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    Home > Blog > Beef > Best Chili Recipe (Kitchen Sink Chili)

    Best Chili Recipe (Kitchen Sink Chili)

    by Jenny Park · Published: Jun 2, 2022 · Modified: Mar 19, 2023

    Jump to Recipe
    The Best Chili Recipe you'll ever make! Our kitchen sink chili is packed with so much flavor, it's so easy to make and takes no time to whip up! We love serving our chili with lots of toppings and big pieces of fluffy cornbread!
    A recipe for kitchen sink chili in three bowls.

    We LOVE chili and think we have the Best Chili Recipe ever! I know people are bias and sensitive about chili, but if you’re looking for a rich, flavor packed chili that’s easy to make and comes together in just an hour we have the chili for you!

    Our best chili recipe contains a secret ingredient that really takes this chili to the next level. It also tastes better and better as it sits, so leftovers are truly amazing! Serve it with your favorite cornbread for a totally satisfying meal!

    Why This is the Best Chili Recipe You’ll Ever Taste

    We know there are thousands of chili recipes out there, but we truly think we have the best chili recipe ever! We incorporate a few not so secret ingredients like Mexican chocolate and roasted peppers to our chili that really take the flavors to the next level!

    The Mexican chocolate might seem unusual, but it adds such a pleasant, unique and rich depth of flavor to the dish (and don’t worry, your chili won’t be sweet or taste like chocolate!). The roasted peppers also add an earthy, smoky element that we love so much!

    How to Make The Best Chili Recipe

    Ingredients to make our Kitchen Sink Chili recipe.

    Process

    Chili

    1. Place a large pot over medium heat, Add 2 tablespoons oil. Add ground beef and brown, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
    2. Transfer ground beef to a bowl and set aside.
    Ground beef cooking in a pot.
    Ground beef in a bowl.

    1. Add remaining oil to pan. Add onion, garlic and peppers and sauté for about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
    2. Pour beef back into the pot, add spices and sauté for an additional 5 minutes.
    A pot cooking veggies in it for Kitchen Sink Chili.
    Kitchen sink chili with spices and beef in a pot.

    1. Add tomato puree and tomato paste and stir together.
    2. Reduce heat to medium, add stock and simmer for 15 minutes.
    Kitchen sink chili with tomato paste added into the pot.
    Kitchen sink chili being simmered in a pot.

    1. Add corn, Mexican chocolate, and beans into the pot. Season with salt and pepper as needed and stir until chocolate melts and ingredients are evenly incorporated into the chili.
    2. Simmer chili for an additional 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Kitchen sink chili with ingredients being added in.
    Kitchen sink chili cooking in a pot.

    Optional Garnishes

    Kitchen sink chili topping ingredients.
    1. Ladle chili into bowls and top with sour cream, shredded cheddar, green onions, and jalapeño rings. Serve.
    Two bowls of kitchen sink chili recipe.

    Variations

    • Swap the ground beef out for ground turkey/chicken. For a vegetarian alternative omit the beef altogether. Then either add lentils, extra firm tofu thats been pressed and crumbled or nothing at all and the chili will still be so good!
    • Add some diced zucchini, bite sized pieces of cauliflower and/or spinach leaves to bulk the chili up with more vegetables! This is a great recipe to easily sneak in some vegetables for picky kids and we promise they won’t even notice!
    • Adjust the amount of chile powder and jalapeño used based on personal heat level preferences or even add a chopped chipotle chili for some added smokiness!
    • Swap some black beans or white beans in for the other beans if it’s what you have on hand.
    • Other optional garnishes we love using to top our chili are: crushed tortilla chips (or fritos!), diced avocado, a few dashes or hot sauce, and cilantro leaves.

    Tips and Tricks for Success

    • If you can’t find Mexican chocolate, use 6 ounces of dark chocolate along with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
    • Make the chili the day before you need it and reheat it on the stove before serving for optimal flavor! (Our chili gets better and better with time!)
    • The peppers can be roasted, peeled, seeded, and diced up to 3 days ahead of time, to save time when you’re ready to make the chili.
    Kitchen sink chili in three bowls with toppings.

    Storing and Reheating Instructions

    Storing

    Our chili can be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 5 days.

    Reheating

    To reheat over stovetop: Pour cold chili into a pot and simmer over medium-low heat, frequently stirring, until chili ha completely heated through.

    To reheat in the microwave: Pour chili into a microwave safe bowl and cover with a damp paper towel or microwave cover. Microwave for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring every minute, until chili has completely heated through.

    What to Serve with Our Chili Recipe

    While the chili is amazing on its own, we love serving it with some bread on the side for dipping! Some of our favorite carbs to dip into our chili recipe are:

    • Buttermilk Cornbread
    • Black Pepper and Parmesan Beer Bread
    • Sour Cream and Chive Drop Biscuits
    • Cheesy Herb Pull Apart Bread
    Click here for our Soup Recipe Collection
    Kitchen sink chili in a bowl with cornbread on the side.

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    Kitchen sink chili in a bowl loaded with toppings.

    Best Chili Recipe

    5 from 6 votes
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    The Best Chili Recipe you'll ever make! Our kitchen sink chili is packed with so much flavor, it's so easy to make and takes no time to whip up! We love serving our chili with lots of toppings and big pieces of fluffy cornbread!
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 45 mins
    Total Time: 1 hr
    Servings: 8

      INGREDIENTS  

    • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 1/4 cups)
    • 3 minced garlic cloves (about 1 tablespoons)
    • 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced (about 1 tablespoon)
    • 1/2 roasted red bell pepper, peeled, seeded and diced
    • 1 roasted poblano pepper peeled, seeded and chopped
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1 1/4 cups tomato puree or tomato sauce
    • 6 ounces tomato paste (about 2/3 cup)
    • 1 cup beef stock or beef broth
    • 1 ear fresh corn, kernels removed from cob (about 1 cup corn kernels)
    • 1/2 disc Mexican chocolate, broken into chunks
    • 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, with juices
    • 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, with juices
    • salt and pepper to taste

    optional garnishes

    • 1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
    • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
    • 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced into rings
    • 1/2 cup sour cream

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Place a large pot over medium heat, Add 2 tablespoons oil.
    • Add ground beef and brown, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Transfer ground beef to a bowl and set aside.
    • Add remaining oil to pan. Add onion, garlic and peppers and sauté for about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Pour beef back into the pot, add spices and sauté for an additional 5 minutes.
    • Add tomato puree and tomato paste and stir together.
    • Reduce heat to medium, add stock and simmer for 15 minutes.
    • Add corn, Mexican chocolate, and beans into the pot. Season with salt and pepper as needed and stir until chocolate melts and ingredients are evenly incorporated into the chili.
    • Simmer chili for an additional 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Ladle chili into bowls and top with sour cream, shredded cheddar, green onions, and jalapeño rings. Serve.

      NOTES  

    Tips and Tricks for Success
    • If you can’t find Mexican chocolate, use 6 ounces of dark chocolate along with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
    • Make the chili the day before you need it and reheat it on the stove before serving for optimal flavor! (Our chili gets better and better with time!)
    • The peppers can be roasted, peeled, seeded, and diced up to 3 days ahead of time, to save time when you’re ready to make the chili.
    Calories: 405kcal Carbohydrates: 38g Protein: 22g Fat: 20g Saturated Fat: 9g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 7g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 54mg Sodium: 710mg Potassium: 1116mg Fiber: 10g Sugar: 12g Vitamin A: 1966IU Vitamin C: 30mg Calcium: 201mg Iron: 6mg
    CUISINE: American
    KEYWORD: best chili, chili recipe
    COURSE: dinner, lunch, Main Course, Soup

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    June 2, 2022 / 17 Comments

    About Jenny Park

    Jenny Park is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food stylist and recipe developer. One of her favorite foods is donuts. #sfbJENNY

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    Reader Interactions

    June 2, 2022 / 17 Comments

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      Recipe Rating




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    1. sharron

      June 03, 2022 at 1:02 pm

      5 stars
      will be making this next chili night is this recipe good for canning?

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        June 03, 2022 at 1:16 pm

        yes! our chili recipe cans very well!

        Reply
    2. Mary Beth Kurtz

      October 21, 2017 at 5:30 am

      Made your chili for our 4th annual “Fire in the Hole” Chili Party. Hoping for the Golden Ladle award!

      Reply
    3. Andrew Augustin

      March 09, 2017 at 1:16 pm

      Is the Mexican chocolate that you used sweetened? I could only find the discs used for hot chocolate — Ibarra brand

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        March 09, 2017 at 2:10 pm

        Nope! The Ibarra brand is the one I use from time to time!

        Reply
    4. liz

      October 18, 2016 at 10:03 am

      what does the mexican chocolate do for it?

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        October 18, 2016 at 12:31 pm

        It gives the chili and extra layer of spicy richness that is similar to a mole (but doesn’t have the same flavor profile)

        Reply
    5. Trish

      February 28, 2013 at 2:47 pm

      Hmmm, I hesitate to follow a recipe for chili, as I usually just add a little of this and a little of that, but this looks GOOD. First time on your blog- thanks :)

      Reply
    6. Katie @ Blonde Ambition

      February 05, 2013 at 5:02 pm

      This chile is epic. I rarely make chili without beer- it’s my favorite ingredient!

      Reply
    7. Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking

      February 01, 2013 at 2:36 pm

      This ingredient list has legs for miles and is gorgeous!!!! Is that creepy? Anyway I love everything that is in this! That moving image is so cool!

      Reply
    8. Liza P

      February 01, 2013 at 8:39 am

      YES!!!

      Poblanos and cornbread! I will give it a go (when winter arrives, it’s summer here in Buenos Aires and MELTING) but will use loads of pork shoulder and simmer that baby til the house smells of porky chili madness!! Gracias!

      Reply
    9. Angie Bennett

      February 01, 2013 at 6:35 am

      Sounds delicious! I love the animated photo of scooping out the chili. I wasn’t expecting it. It gave me a chuckle early this morning!

      Reply
    10. Sarah

      January 31, 2013 at 4:43 pm

      Mmm, it is rainy as hell here at the moment! A big bowl of chilli sounds about perfect.

      Reply
    11. Heidi

      January 31, 2013 at 10:27 am

      I was just thinking about chili today too… perfect! also… what pot are you using for your chili? it’s adorable!

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        January 31, 2013 at 11:21 am

        an old school Dansk!

        Reply
    12. natalie @ wee eats

      January 31, 2013 at 9:50 am

      I thought I found my end-all-be-all of chili recipes….. looks like I have just one more to try before I officially decide!

      Reply
    13. Alex-Rose

      January 31, 2013 at 9:01 am

      I love chilli, it’s got to be my all time favourite meal and never goes a miss, this looks delicious! Making me hungry xx

      http://rainingcakeandcookies.blogspot.co.uk/

      Ps. This is ^my blog^ yours is gorgeous, I love your recipes! Names so cute :) xx

      Reply

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