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Savory Chili with Beer and Bacon

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A hearty and flavorful chili featuring smoky bacon, dark beer, and spiced beef simmered with beans and tomatoes. Perfect for cozy dinners, game days, and comfort food cravings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6–8 slices thick-cut bacon (applewood smoked recommended)
  • 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped (yellow or white)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium bell pepper, diced (red or green)
  • 12 fl oz (355 ml) dark beer (stout or porter preferred)
  • 1 can (28 oz/796 ml) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 oz/425 g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz/425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Optional garnishes: sour cream, shredded cheddar, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. Chop bacon into bite-sized pieces. Heat skillet over medium heat and cook bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate, leaving rendered fat in skillet. Drain some fat if desired, keeping about 1 tablespoon.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet with bacon fat, heat over medium. Add chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Push veggies to the side and add ground beef. Break up with spoon and cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper while cooking. Transfer mixture to Dutch oven if skillet is too small.
  4. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano. Cook 1 minute to toast spices. Add tomato paste and mix well to coat.
  5. Pour in dark beer slowly, scraping bottom of pan to lift browned bits. Simmer 3-4 minutes to reduce slightly.
  6. Transfer beef mixture to large pot or Dutch oven if not already there. Add crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, and black beans (if using). Stir well to combine.
  7. Bring chili to gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add water or broth if chili becomes too thick.
  8. Stir crispy bacon bits back into chili just before serving.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or a pinch of sugar if acidity is sharp. Let chili rest off heat for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use a stout or porter beer for best flavor; avoid overly bitter IPAs. Rinse canned beans to reduce sodium and starch. Crisp bacon ahead to save time. Adjust thickness with water or broth as needed. For vegetarian version, omit meat and bacon and add smoked paprika and liquid smoke.

Nutrition

Keywords: chili, beer chili, bacon chili, comfort food, hearty chili, ground beef chili, easy chili recipe, game day food

Find it online: https://chrisfeasts.com/savory-chili-with-beer-and-bacon-recipe-easy-comfort-food-to-savor/