Description
This Sweet Italian Sausage Chili is a hearty and flavorful dish combining crispy bacon, savory ground beef, and sweet Italian sausage with beans and a rich blend of spices. Simmered to perfection, it offers a comforting meal perfect for chilly days and family gatherings. Topped with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt, this chili satisfies with its bold taste and rich texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats
- 8 slices bacon, diced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 white onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Beans & Tomatoes
- 1 (32 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (32 oz) can white beans (cannellini or Great Northern), drained and rinsed
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes, undrained
Additional Liquids & Condiments
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup water
Spices
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Toppings
- shredded cheese
- sour cream or Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Cook Bacon and Sauté: In a large Dutch oven, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside, then drain most of the bacon grease from the pot, leaving a little to sauté the vegetables.
- Sauté Onion, Brown Meat, and Add Garlic: Add the diced onion to the pot and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and sweet Italian sausage to the pot. Brown the meat thoroughly, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks to ensure even cooking. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Pour in the drained kidney beans, white beans, crushed tomatoes with their juice, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and water. Stir everything together well. Season the mixture with chili powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Finally, stir in the crispy bacon crumbles saved earlier.
- Simmer the Chili: Bring the chili mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to blend the flavors. If the chili becomes too thick, add additional water to reach desired consistency.
- Serve: Spoon the chili into bowls and serve hot. Top with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt if desired for extra richness and creaminess.
Notes
- Drain and rinse the beans well to reduce excess sodium from canned varieties.
- Use sweet Italian sausage for a mild and slightly sweet flavor; spicy sausage can be substituted for more heat.
- Adjust the amount of chili powder and smoked paprika based on your preferred spice level.
- Simmering the chili helps develop deeper flavors; avoid rushing this step.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
