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Flavorful Chili Too Spicy Fix with a Sweet Twist

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A quick and easy chili recipe that balances fiery heat with a surprising sweet twist using honey and unsweetened cocoa powder. Perfect for cozy dinners and adaptable for spice-sensitive eaters.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 14 oz canned diced tomatoes (no-salt-added optional)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
  2. Add diced onions and sauté until translucent, about 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
  4. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned all over, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired.
  5. Mix in chili powder, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper, stirring well to coat the meat and aromatics evenly.
  6. Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and beef broth; stir to combine. The mixture should be saucy but not soupy.
  7. Add drained kidney beans and stir gently to avoid mashing them.
  8. Simmer uncovered on low heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chili thickens and flavors meld. Add more broth if too thick.
  9. Taste the chili and gradually stir in honey and cocoa powder to balance the heat, adjusting to preference.
  10. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the chili rest off the heat for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

If the chili is still too spicy, add a splash of full-fat sour cream or plain yogurt to cool it down. Avoid stirring too vigorously after adding beans to keep them intact. For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with crumbled tofu or cooked lentils and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. Slow cooker method: brown meat and sauté aromatics first, then cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: chili, spicy chili, sweet chili, honey chili, cocoa powder chili, easy chili recipe, quick chili, beef chili, comfort food

Find it online: https://merrymorsel.com/flavorful-chili-too-spicy-fix-easy-sweet-twist-recipe-to-try-today/