Chili with Chocolate

Chili with Chocolate and Kahlúa, might be a combination you haven’t tasted yet, but it’s smooth and spicy with a hint of something different. Once you take that first bite, you’ll find it to be the BEST chili ever. 

Another rainy day, haven’t we had enough yet!  I think this is going to be a long winter.  But cold wet days are a great excuse to make a pot of chili to eat now and freeze for later. This chili with chocolate recipe is fun because it’s a little different with the interesting flavor that comes from both Kahlúa and chocolate.

Chocolate evokes thoughts of sweet treats and desserts. Your mouth will start watering for something just by hearing the name. But adding it to a savory dish?!

Anyone that knows me, knows that I HATE coffee.  I can tolerate the smell, in fact I kind of like the smell of roasting coffee beans, but that’s where it ends. It’s not like I haven’t tried.  It’s really hard to hang out in cafes in Italy if you don’t like coffee. So I really really didn’t think I would like a coffee flavored liquor.  

So even though I wanted to try something new in my chili, I was so skeptical that I took out my portion of chili before adding the Kahlúa to the pot, being certain that the coffee flavor would ruin it for me. I was ok tossing dark chocolate in but the coffee I wasn’t too sure about.

No one was more surprised than I was when the chili with Kahlúa was better than my bowl without.  I realized that the liquor doesn’t really taste like coffee.  When you add it at the end, the flavor combines with the chocolate and gives this a smooth over the top flavor.

This is my new favorite chili.  Sometimes, I’ll make something and think it’s great until I try it the next day and realize I was just hungry.  Trust me, I have eaten this on several occasions now and each time it’s just as good as the first.

Why you’ll love chili with chocolate

• Chocolate and Kahlua create a smooth finish to this dish
• Everyone will be trying to guess what makes this chili so different but delicious
• Chili the perfect fall and winter comfort food.

What you’ll need

• Bacon – salty and delicious
• Chuck roast boneless – a hearty meat that will cook up beautifully for a perfect chili
• Onion and bell pepper – flavorful veggies
• Diced tomatoes – chili needs canned tomatoes
• Spices – cinnamon, cumin, chili powder and salt
• Chile chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – for a smoky flavor
• Dark chocolate – an unexpected ingredient to chili that’s so delicious
• Kahula coffee liqueur – this creamy, rich liqueur will not overpower but compliment your chocolate and beef
• Pantry staples – garlic, beef broth
• Optional toppings – avocado, sour cream and pumpkin seeds

How do you make chili with chocolate

Step 1: In a large dutch oven, cook a couple of slices of bacon. Remove to paper towel leaving about 2 tablespoons of grease in the pan. Add cut up beef and brown it on all sides. Remove to a bowl and remove all but 2 tablespoons of the liquid.

Step 2: Add onions and slowly cook over medium heat until soft and browned. Add garlic and green pepper and cook for about a minute stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes and seasoning. Next add chopped chipotle peppers and chocolate and stir until melted.

Step 3: Add the beef broth and the browned beef back to the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally for about 30 to 60 minutes or until liquid has been reduced and the beef is tender. Add chopped bacon back to pan and stir in Kahlua. Remove from heat and serve.

Pro tip: If you have young ones, you might want to remove theirs before adding the kahlua, the alcohol will not burn off.

Serve it with some cheese, sour cream, avocado and salted pumpkin seeds.  We needed the sour cream and avocado because I went a little heavy on the chilies.  If you don’t want your eyes to water, try using just two chilies.

How to serve chili with chocolate

• You’ll find roasted pumpkin seeds, sour cream and avocado are all great toppings.
• Corn chips or tortilla chips dip into that chili for a crunchy perfect bite.
• Add biscuits or cornbread.

Recipe Notes

• Love the heat? Increase the chipotle peppers.
• An extra can of tomatoes will help make the chili a little less thick and make it go farther if you have a crowd.

FAQs and tips

More Main Dish Options

• Italian Meatloaf Muffin Recipe
• Homemade Hamburger Helper
• Braised Short Ribs
• Pork Ragu

Adpated from Sugar Dish Me

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.