Growing up in an Italian home, Chili was not on the menu. The spices used in Chili would never make it to my mother's pantry. I don't think I had Chili until I was an adult and ordered it in a restaurant. I'm not fond of spicy foods, so I hated it because it was too spicy for my taste. I was determined to find a Chili recipe I could enjoy. I make Turkey Chili as a quick weeknight dinner, but I'm talking about a rich, slow cooked Chili recipe. Since I started experimenting with Chili recipes, I don't think I've made it the same way twice. I've looked at all the different versions of Chili and ingredients and finally put together a combination of the best ingredients from each one I think make the perfect Chili for me. Not too spicy, thick sauce, beef and beans. The basic ingredients in Chili are naturally gluten free. However, beware of the Chili seasoning packets available because many of them contain wheat in some form as a thickening agent.
Using your own individual spices is safer and also allows you to season it according to your taste. And be very careful ordering Chili in a restaurant, you don't know if they are using individual spices or a premade spice mix containing wheat.
I thought my last batch of Chili was perfect, so I am ready to share the recipe. I think making it in a crockpot and letting it simmer for 5 hours allows all the flavors to meld together and the spices to mellow. And who doesn't love a make ahead meal?
Perfect Chili
Olive oil
2 lbs. ground beef
2 links sweet Italian sausage (remove meat from casings)
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves minced garlic
1 red pepper, diced
2 (10 oz) cans mild RO-TEL diced tomato and chopped green chiles (if you prefer a hotter chili, you can use either the original or hot RO-TEL)
2 (15 oz ) cans tomato sauce
2 (15 oz) cans dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed)
2 tbsps chili powder
2 1/2 tsps cumin
2 tsp paprika
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. coriander
1/4 cup brewed espresso coffee
1 tsp agave
Salt & pepper to taste
Heat olive oil in a frying pan, saute onion, garlic and red pepper until softened. Transfer to crock pot.
Brown ground beef and sausage meat, drain off fat. Add to crock pot.
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Cover and cook on low heat for 5 hours. Printable Recipe
Top with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream. Serve with cornbread. I like Bob's Red Mill gluten free cornbread mix. The bread is moist and buttery!
