With the cooler weather comes comforting recipes that feed the soul. Everyone needs a good go-to chilli recipe in their repitoire, and this just might be it. A few unexpected seasonings put this recipe over the top for a healthy meal that will keep your whole family craving more. And not to mention, your house will smell AMAZING.

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Ingredients:
– 1 and a half pounds of ground chuck
– 1 red onion, diced
– 4 cloves of garlic, smashed
– 1 green bell pepper, diced
– 1 can of crushed tomatoes
– 1 can of dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed
– 2-4 tbsp. hot sauce, I used Tabasco
– 1 beer, I used Labatt Blue
– freshly chopped cilantro for garnish
– freshly chopped chives for garnish
– sour cream and cheddar cheese to top

Chilli spice mix ingredients:
-1 tbsp. chilli powder
– 1 tbsp. garlic powder
– 1/2 tbsp. cumin
– 1 tbsp. dark cocoa powder
– 1 tsp. cinnamon
– 1 tsp. cayenne
– 3 bay leaves
– 1/2 tsp. cardammon
– 1/2 tsp. all spice
– salt
– pepper

In a heavy bottom dutch oven or pot, brown the meat in olive oil, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Add the spice mix while it’s cooking and stir well to coat evenly. Remove the meat into a bowl and set aside. In the same pan, sautee the onion, bell pepper, and garlic cloves until they begin to come transluscent, about 10-15 minutes. Add in the beer and stir, scraping the brown bits off the bottom of the pot which holds so much flavor.

Add back in your browned meat, hot sauce, drained beans, and the can of crushed tomatoes. Give it a good stir and bring it to a boil. Reduce to simmer and allow it to cook and thicken for about 45 minutes to an hour.

Serve with your toppings of choice! I like it with some sour cream, fresh chives, and cilantro. Easy as that!

Buon appetito.