Chipotle Chili con Carne Recipe: The Ultimate Comfort Food

Get ready to cozy up with a delicious and warming recipe for Chipotle Chili con Carne. This isn’t just any chili; it’s a deeply satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal, perfect for chilly evenings, game day gatherings, or any time you crave ultimate comfort food. We’re talking less beans, more tender beef, and a touch of bacon to elevate the flavor to a whole new level. And let’s not forget the toppings – they’re essential!

Imagine a bowl piled high with creamy sour cream, sharp cheddar cheese, crispy bacon crumbles, fresh scallions, and, if you dare, a hint of heat from sliced jalapeños. This Chipotle Chili con Carne transforms into a meal-time slam-dunk that everyone will love. Don’t forget a side of warm, crusty cornbread for dipping and soaking up all the flavorful goodness!

Few things evoke the feeling of pure comfort quite like a steaming bowl of chili. Over the years, I’ve experimented with countless variations, each with its own unique blend of ingredients and flavors. I can confidently say that chili is one of my absolute favorite comfort food recipes of all time. The aroma alone is enough to warm the soul, and the first spoonful is a burst of flavor that instantly satisfies.

So, what exactly is Chipotle Chili con Carne? In its simplest form, it’s chili crafted with meat and the distinctive smoky heat of chipotle chiles. I prefer to use canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce for their robust flavor and convenient availability. However, unlike traditional chili or even other chili con carne recipes that often rely on ground meat, this recipe features succulent chunks of beef chuck. These beef chunks are carefully browned to develop a rich crust and then simmered to perfection, resulting in incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth bites in every spoonful.

But the secret doesn’t stop there. Before we even start browning the beef, we cook up some crispy bacon. The rendered bacon fat then becomes the foundation for browning the beef and sautéing the vegetables, infusing the entire chili with an extra layer of smoky, savory goodness. This single step adds so much flavor that it truly sets this Chipotle Chili con Carne apart from the rest.

Once the chili is ready, top it generously with more crumbled bacon for that extra crunch and smoky depth, a mountain of grated cheese for creamy, melty indulgence, and a dollop of sour cream for a cool, tangy contrast. Serve it alongside my favorite cheddar biscuits, and you have the perfect meal to combat the cold weather or celebrate a big game. This is exactly what I crave when the temperature drops, or when I’m hosting friends for a gameday feast.

Why You’ll Love This Chipotle Chili con Carne Recipe

• Bold and Smoky Flavor: The combination of chipotle peppers, bacon fat, and perfectly browned beef creates an unforgettable flavor profile.
• One-Pot Dish: Enjoy easy cleanup with a delicious meal cooked entirely in one pot.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: This chili tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prepping.
• Crowd-Pleasing: This recipe serves a generous amount, ideal for feeding a hungry crowd at your next gathering.
• Freezer-Friendly: Make a big batch and freeze leftovers for a quick and comforting meal anytime.
• Ultra Comforting: This hearty chili is the perfect way to warm up on a cold day and satisfy your cravings.

Ingredients You’ll Need for the Best Chili

This Chipotle Chili con Carne uses simple, wholesome ingredients to create a complex and deeply satisfying flavor. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need:

• Bacon: You’ll use the rendered bacon fat for browning the meat and cooking the vegetables, and the crispy cooked bacon will be stirred into the chili for added flavor and texture.
• Boneless Beef Chuck: Look for beef chuck that’s well-marbled with fat for the best flavor and tenderness. Cut it into 1 1/2-inch cubes for this recipe. This cut of meat benefits from a long, slow simmer to become incredibly tender, which is exactly what we’ll be doing here! If you can’t find boneless beef chuck, you can also try top-blade roast, but be sure to trim any excess fat.
• Onion, Bell Pepper, and Garlic: This aromatic trio forms the base of our chili, adding layers of flavor and a touch of sweetness. They also sneak in some extra vegetables into each serving, adding nutrients and vitamins.
• Cocoa Powder: This might seem like an unconventional ingredient, but trust me – it works wonders! Unsweetened cocoa powder adds a subtle richness and depth to the chili, enhancing the savory flavors and creating a more complex taste profile.
• Ground Cumin: Provides warm and earthy notes that are essential in any good chili recipe.
• Bay Leaf: You might be wondering, “Do bay leaves really do anything?” The answer is a resounding yes! Adding a bay leaf lends a subtle herby, oregano-like flavor that enhances the overall complexity of the chili. Remember to remove it before serving!
• Diced Tomatoes: You’ll need two large cans of diced tomatoes for this recipe. If you want to amp up the smokiness even further, consider swapping half of the amount for fire-roasted tomatoes.
• Chipotle Chiles in Adobo: This is the key ingredient that will add the signature kick to your Chipotle Chili con Carne! Feel free to adjust the amount to suit your spice preference. If you prefer a milder flavor, start with less and add more to taste. For a spicier flavor, don’t be afraid to add an extra chile or two.
• Kidney Beans: I prefer kidney beans for their mild flavor and creamy texture, which complements the other ingredients without overpowering them. However, you can substitute other types of beans, such as pinto beans or black beans, if you prefer.

For the complete list of ingredients and detailed quantities, please refer to the recipe card at the end of this article.

How to Make Delicious Chipotle Chili con Carne

Making this Chipotle Chili con Carne is surprisingly easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create this ultimate comfort food:

1. Cook the Bacon: In a large, heavy pot (such as a Dutch oven), brown the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving all the flavorful bacon fat in the pot.
2. Sear the Beef: Season the beef chuck pieces generously with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and, working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pot, sear the meat until browned on all sides (about 5 minutes per batch). Transfer the browned beef to a plate and set aside.
3. Sauté the Vegetables: Pour out all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the pot (you can supplement with vegetable oil if needed). Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté the vegetables until they start to soften and brown, stirring intermittently, for about 8-10 minutes.
4. Build the Flavors: Add the cocoa powder and ground cumin to the sautéed vegetables, stirring constantly until fragrant (about 1 minute). This will release the aromas of the spices and infuse the vegetables with their flavor. Then, add the browned beef and any accumulated juices back to the pot.

5. Simmer to Perfection: Add the diced tomatoes (with their juices) and chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce to the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then cover the pot tightly. Cook the chili for approximately 3 hours, or until the beef is extremely tender and easily shreds with a fork. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

6. Thicken the Chili: Uncover the pot, increase the heat to medium-high, and let the chili gently boil for about 10 minutes, or until it has thickened to your desired consistency. Stir frequently to prevent burning.
7. Add the Beans and Bacon: Stir in the kidney beans (drained and rinsed) and season the chili to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes to allow the beans to warm through. Finally, stir in the reserved crispy bacon, adding a final layer of smoky goodness.
8. Serve and Enjoy: Serve your delicious Chipotle Chili con Carne hot, garnished with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced scallions, and jalapeños. Don’t forget a side of cornbread or cheddar biscuits for dipping!

Pro Tip: Be sure to drain and rinse the kidney beans thoroughly before adding them to the chili. A fine mesh strainer or colander works best for this task. Rinse the beans until any foaming subsides, ensuring a cleaner flavor.

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Detailed Recipe: Chipotle Chili con Carne

Main Course

Chipotle Chili con Carne

This is a satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs type of chili. Less beans, more beef and a bit of bacon fat to top it all off.

Author: Kelly Senyei

Prep Time 45 mins

Cook Time 3 hrs 30 mins

Total Time 4 hrs 15 mins

Servings 8