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Rich No-Bean Beef Chili with Dark Chocolate

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A thick, hearty, and deeply flavorful chili made with ground beef and dark chocolate. The chocolate adds a velvety richness and acts as a natural thickener without making the dish taste sweet.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs (900g) ground beef (80/20 ground chuck recommended)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced finely
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 oz (57g) dark chocolate bar (at least 70% cocoa), chopped into small pieces
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup (240ml) beef broth (low-sodium)
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp oil (optional, if using lean beef)

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef: Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef (and oil if needed) and cook, breaking it up, until deeply browned (8-10 minutes). Remove if necessary to avoid crowding.
  2. Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion to the beef and cook until soft and translucent (5 minutes). Add minced garlic in the last minute.
  3. Bloom spices: Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Add tomato paste: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to caramelize slightly.
  5. Deglaze and simmer: Pour in beef broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to release browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes.
  6. Add tomatoes and chocolate: Stir in crushed tomatoes and chopped dark chocolate. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover partially and simmer for at least 45 minutes, ideally 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  7. Finish with acid: Remove from heat. Stir in apple cider vinegar. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. If too thick, add splash of broth; if too thin, simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

Notes

Use high-quality dark chocolate (70% or higher) and avoid chocolate chips as they contain stabilizers. Do not rush the browning step for maximum flavor. The chili improves in flavor after sitting overnight. It is naturally gluten-free if ingredients are certified GF.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef chili, dark chocolate chili, no bean chili, comfort food, game day food, keto chili, gluten-free chili, rich chili

Find it online: https://sizzlesprout.com/rich-no-bean-beef-chili-with-dark-chocolate/