful delivers layers-crispy bacon crumbles, tender kidney beans, and the slow-building heat of spicy sausage-all harmonizing under a sauce that’s both tangy (thanks to barbecue sauce) and velvety (courtesy of chocolate’s smooth finish).
Key Elements:
- Meat Trinity: Bacon’s smokiness, sausage’s kick, and beef’s heartiness create a carnivorous symphony.
- Flavor Alchemy: Chopped chocolate melds with tomatoes and chili powder for a mole-like depth, while barbecue sauce adds tangy sweetness.
- Layered Cooking: Using the same skillet for bacon, sausage, and beef builds fond (those crispy bits!) that infuse the chili with concentrated savoriness.
- Low-and-Slow Simmer: Uncovered cooking thickens the chili into a spoon-coating consistency, letting flavors marry without muddling.
Serving Suggestions:
- Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, and pickled jalapeños for contrast.
- Serve over cornbread or alongside crusty bread for dipping.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro or avocado slices to brighten the richness.
- Freezes beautifully for up to 3 months!
Why You’ll Love It
✅ Customizable Heat: Adjust chili powder or swap sausage varieties (mild to habanero-infused).
✅ Cozy Complexity: Chocolate and barbecue sauce elevate it from basic to gourmet with minimal effort.
✅ Crowd-Sized Batch: Feeds a hungry group and tastes even better the next day.
✅ Unexpected Twist: The chocolate intrigues without overpowering-guests will ask, “What’s in this?!”
This chili isn’t just a meal-it’s a cold-weather rebellion, a pot of boldness that balances smoke, spice, and sweetness in every bite. Ladle it up, and let the layers of comfort unravel. 🥄🔥
Hearty Three-Meat Chili: Smoky, Spicy, & Secretly Complex 🔥🍲
Course: Comfort Food Classics, Dinner, Main Dishes (Entrées), Weeknight Dinners12
servings30
minutes1
hour620
kcalBacon, sausage, and beef meld with dark chocolate and barbecue sauce for a chili that’s bold and complex
Ingredients
- Meats
1 lb bacon, diced
2 lbs lean ground beef
2 lbs spicy sausage (casings removed)
- Aromatics & Base
2 cups diced onion
2 (29 oz) cans tomato sauce
2 (28 oz) cans diced tomatoes (undrained)
1 (32 oz) bottle hickory smoke barbecue sauce
- Beans & Seasonings
4 (15.25 oz) cans kidney beans, undrained
½ cup chili powder
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 (1 oz) squares unsweetened chocolate, chopped
Salt to taste (optional)
Directions
- Build the Base
- In a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat, combine tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, onion, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Crisp the Bacon
- In a skillet, cook diced bacon until slightly crisp. Drain fat, then add bacon to the pot.
- Brown the Sausage
- In the same skillet, cook spicy sausage, breaking it into crumbles, until browned. Drain fat and add to the pot.
- Cook the Beef
- In the same skillet, brown ground beef until no pink remains. Drain fat and stir into the pot.
- Spice It Up
- Stir barbecue sauce and chili powder into the pot. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
- Simmer for Depth
- Add kidney beans and chopped chocolate. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld and the chili thickens.
Notes
- Pro Tips
Meat Variations: Swap ground beef for turkey, or use chorizo instead of spicy sausage.
Vegetarian Twist: Omit meats and add 2 cups quinoa + 3 cups diced mushrooms for heft.
Heat Control: Reduce chili powder to ¼ cup for milder spice, or add 1 diced jalapeño with the onion.
Chocolate Hack: Unsweetened cocoa powder (3 tbsp) works if you don’t have baking chocolate.
This chili is bold, smoky, and luxuriously rich-thanks to the hickory barbecue sauce and dark chocolate. Perfect for game day, cozy nights, or feeding a crowd! 🥣🔥
